I've read the tech specs on SACD and current PC hardware is not capable of reading SACD discs. Here is some info on it.
"Super Audio CD content protection is built with five lines of
defense. Each line provides different obstacles against piracy.
The independency of these lines of defense means that, even if
one of the lines is broken, the others still protect the content
against piracy.
• First line of defense: Existing PC disc drives cannot read data from
Super Audio CD disc.
• Second line of defense: If Super Audio CD data has been copied, it
cannot be used
• Third line of defense: Hacking the scrambling of a title is expensive
and must be done for each new title again.
• Fourth line of defense: Details of the scrambling system are never
exposed
• Fifth line of defense: Sophisticated protection against commercial
piracy and counterfeiting"
So it looks like with out "hacking" it completely you have to have licensed software/hardware to play a SACD. So much for my dream to beable to play everything on my HTPC.
Paul