How to connect my 5.1 SACD RCA's to HDMI on my receiver?

J

JFHiggins

Audiophyte
I have an SACD player with 6 RCA outputs for 5.1 (FR, FL, RR, RL, Center, Subwoofer).

I want to connect it to a new receiver (which I have not yet bought)...but the receiver does not have similar inputs. It has plenty of HMDI inputs, but not the set of 6 RCAs that I need.

Is there a way to get from one to the other? I have not finding any sort of "6-RCA-to-HDMI" cables or gadgets online.

Thank you.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
I have an SACD player with 6 RCA outputs for 5.1 (FR, FL, RR, RL, Center, Subwoofer).

I want to connect it to a new receiver (which I have not yet bought)...but the receiver does not have similar inputs. It has plenty of HMDI inputs, but not the set of 6 RCAs that I need.

Is there a way to get from one to the other? I have not finding any sort of "6-RCA-to-HDMI" cables or gadgets online.

Thank you.
Not really. Buy an AVR that has 5.1 analog inputs. Or, buy SACD player with HDMI output.

You see the problem, your SACD 5.1 output has already done an D/A conversion. Even if a device existed that would do what you want, said device would then do a A/D conversion to feed the AVR that does another D/A, so your chain would be D-->A-->D-->A
 
BoredSysAdmin

BoredSysAdmin

Audioholic Slumlord
J

JFHiggins

Audiophyte
Thank you Slip and Bored...I had no idea of the inner workings of all this, clearly. My first look through the new receivers did not show me any that had analog 5.1 inputs. But maybe if I up my budget I can find one.

Very much appreciated.
 
M

markw

Audioholic Overlord
they're out there but they are more likely found on near TOTL models.
 
J

JFHiggins

Audiophyte
Oooohhhh, Bored...that looks quite tasty! I will think quickly (as it is the last one). And yes, Mark, I poked around some and really what I was seeing was beyond my budget. I had no idea this problem was a "thing," but it appears I am not the only one who is going against the grain of the receiver-builders' decision to not put 5.1 analog inputs in their newer mid-range models.
 
M

markw

Audioholic Overlord
A lot of features we took for granted in the past have been slowly disappearing. A few that come to mind are phono stages, A/B speaker switches and, as you've noticed, the trusty 5.1 analog inputs.

That one that BSA suggested might e your best bet.

And, yes, when the time comes for me to replace my receiver, I'll be in the same boat as you. My Denon 1940 needs an analog input to work. Ain't no way that will do SACD over HDMI.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
That is a problem. SACD is not PCM, but direct stream digital. Receivers seldom have DSD decoders. A lot of SACD players now have HDMI outputs. However, the player converts DSD to PCM to send to the receiver. Now the purists take fright at this, but I doubt anyone could tell the difference.

A few players will output PCM or DSD from SACD.

Your best solution is to buy a player that outputs PCM over HDMI from the DSD SACD disc.
 
J

JFHiggins

Audiophyte
I have purchased the Marantz that Bored suggested.

I actually already own the Oppo Blu ray player that will play SACDs, but my SACD player is the Sony DVP-NC875V/B 5-disc changer and I like its sound on many of the discs. Plus, I admit, the multi-disc capability so I can bliss out for hours on end.

I will try the Marantz. If that fails for some reason, I will probably just give up the Sony player and go Oppo exclusively.

Thanks again, everyone!
 
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