[blasthand]

Hi All,

Just acquired my first SACD disc only to discover that my player (Yamaha S2500) doesn't output the audio through the digital connections.

Could anyone tell me if this is the case for all DVD/SACD combi players?

Given that I'll have to connect it to the amp for SACD playback using the multi channel inputs, would only connecting it up in stereo give me the SACD quality, or do I need to hook up all 6 channels? I realise that I'd only get the full SACD surround experience using 5.1 but aside from that is there a big difference in SACD stereo over using the CD layer on the disc in stereo?

Cheers for any advice/thoughts you might have,
Mark.

yes it seems to me that all sacd players work this way.ive not seen any amps that have sacd decoders in them,although im sure someone will correct me,maybe some of the high end models.:

[Timbo21]

Originally Posted by alihenley

yes it seems to me that all sacd players work this way.ive not seen any amps that have sacd decoders in them,although im sure someone will correct me,maybe some of the high end models.:

The Denon ones from 3806 upwards will take SACD digitally via Denon-Link on 3910 & DVD A1XV. However, the DSD signal is converted to hi resolution PCM to do this. I think certain Pioneer amps will do the same via i.link.

Also, with hybrid SACD's they have a stereo SACD layer, as well as multichannel SACD & normal CD. So, if you select the stereo SACD layer then you can playback via the stereo outs of you player into the amp instead of the full 5.1.

[Welwynnick]

The SPDIF connection doesn't have the bandwidth or copy protection for HD audio.

The iLink output on the S2500 does, however. It is one of very few players to have that capability. Equally, there are few AV amps that accept the input. It is only the recent top-of-the-range Sony, Denon, Yamaha & Pioneer kit that supports iLink.

When HDMI migrates to V1.2, that will support digital SACD playback.

Nick

[LostCause]

Hi Mark

All SACD and DVD audio compatible players are required to have a full set of audio outputs, ie 5.1. Optional digital outputs are Ilink and in the case of denon the denon link 3rd. 3rd version only for denon, 1st and 2nd only output DVD audio. The denon link is purely for denon to denon no one else supports it. I believe most of the denon players that support SACD and DVD audio have both however only the top 2 amps have the remainder only have the denon link.

Only Sony amps will accept a bitstream output for SACD everyone else converts to PCM, its their format after all.

All SACD and DVD audio can be down mixed to stereo and some recordings are stereo only but these are usually 192/24 formats. Most if not all SACD discs are hybrid and have a conventional CD layer. This is playable on any CD or DVD player and obviously can be sent via a SPDIF. DVD audio discs are not although they have tried to get approval for one.

[Knyght_byte]

being honest unless you have a decent set of speakers and stereo amp, SACD in stereo wont give you much more than normal CD.........however multichannel SACD is definitely a good laugh if you get the right discs, some mixes are not quite to great......read reviews before you buy to save being disappointed......

by decent btw, i mean a stereo pair of speakers worth at least £800 or more at standmount quality or around £1400+ for floorstanders, preferably ones with supertweeters or at least higher freq tweeters (30khz minimum) and a stereo amp around £1,000 or more........(obviously the figures are give or take a bit as sometimes u get a stunner of a piece of equipment come out cheapish)..........ideally you want something like a pair of MA GS60's or KEF Ref 205's hooked up to a Musical Fidelity KW 500 amp and KW SACD player to really notice the difference in stereo between a CD and SACD of the same album........then the difference is quite staggering in my opinion...

however its all subjective, plus the placebo effect...heh......

the nice thing is with the SACD discs, a lot of them are similar price now to the CD albums and u get the options of CD, SACD stereo and SACd multichannel......so get a looking...heh..amazon are a good source, however they seem to have to take a good few weeks sometimes to get them....

[wingnut1]

Originally Posted by LostCause

Hi Mark
Only Sony amps will accept a bitstream output for SACD everyone else converts to PCM, its their format after all.

I am sure my amp is accepting bitstream output for SACD via ilink as i don't have any multi-channel imputs connected from my DVD, just i link and hdmi.

[kesey]

Originally Posted by blasthand

Hi All,

Just acquired my first SACD disc only to discover that my player (Yamaha S2500) doesn't output the audio through the digital connections.

Could anyone tell me if this is the case for all DVD/SACD combi players?

does your amp have i.link?

The Yamaha S2500 can output your SACD, DVd-A and DVD-V sound via i.link

All you need is a firewire cable and the job is oxo - sound will be much better decoded by your amp than by the DVD player.

[blasthand]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replies. Very informative. Unfortunately my amp doesn't have the ilink connection. If I recall correctly only Yamaha's top of the line amp does (z9?). I don't think I'll be able to get permission to ditch the 1500, especially as the money-tree seems to have died recently!

So it's time for more cables running from the player to the amp...deep joy, it'll be such a pleasure adding the the mass already there!

Cheers again everyone for your replies,
Mark.

Hi

You can buy an all in one cable for this like the one below:

http://www.hifistore.co.uk/product.php?qsProd=175200

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JVC-HIGH-PERFO...QQcmdZViewItem

A lot neater! As I dont listen to many SACD's at the minute I have one like this but I got it from Currys for £10!

Like you my Sony DVD is connected to my sony amp via digital coaxial and you do need the other lead to listen to full SACD

Cheers

Lee

[chalkstorm]

Originally Posted by alihenley

yes it seems to me that all sacd players work this way.ive not seen any amps that have sacd decoders in them,although im sure someone will correct me,maybe some of the high end models.:

I have a Pioneer 2014i amp and 868i player - both with iLink - and everything I play uses the optical cable I'm using. I'm very pleased with the sound from the setup...

Si