SACD, DVD-A vs Neo 6 ?

JeffKC · 12-02-2004, 03:33 PM

I have just picked up a new receiver ..it has the Neo 6 surround...which to my understanding will take mono,stereo etc. and simulate a 5.1 surround..why would I need to hook up the analog output for sacd if neo 6 will give me the same sound, or does it? This is a new format for me...I have played DVD-A and sacd discs without the six channel analog outs hooked up...If I remember I hooked up an optical,coaxial and left and right analog outs to the older Kenwood Vr-3090...the sound from the DVD-A was great..the sound from the sacd was great...I did have a Peter Gabriel sacd that would not play..all in a Pioneer DV 356a......Are there just some sacd's that will play back in stereo mode..and if so are they the dual layer type?

thanks for setting me straight

EricRWem · 12-02-2004, 04:28 PM

I can't imagine any DSP sounding better than outright high rez audio like SACD or DVD-A, barring poorly engineered discs or botched connections.

I'd use the DSP for everything you want EXCEPT SACD or DVD-A or movies, obviously.

Dual layer SACD's will only play normal, redbook CD to you. No high rez whatsoever.

DVD-A's can be done in two channel, but it will not be "true DVD-A." Not sure why anyone would do this, but some like to try.

You're not getting true high rez unless you're using the multichannel analogs. Or Ilink or something like that. You NEED the analogs for true high rez.

ScottCHI · 12-02-2004, 07:04 PM

unless your equipment has a firewire, D-link, iLink, or other fancy digital connection (NOT digi coax or toslink), then the ONLY way to listen to the hirez tracks on sacds or dvdas is via the analog connection. PERIOD.

if you've never done that, then you've never listened to high-resolution music.

EricRWem · 12-02-2004, 07:41 PM

Adam.Heckman · 12-03-2004, 07:22 AM

I have the same player you have. Trust me. Hook up all six analog outputs to your recievers analog inputs and listen again. You'll be blown away. If you were hooked up digitally then you were catching the redbook portion of an SACD I would imagine and the DD5.1 on the DVD-A. Many discs have both formats. Enjoy.

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Doug Otte · 12-03-2004, 10:45 AM

Quote:

unless your equipment has a firewire, D-link, iLink, or other fancy digital connection (NOT digi coax or toslink), then the ONLY way to listen to the hirez tracks on sacds or dvdas is via the analog connection. PERIOD.

Actually, the hi-rez signal is not allowed to be sent through any digital connection. It only goes through the analog connections. I don't think anything would go through a digital connection, would it? I haven't tried it.

Doug

John Garcia · 12-03-2004, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Actually, the hi-rez signal is not allowed to be sent through any digital connection.

As noted, these are not "normal" digital connections, they are proprietary to a particular manufacturer, such as Pioneer or Denon, and you have to have a player and receiver both capable of their type of connection.

You will not get the hirez tracks using a standard optical or coaxial digital connection. With DVD-A, you will get sound, but it will not be the DVD-A track, it will be DVD-V DD/DTS. With SACD, if it is a hybrid disc, you will get the CD layer, not the SACD layer.

John Kotches · 12-03-2004, 11:50 AM

John Garcia says:

Quote:

As noted, these are not "normal" digital connections, they are proprietary to a particular manufacturer, such as Pioneer or Denon, and you have to have a player and receiver both capable of their type of connection.

iLink equipped products do interoperate as it is an open standard. They are not proprietary to any company. i-Link simply indicates IEEE1394A + A&M extensions.

I have successfully passed DVD-A and SA-CD from a firewire equipped Pioneer DVD player to a firewire equipped Yamaha receiver as an example of interoperability.

Quote:

You will not get the hirez tracks using a standard optical or coaxial digital connection. With DVD-A, you will get sound, but it will not be the DVD-A track, it will be DVD-V DD/DTS.

Wrong. You would get stereo PCM which could be a downmix (multi-channel to stereo), downsample (24/96K to 24/48K) or even the track as is (assuming it's stereo and 24/96K or less) depending on the authoring and copy protection in force.

What you won't get is the DD/DTS track unless the disc is specifically authored to allow access to DD and DTS from within the DVD-Audio portion of the disc in the AUDIO_TS folder.

The only titles I've run across allowing access to the DTS and DD tracks along with the DVD-AUdio tracks are from DTS Entertainment. All the other titles require that the player be set to DVD-Video player behaviour.

Quote:

With SACD, if it is a hybrid disc, you will get the CD layer, not the SACD layer.

How? It can't focus on CD and SA-CD physical layers simultaneously and the disc will be detected as an SA-CD disc.

You'll get no digital output from S/PDIF unless you have a specially modified player.

Cheers,

JeffKC · 12-03-2004, 02:43 PM

Much appreciated Gentelmen...I have a new set of 5.1 analog cables in hand...also a new DVI to HDMI...things are lookin' up.....

John Garcia · 12-03-2004, 03:00 PM

Quote:

What you won't get is the DD/DTS track unless the disc is specifically authored to allow access to DD and DTS from within the DVD-Audio portion of the disc in the AUDIO_TS folder.

Of course, assuming the disc has a DD/DTS track, and most have something that can be read in DVD-V mode for those who do not yet have a DVD-A capable player, but plan to upgrade or who just want to see/hear the DVD portion.

Quote:

I have successfully passed DVD-A and SA-CD from a firewire equipped Pioneer DVD player to a firewire equipped Yamaha receiver as an example of interoperability.

Understood, but you could count the receivers and players on the market that have this capability without taking your shoes off currently. Firewire existed before SACD/DVD-A was available to the public.

Quote:

How? It can't focus on CD and SA-CD physical layers simultaneously and the disc wil