Playing SACD Question

[SackoHammers]

You'll probably all laugh. I'm totally new to this stuff and perhaps my question is a "well duh".

I just got a H/K 635 receiver and a Pioneer 588 DVD player.

I have been enjoying movies using component video and digital optical between the DVD player and the Receiver. I am assuming this is the recommended setup for DTS, THX, Dolby, etc enabled DVD movies.

Now I got my first SACD in the mail today. Hit play and no sound. So I started playing with stuff. I discovered if I grabbed a set of analog cables and went from the DVD player's analog out to the Receiver's analog in that I get sound. Then I get out the manual for the player and I find a paragraph that says (referring to digital audio jacks - coax and optical):
--
Note that SACD audio is not output through these jacks, so this connection should be in addition to, rather than instead of, a 5.1 analog connection.
--

So my question ... is this general practice or is that a downside to the particular flavor of DVD player I chose. Why not put the SACD through the digital channels?

So now what is the recommended course of action? My DVD player has the ports in the back for the 6 analog channels. My Receiver also has the ability to accept one set of 6 analog direct channels.

So, is it recommended that I find a different DVD player that plays SACD through the optical jacks? Do they even exist? Am I being a silly newbie for asking this? hahaha because I'm guessing this is the norm, I just need to confirm.

Or is it recommended that I pony up for the 3X2 analog cables and use up the direct channel on my Receiver?

Thank you in advance.

 

[mtrycrafts]

You'll probably all laugh. I'm totally new to this stuff and perhaps my question is a "well duh".

I just got a H/K 635 receiver and a Pioneer 588 DVD player.

I have been enjoying movies using component video and digital optical between the DVD player and the Receiver. I am assuming this is the recommended setup for DTS, THX, Dolby, etc enabled DVD movies.

Now I got my first SACD in the mail today. Hit play and no sound. So I started playing with stuff. I discovered if I grabbed a set of analog cables and went from the DVD player's analog out to the Receiver's analog in that I get sound. Then I get out the manual for the player and I find a paragraph that says (referring to digital audio jacks - coax and optical):
--
Note that SACD audio is not output through these jacks, so this connection should be in addition to, rather than instead of, a 5.1 analog connection.
--

So my question ... is this general practice or is that a downside to the particular flavor of DVD player I chose. Why not put the SACD through the digital channels?

So now what is the recommended course of action? My DVD player has the ports in the back for the 6 analog channels. My Receiver also has the ability to accept one set of 6 analog direct channels.

So, is it recommended that I find a different DVD player that plays SACD through the optical jacks? Do they even exist? Am I being a silly newbie for asking this? hahaha because I'm guessing this is the norm, I just need to confirm.

Or is it recommended that I pony up for the 3X2 analog cables and use up the direct channel on my Receiver?

Thank you in advance.

You will certainly not get 6ch digital out from a multi channel SACD or DVD-A.
Copy protection issues. They don't want you to have acces to the master in essence.
But, I thought at least they may down rate it to 2ch digital just as a CD would be. Some of the SACD is supposedly has this capability unless it only applies to 2 ch analog out.

So, if you want the multi channel music from them, you need those analog audio/video cables and you don't need to spend a lot on them.

 

[PENG]

You'll probably all laugh. I'm totally new to this stuff and perhaps my question is a "well duh".

So, is it recommended that I find a different DVD player that plays SACD through the optical jacks? Do they even exist? Am I being a silly newbie for asking this? hahaha because I'm guessing this is the norm, I just need to confirm.

Thank you in advance.

You guessed 100% right. You can find DVD players that can play SACD via digital but not via the regular RCA coaxial type. I believe Pioneer uses the IEEE 1394 (AKA fire wire), and Denon has it's own proprietary Denon Link Version 3, to pass multi-channel SACD signals. In order to use those advanced resoution digial audio interface for DVD-A and SACD, you also need a receiver/prepro that has the provision for those connections.

Other than that, you are stuck with analog cables, or Hybrid SACDs that can play in regular CD player but then you won't get to hear the Stereo and Multi channel high resolution layers.

 

[SackoHammers]

Alright, thanks a lot guys.

It is probably easier for me to drop a few bucks on the cables then to try to return my DVD player (mail order) and pay more money for something that supports digital for SACD.

Thanks again.

 

[j_garcia]

Does the 635 have firewire? If not, there's no point in looking for a player that has the capability. Both the player and the receiver have to have the same digital connection for it to work. What's wrong with just buying the analog cables?

 

[AVRat]

You must also configure any bass management available in the DVD player.

 

[mnnc]

Alright, thanks a lot guys.

It is probably easier for me to drop a few bucks on the cables then to try to return my DVD player (mail order) and pay more money for something that supports digital for SACD.

Thanks again.

Purchase the 3 pairs of rca's and connect player to recvr's multi channel inputs paying attention to which cable goes where when connecting the two units together. You will have to select multi channel, 6 channel input, or whatever input selection on your recv'r to monitor the sacd/dvd-a discs. Not familiar w/ your recv'r but for example I select 'multi ch' on my recvr's input selector to monitor sacd/dvda. Happy listening.