Thread: DSD directly to analogue; which (sacd) surround receiver?

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Post by cocopc September 11, 2008 (1 of 15)
I have read somewhere that most surround-receivers - if not all - converts DSD to PCM instead of a direct convertion to analogue!? Is this true? And if so are there receivers available that doesn't convert DSD to PCM?

Post by The Seventh Taylor September 11, 2008 (2 of 15)
I believe the good receivers among these offer an option to bypass such conversion (and thereby forsaking any post-processing like bass management).

Post by Polly Nomial September 11, 2008 (3 of 15)
Like TST said, the upper end of many manufacturers range offers what you are looking for, usually called something like "DSD Direct", "Pure DSD" or somesuch combination.

Unfortunately, this often has to be found by reading the (online) user manuals rather than a standardised logo like THX or similar.

Post by FunkyMonkey September 11, 2008 (4 of 15)
Doing a quick google:

Old model Sony 9000:
http://www.ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/1204sony/

Internally, the amplifier ultimately converts everything to 1-bit Direct Stream Digital (DSD), the technology Sony developed for SACD, to drive the amplifiers. Native SACD inputs pass directly through to the amplifier stages. However, if any equalizer or special surround effects are selected, the signal is first converted to PCM, processed, then reconverted to DSD. A Direct mode is provided to cancel all of this processing. But if you do not use the equalizer or surround effects, no DSD-to-PCM conversion occurs even if you do not select Direct.

Another old model, this time from Denon...

http://www.hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesnews2005/news20051230-03.html

Post by raffells September 11, 2008 (5 of 15)
Polly Nomial said:

Like TST said, the upper end of many manufacturers range offers what you are looking for, usually called something like "DSD Direct", "Pure DSD" or somesuch combination.

Unfortunately, this often has to be found by reading the (online) user manuals rather than a standardised logo like THX or similar.

The originater was talking about a receiver not a player.I pressume for HDMI input.

Post by miklet September 11, 2008 (6 of 15)
FunkyMonkey said:

Doing a quick google:

Old model Sony 9000:
http://www.ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/1204sony/

Internally, the amplifier ultimately converts everything to 1-bit Direct Stream Digital (DSD), the technology Sony developed for SACD, to drive the amplifiers. Native SACD inputs pass directly through to the amplifier stages. However, if any equalizer or special surround effects are selected, the signal is first converted to PCM, processed, then reconverted to DSD. A Direct mode is provided to cancel all of this processing. But if you do not use the equalizer or surround effects, no DSD-to-PCM conversion occurs even if you do not select Direct.

Another old model, this time from Denon...

http://www.hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesnews2005/news20051230-03.html

Question FunkyMonkey

Do you know if my Sony DA3000ES passes DSD to analog same as the 9000 ?
Do you know if I set speaker distance in the set-up menu, does that force a PCM conversion ?

Mike

Post by RWetmore September 11, 2008 (7 of 15)
Sony's top three AVRs this year can all accept a DSD stream via HDMI and convert it directly to analog. The models are the STR-DA4400ES, STR-DA5400ES, and STR-DA6400ES

Post by FunkyMonkey September 11, 2008 (8 of 15)
RWetmore said:

Sony's top three AVRs this year can all accept a DSD stream via HDMI and convert it directly to analog. The models are the STR-DA4400ES, STR-DA5400ES, and STR-DA6400ES

Thanks for that.

And my understandign is that if speaker distancing is involved, then a PCM conversion has to take place given the unprecedented processing power that would be required to do so with teh DSD signal.

Post by RWetmore September 11, 2008 (9 of 15)
FunkyMonkey said:

And my understandign is that if speaker distancing is involved, then a PCM conversion has to take place given the unprecedented processing power that would be required to do so with teh DSD signal.

That's probably true.

Post by miklet September 11, 2008 (10 of 15)
The receiver is the SONY DA3000ES and the SACD player in the system is a Denon 3910. Should I reset the speaker distances to the default in the reciever ? and then set the distances in the Denon set-up ? Would that achieve DSD-to-analog playback ? It sounds fantastic now....just wondering if there might be a little more if configured differently.
Thanks for thoughts

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