Thread: BUDGET SACD/DVDA player that can play surround via HDMI?

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Post by keenly March 29, 2012 (21 of 24)
yes that one is on ebay(Cambridge audio)
Dvd audio is important; i have alot more titles.

Post by Nagraboy March 29, 2012 (22 of 24)
old-dog-newtricks said:

If your player claims 'native DSD conversion' my understanding is that this usually means it converts the DSD source (SACD) direct to analogue and feeds it to the analogue outputs. As far as I know this would only be found on stereo machines. My Arcam CD37 does this. There is a digital out facility but this is derived solely from the CD layer of the disc. I have tried putting this signal through a 24/192 upsampling DAC but, honestly, it is no better than the analogue signal from the Arcam when playing in CD mode. The CD sound from that player is exceptionally good but is still trounced by decent SACDs. One or two people on this site have suggested that some modern RBCDs come very close to SACD. I would love to have some examples as my older CDs (mostly 1980' and 1990's) certainly don't.

This illustrates my point quite neatly. Statements from manufacturers like 'Native DSD conversion' do not necessarily mean what they seem to imply. And 2ch players are no more likely to work that way than a multichannel player.

I contacted Arcam about the CD37 last year when I was suspicious about their 'direct to analgue' claim. That player uses a Wolfson WM8741 DAC chip, and although it will accept DSD data without having first been decimated to PCM, all incoming data - DSD or 16/24bit PCM is still converted to a low bit PCM signal at a fast rate inside the chip, just prior to conversion to analogue. Something like 4 bits at 768kHz and so do most DAC chips.

DSD to Analogue, it ain't. Early Sony's and the first Marantz were, but not many since. However, some newer chips like the AKM4399 seem to be genuinely able to convert DSD directly to Analogue, although it's still not entirely clear. These chips and the similar AKM4397 chip are used in Esoterics and the better Denons.

SACDs probably sound better than CDs on the CD37 because they have rather more data points in the first place. It's a well-regarded SACD player and one I considered buying before stumping up for the dCS I have now, the two pairs of RCA outputs on the Arcam are useful for adding a headphone amplifier directly without compromise via the main amplifier's tape out.

Post by Nagraboy March 29, 2012 (23 of 24)
FunkyMonkey said:

Almost without exception? How do I know if my DSD direct is DSD to analogue or not?

I'd assume it is not. Which DAC chip does it use?

Post by JeffR714 December 29, 2013 (24 of 24)
Great info that helped me a ton
Thanks

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