Connecting A Universal Player

[mel graf]

Most universl players have 5.1 annalog and digital connections. Do you connect the annalog surround channels and the fiber optic digital so that surround would be present when SACD is played? What happens when just CD is played? Is there any problem if both connections are used? Will the equipment determine which format will be the audio?

 

[Seth=L]

The universal players have 5.1 analog outputs because Toslink and other SPDIF formats cannot transfer DVD-Audio and SACD audio media, the brandwidth is higher on those mediums and SPDIF has limitations. The audio for DVD-Audio and SACD is decoded inside the player. Some Universal players have Firewire ports that can be connected to designated receivers and processors that feature Firewire connectivety. HDMI can also be used to transfer DVD-Audio and SACD to a capable receiver or processer.

The only usage you will get out of the SPDIF outputs are 2 channel PCM (CDs mostly), and bitstream from standard DVD (Dolby Digital, and DTS tracks).

There is no problem with using both connections.

 

[skizzerflake]

The universal players have 5.1 analog outputs because Toslink and other SPDIF formats cannot transfer DVD-Audio and SACD audio media, the brandwidth is higher on those mediums and SPDIF has limitations.

SACD and DVD Audio players also output only to 5.1 analog as a way of "saving" the music industry by making it harder to get a digital signal out that could be copied to a computer.

If you have the right inputs on your receiver, you can use the 5.1 outs for SACD and DVDA and use the fiber or coaxial connections so that you can use the receiver's DSP for stereo enhancement (if you like those modes) and DVD movies. It might take some remote button pressing but you it can usually be made to work.

 

[pbarach1]

SACD and DVD Audio players also output only to 5.1 analog as a way of "saving" the music industry by making it harder to get a digital signal out that could be copied to a computer.

There are a few universal players that can output SACD and DVD-A digitally. For example, certain models of Denon players use an ethernet cable (they call it DenonLink 3) to connect to certain Denon receivers. If you use this connection, the CD player is essentially a transport, and digital-to-analog conversion happens in the receiver. This single, inexpensive cable carries the audio for everything coming out of the player.

Whether you get better sound this way, as compared to using the player's 5.1 analog outputs, depends in part on whether the player or the receiver has better DAC's.