How do you connect your SACD player?

I'm afraid a regular digital connection won't work with DVD-A/SACD. It's a copywright protection issue and possibly not enough bandwidth like BluRay's DolbyHD and DTS-MA. The OPPO 970 will transfer hi-res via hdmi though. But with the 56txi you will need the 5.1 analog cables to hear SACD. With the the 5.1 analog inputs the 56txi will act as a volume controller only, no processing so no MCACC, Bass/Treble controls or any other DSP modes. Opps! Almost forgot to mention-there's no Bass Management thru the 5.1 analog inputs either. BM is performed in the OPPO's speaker setup menu. The x-over is fixed but I can't remember what it it (I had a 970 for a while). 

From OPPO's websit FAQ

Q: Why is there no audio output from the coaxial or optical digital audio port when I play DVD-Audio or SACD discs?
A: The copyright protection feature of the DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD) disc format prohibits unprotected digital audio output. Since the coaxial or optical digital audio output has no copy-protection ability (i.e. pure audio stream without encryption and authentication), audio from DVD-Audio or SACD cannot be output via these interfaces. To enjoy high resolution digital audio from DVD-Audio or SACD discs, please use the 5.1-channel analogue audio output. If your A/V receiver supports HDMI 1.1 (or above) digital audio, you may also use the HDMI port, which has the required copyright protection mechanism (HDCP).

BTW, I'm using the i-Link connection and it's marvelous! Since i-Link is a digital connection it allows all the processing to be performed.

Also, which concert dvd is 24/192 DTS? And I'm surprised the Pioneer decodes it thru a digital connection.
Edited by gene c - 11/21/09 at 3:59pm

I connect my Sony ES SACD/CD player via it's 5.1 analog outputs to the multi-channel analog inputs of my receiver. I also own an Oppo 980H DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio player, and this is connected via HDMI to the receiver. I prefer the sound of Sony over the Oppo for SACD -- and the Sony is a carousel player, too, so it adds convenience for music listening.

I have not tried the Oppo via the multi-channel analog connections, mostly because I am content using the Sony for CD and SACD listening. Instead, the Oppo is being used for mostly SD-DVD playback, with the occasion DVD-Audio disc thrown in.

As Gene mentioned, SACD is not supported via a digital coaxial or optical link. Since you do not have HDMI capabilities with your receiver, you will need to use the multi-channel analog connections.

 I have an Oppo 980 in the bedroom system connected via HDMI.  Before I had an HDMI receiver and Blu-Ray player in the bedroom system, I had the Oppo and Sony 2000ES CD/SACD changer in there.  The Sony 2000ES was much better with analog connections vs. the Oppo 980.  The HDMI output on the 980 is better than its analog outs to my Marantz SR6300 rec'r.  I have my basement system connected via analog (Sony 2000ES and soon to be Marantz DV9600 I'm moving from the main system as I have my Modwright Oppo BDP-83).

With my older Pioneer 563a, and Denon 2200, I used the 5.1 analog outputs.
With my new Oppo BDP-83, sacd and dvd-audio work over the HDMI connection. I'm loving it.

 I have an Onkyo DV-SP506S universal player that can output the native DSD bistream using its HDMI output, but until I have a receiver that can decode DSD, I am using the analog outputs.

 John, I got the Oppo 980 about six months ago and just love it. I'm hooked up via HDMI, which is great because you have a lot more control balancing and managing the sound. One really strong recommendation is to check out the RCA Living Stereo SACDs. They are from historic performances from the dawn of Hi-Fi and stereo. Many are from the mid 1950s and early 1960s, with Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony and Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony being prominent in the series. RCA released about 60 of these discs, many of them feature 3-channel recordings and they sound amazing with many great performances. Of note are Pictures at an Exhibition, Saint Saens Symphony #3 and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherezade."  These discs are normally about 9 bucks each, but until November 30, they can be ordered from deepdiscount.com for $6.99 each which is amazing for what you get

Not sure if you want a recommendation, John...but the classic Van Cliburn disc in that Living Series series (with the Rachmaninoff 2nd and Tchaikovsky 1st piano concertos) sounds terrific. 

Of course, I listened to my dad play that LP about a zillion times growing up.  Never sounded this good. 

John,

Don't let the age of the Living Stereo SACDs scare you off.  I love every one that I have gotten (about 15 so far) and that includes the wonderful Van Cliburn disc that Mike above mentioned. Another really good one is the Symphony Fantastique. I think they might spoil you because they sound that rich. I have also gotten some of the newer Telarc 5:1 SACDs and they are pretty good. I haven't yet tried any of the stereo SACDs of the classic older performances on Telarc though. I imagine they would sound pretty nice.

