Yamaha RX-Z9 First Look

[gene]

SACD has not yet been legally provisioned for firewire pass thru. So as far as I know, you shouldn't have SACD output via ilink on any player. I will be getting an upgraded DVD-5900 shortly to test ilink with the Z9 as well as some special software to beta test SACD via Dlink3 for Denon 5803A to 5900.

I haven't read the review at hometheatermag so I cannot comment if they tested SACD via ilink or not with the Pioneer player.

[Unregistered]

SACD has not yet been legally provisioned for firewire pass thru. So as far as I know, you shouldn't have SACD output via ilink on any player. I will be getting an upgraded DVD-5900 shortly to test ilink with the Z9 as well as some special software to beta test SACD via Dlink3 for Denon 5803A to 5900.

I haven't read the review at hometheatermag so I cannot comment if they tested SACD via ilink or not with the Pioneer player.

Thanks for the quick response.

Also, I just found this on Pioneer's site for the DV-47Ai:

"This one's a "no brainer". Its dual i-Link outputs pass both new and exciting multi-channel music formats (DVD-Audio, SACD) in the digital domain to a receiver (like our VSX-49TXi) with a single cable, for unprecedented purity and convenience."

[Z9er]

I am the happy owner of a Z9 and a 59AVi and I can absolutely confirm that the i-Link is FULLY operational and sounds grrrrreat. The Z9 and 59 "talk" to each other - it's actually pretty cool. SACD is transmitted in the DSD format and is processed by the Yamaha. The Z9 shows you which format is comming through, either DSD for SACD or PCM for DVD-A, DVD and CD.
Gene, if you're doing a review of this unit you HAVE to get you hands on an
i-Link enabled player. It's pretty freakin amazing.

(BTW I've posted previously as "canuckle" but was having problems logging on.)

[gene]

Guys thanks for the updates. I got my upgraded DVD-5900 today from Denon. However, according to them, it will not pass DSD via firewire just yet since it is not provisioned thru Sony. This is why I am at a loss regarding the Pioneer you guys are reporting is passing SACD. I suppose I will find out this weekend when I hook up the upgraded Denon.

As for digital transmission of DVD-A/SACD, I hear ya. I thoroughly enjoyed Dlink between the AVR-5803 and DVD-5900 for DVD-A. I long for the day of both formats over a digital link such as firewire,dlink or other. Sounds like that day is coming soon

[Unregistered]

I am the happy owner of a Z9 and a 59AVi and I can absolutely confirm that the i-Link is FULLY operational and sounds grrrrreat.

Confirmed. The Z9 shows DSD is being received (not dolby digital).

[gene]

I had an industry source confirm this as well. I will update the Z9 checklist to illustrate it is SACD ready.

[canuckle]

One other thing, Denon DVD-5900's with the last five serial numbers above 10000 have the activated i-Link (passing DSD) as well as DVI.

[Z9er]

I haven't read the review at hometheatermag so I cannot comment if they tested SACD via ilink or not with the Pioneer player.

I scanned he article this afternoon at the supermarket, they made mention of it, and they were very impressed. I don't know how credible of a source they are but I certainly agree. I don't think any review of the Z9 would be complete without checking out this feature. I hope your Denon is i-Link enabled, if not you should beg borrow or steal a player that is.

[gene]

Good news to report! Denon sent me the latest DVD-5900 with i-link enabled. I succesfully linked the 5900 to the Z9 and decoded:
DD, DTS
DVD-A
SACD
in all its glory with bass management, digital delay compensation, and excellent fidelity. My have we come a long way. IMO if you are serious about high res formats such as DVD-A/SACD, you owe it to yourself to consider hardware with enabled i-link or equivalent. Life just got a little bit easier, at least for me

[surveyor]

I went to Ultimate Electronics yesterday. I compared the RX-Z1 to the RX-Z9. I would recommend buying the RX-Z1, unless you can afford a $10,000 or more dollar high definition TV.
The audio capabilities of the RX-Z1 are very nearly the same as the RX-Z9!
The MSRP for the RX-Z9 is $1,700 more than the RX-Z1.
The RX-Z9 is 4lbs heavier than the RX-Z1 (hot dang)!

If you are going to spend $4,500 dollars or more get seperate components.
Good seperate components always outperform recievers!!
A fool and his money will always choose spending that kind of money on a reciever, with at its best acceptible audio capabilities.

Cheers