Dsd dac?

[sterling shoote]

Outside of buying a HT receiver with HDMI input which can decode multi channel DSD audio, is there another solution, that's to say, is there a multi channel DSD DAC outthere with HDMI input and 5.1 analog output?

 

[jinjuku]

Oppo 103 or 105

 

[sterling shoote]

My desire is to enjoy the multi-channel SACD layer of Hybrid discs played on a Sony 5400ES. The OPPO mentioned would even eliminate the need for the Sony player; but, I was hoping for a HDMI DAC solution. It appears the market has not yet grown enough to produce one; but, unless the stereo market is permanent, I would think such a device is bound to appear since DSD over HDMI is the way it's done.

 

[jinjuku]

?? The Oppo is an HDMI DAC.

 

[Adam]

?? The Oppo is an HDMI DAC.

Yep, and sterling could buy a new receiver to decode DSD over HDMI, too. The point (I believe) was that the Oppo would also play SACDs and defeat the point of using the Sony, and I'm assuming also costs more than sterling wants to spend to get this use out of the Sony. You can buy receivers that do it for less than the Oppo.

 

[jinjuku]

He asked for a DSD player capable of outputting over HDMI. His 5400ES wasn't mentioned in his first post and it's not in his signature (which I wouldn't bother picking apart to find out what he had even if it was listed).

I mentioned one. If one can turn their nose up at the Oppo then they are obviously spoiled for choices.

The user guide for the SCDXA5400ES shows HDMI and DSD support. Not sure if this is the exact model # or not that the OP has.

 

[Adam]

I wasn't saying that your original post was off base. I just thought his follow up post clarified why the Oppo isn't the best solution for him. I don't think it's turning his "nose up" at the Oppo. Those things are expensive...more expensive than a receiver that can decode DSD over HDMI. That's all that I was trying to say. Not poking at you at all.

 

[jinjuku]

I wasn't saying that your original post was off base. I just thought his follow up post clarified why the Oppo isn't the best solution for him. I don't think it's turning his "nose up" at the Oppo. Those things are expensive...more expensive than a receiver that can decode DSD over HDMI. That's all that I was trying to say. Not poking at you at all.

Reading his posts it sounds like his particular model of 5400ES can't do DSD (which is why he is looking I assume). So it wouldn't matter if one has a receiver capable of DSD decoding. It can't decode what it can't be sent.

Now if he picked up the Oppo I believe it will do the decode and send it on LCPM or analog out.

 

[jinjuku]

Basically if the OP wants DSD over HDMI the Oppo 103/105 is the cheapest he is going to manage. End of story. The fact that it happens to duplicate what the Sony does is just a fact. The Sony can still be kept in the rack.

If we are talking high resolution files then there is also a concern for audio fidelity which puts it back at the $1199 Oppo 105. Why get DSD files and cheap out on the source device right

 

[sterling shoote]

The Sony 5400ES only outputs multi channel SACD via HDMI. There are many receivers which will convert to analog. Some really nice ones are out there for about $500. I however don't want one, I just want what I'd call an HDMI DAC to convert DSD to multi channel analog which I can send to analog multi channel pre amp.

 

[jinjuku]

Which is EXACTLY what the Oppo is. It just happens to have a disc drive in it. Not sure why that makes it a non solution. Would you be happier if someone took the 103, re-packaged it w/o the drive, charged $2000?

 

[Pyrrho]

The Sony 5400ES only outputs multi channel SACD via HDMI. There are many receivers which will convert to analog. Some really nice ones are out there for about $500. I however don't want one, I just want what I'd call an HDMI DAC to convert DSD to multi channel analog which I can send to analog multi channel pre amp.

The Oppo BD players have an HDMI input, and can be used purely for the function you mention. They also have BD drives in them, and can play SACDs and DVD-Audio discs themselves, but if you want to use your Sony, you can do so and just use the HDMI input on the Oppo.

Due to the economy of scale, most likely, if a thing that does just what you want (and nothing more) exists, it will likely cost far more than the Oppo. This is not entirely dissimilar from comparing receivers with preamp/processors, as typically, the receiver will cost less for equal or better performance than just a preamp processor, so basically, the manufacturer is paying you to take the built-in amplification. The same idea applies here; Oppo is paying you to take the BD/DVD/CD/SACD/DVD-Audio drive along with the conversion from HDMI SACD to multichannel analog.

Why would you want to pay more to get less?

 

[sterling shoote]

My question was inspired by my need. And it appears I could indeed use an OPPO or just buy a multi channel receiver. I was hoping however that there might be a simple converter out there which could integrate into my system without redundancy. My research so far has come up with nothing.

 

[jinjuku]

My question was inspired by my need. And it appears I could indeed use an OPPO or just buy a multi channel receiver. I was hoping however that there might be a simple converter out there which could integrate into my system without redundancy. My research so far has come up with nothing.

Where DSD is involved nothing is either simple nor cheap. If your Sony doesn't do DSD then what is a mulit-channel receiver going to do for you?

 

[sterling shoote]

Some of today's receivers have HDMI input and would allow multi channel SACD play from 5400ES HDMI DSD output. My pre/pro does not have any of these inputs so to play multi channel SACDs from the 5400ES I could get a receiver to use its decoding section or I could buy an OPPO for the same. I get it. But I was hoping to discover a DSD DAC which would better integrate to my existing system. Apparently, there are no other options than the OPPO, receiver, or to replace my current pre/pro with a more modern one.

 

[jinjuku]

Some of today's receivers have HDMI input and would allow multi channel SACD play from 5400ES HDMI DSD output.

You've lead us to believe you have an ES5400 that doesn't do DSD decoding. So which it is?

 

[Adam]

You've lead us to believe you have an ES5400 that doesn't do DSD decoding. So which it is?

When was that mentioned? I've thought from the beginning that it can. It outputs it over HDMI, but his pre/pro can't decode DSD over HDMI.

 

[jinjuku]

From the wording he was looking for an HDMI DAC capable of DSD. Why would one look for an HDMI DAC that does DSD if their current Sony ES5400 does it?

Decode DSD on ES5400 shoot out to either Analog out or LCPM on HDMI to the receiver. If doing LCPM it doesn't matter what the receiver is able to decode because decodes aren't done by the receiver.

The Sony 5400ES only outputs multi channel SACD via HDMI.

So we are back to does his Sony do DSD?

 

[Adam]

Ahhh, sorry - I misinterpreted your statement because of what you quoted. I don't know if the 5400 decodes DSD, but it passes DSD out through HDMI.

The LPCM option might be a good one. At least with my Oppo, I can definitely tell a difference between the DSD stream (which I like) and the LPCM stream (which I find lacking). Could be how I had it set up, but it seemed to be the decoder in the Oppo.

 

[jinjuku]

Ahhh, sorry - I misinterpreted your statement because of what you quoted. I don't know if the 5400 decodes DSD, but it passes DSD out through HDMI.

The LPCM option might be a good one. At least with my Oppo, I can definitely tell a difference between the DSD stream (which I like) and the LPCM stream (which I find lacking). Could be how I had it set up, but it seemed to be the decoder in the Oppo.

Thanks. I went back and re-read the thread just to make sure I wasn't talking in circles. DSD is just a high end proposition. 5 years ago it wasn't even in the consumer space. Just the pro-audio mastering world. $5K was a typical STARTING point to get into DSD mastering and playback.