SACD into an optical connection?

[7-Sins]

From what I have read this is not possible.

I just bought my first SACD and went to use it today but I got no sound. I have an older but top of the line Kenwood receiver and have been using optical audio with no problems until now. My receiver doesn't have any analog 5.1 inputs in the back, just the digital. I would hate to have to replace the receiver because I spend a good amount on it, which probably won’t happen for one CD.

My main question is does anyone know of this being possible? Is there any chance for such an item to appear in the future? I am talking within reason (100$ or so) anything more and I might as well put it towards a new receiver or just buy a cheap second receiver for SACD.

I have looked into a few things... but the only thing close to promising is this:

http://www.fullcompass.com/Products/pages/SKU--38449/index.html

It looked interesting and after reading the manual online from the manufacturer it looks like it could be done. There was one on eBay the other day and I thought about buying it but I still don’t know if it would work. I wasn’t sure if Dolby encoded the 6 channels a certain way. I also didn't know how my receiver would take to the optical signal, if it would decode it properly. Not to mention the product only encodes/decodes in 20-bit, isn't cd higher? I also looked into decoders for computer-type applications, they would probably work too but the inputs weren't close to what I needed.

Thanks for any info,
Chris

 

[Rob Babcock]

Unfortunately, SACDs digitas stream cannot be passed by any conventional digital output, including an optical Tos-link jack. You'll need a receiver with analog 5.1 inputs, I'm afraid.

CDs use Linear Pulse Code Modulaton (PCM) with a 16 bit word length at a sampling rate of 44.1 khz. Sacd uses an entirely different technology called Direct Stream Digital (or DSD). It's incompatible with PCM. The other Hi Rez digital format, DVD-A, uses PCM but at higher word lengths and sampling rates. It won't pass thru a conventional digital output either.

 

[Franchot]

You CAN pass SACD over a digital connection. BUT you need an i-link port on both the player and receiver. And, unfortunately, i-link ports are not all that common in the audio/video marketplace yet. So, that's a solution for you, but I'm afraid it's still going to cost you more money than you're probably wanting to spend.

(I have my DVD player connected to my receiver through i-link (which is one cable) and I'm able to play SACDs, DVD-As, and regular DVDs all in 5.1 and 6.1 sound fields.)

 

[toquemon]

You CAN pass SACD over a digital connection. BUT you need an i-link port on both the player and receiver. And, unfortunately, i-link ports are not all that common in the audio/video marketplace yet. So, that's a solution for you, but I'm afraid it's still going to cost you more money than you're probably wanting to spend.

(I have my DVD player connected to my receiver through i-link (which is one cable) and I'm able to play SACDs, DVD-As, and regular DVDs all in 5.1 and 6.1 sound fields.)

I think you can transform the 5.1 pre-outs of your receiver (you haven't said that your receiver has pre-outs, but it's more likely to have pre-outs than 5.1Ch Inputs in those years) in 5.1 Ch Inputs, but i don't know if this would be easy or cheap.

 

[7-Sins]

Yeah I do have preouts thats actually how I have my sub hooked up... Anymore info on this?? It would probably require re-wiring?

Thanks guys

 

[Votrax]

You can't configure pre-outs as inputs. If you don't have 5.1 inputs then there is no circuitry for them.