 The Van Cliburn 1st is very perky so you might like it more than you think. I have the Zander 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th Mahler symphonies on Telarc and like them all, but I agree, the 1st is in a league of its own. I also have the Living Stereo SACD of Mahler's 4th with Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony and I think it is very good. You might want to pick up Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon SACD (Japanese pressing) for when you get your full surround going because it is a demonstration quality disc. The surround mix is very tasteful and the sound is incredible. Also, if you like some mellower sultry female jazz singing, you might try one of the Dianna Krall SACDs which are still fairly available and moderately priced. I'd recommend "The Look of Love." The are on the Verve label, and once again, a very tasteful surround mix is used. Also still available are about a half dozen Elton John albums on SACD in surround. I like them a lot but some people, especially on the Steve Hoffman forum, find them a little crisp for their taste. I think they really kick, but with 54-year-old ears, I might be rounding off the highs just a little bit these days.

You'd almost think Orson Welles will be sitting right there with you as you listen!

Since nobody has commented on this yet I'll give it a shot.

SACD seem to have released many more classical/jazz titles than DVD-A which seems to be mostly popular/rock. But both formats have titles in all categories. 

I think there are still the occasional release every now and then but they are few and far between. Often times they are included with a cd in the packaging (CD + DVD). But you have to be carefull. They may be called DVD-Audio but some of them are old-fashioned DD or DTS and not hi-res. And you can't always tell by taking a closer look at the label.

There were also a few older releases that were labeled DVD-Audio but were actually DD. I don't remember the the company that released them but they were in a white package and were mostly live performances. I remember one being Marvin Gaye.

Ans as I recall, there were at least a couple of SACD's labeled as multi-channel but were in fact stereo. The Kinks School Boy's In Disgrace is one of them.

The hope, of course, is that BR will take over for SACD/DVD-A. There's an interesting article in the latest edition of S & V mag (they did a few pages on multi-ch music) where Tom Petty talks about his new BR live concert and at least some of his earlier albums might be re-mixed for BR as audio only.

I figured when I typed it that I might be reaching a bit too far.   

Every time I hear Tchaikovsky's 1st, I think of Orson Welles and the War of the Worlds broadcast.  The Mercury Theater of the Air used to use that piece as their theme song...

I'm only 50 myself...but my wife always says I seem a lot older sometimes than I really am. 

Actually, I wasn't talking about Dual Disc, which was a single disc with a cd on one side and (almost always) a DVD-A on the other. I was talking about a seperate cd and dvd in the same package. I completely forgot about Dual Disc too   .



Remember....it's not the years but the mileage   .

One of the main reasons iLink (and most likely hdmi) should sound better than the analog inputs is you get to use your receivers processing.
 
Pioneer made three iLink players, the 47AVi, 59AVi and 79AVi. iLink players seem to be holding their value very well. Average prices should be $150-175, $175-225 and $200-300 respectivily. All three are now available on Audiogon for $250, $300 and $275. There's also a modified (?) 79 for $750! I have the 59 which is an excellent all-around player.

Yamaha also made an iLink player, the S-2500. I had one for a bit and while the performance was up to par, it did have it's quirks. And the menu/setup was more challenging. I have no experience with Denon but I'm sure their as good or better. Onkyo's high-end 1000 and it's Integra cousin (don't remember the real model numbers) also had iLink. There's one on Audiogon for $750.


 . I like MC but I do see your point. While I prefer an agressive mix, most times they are somewhat strange. But a good one is enjoyable. We all have our own oppinions but Alice Cooper's "Welcome To My Nightmare" DVD-A is one of my favorites. Weird music, but a nice mix. Toto IV was a real disappointment. Sometimes drums are in the center channel and vocals around the back???

The main reason I like MC is I listen at modest volumes and this allows me to fill the room without distubing the neighbors. But stereo cranked up would be just fine to me.

I think some MC mixes are just terrific.  Some, for sure, are gimmicky.

But for something like Diana Krall with her trio and strings surrounding her...pure heaven.  They really seem to work well with smaller jazz ensembles and classical groups. 

People doing the mixing can't even seem to agree on the best way to go.  Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead thinks the surround mix should put the listener on-stage with the band.  Others think a surround mix should give more of a concert hall ambience. 

DSotM = "gimmicky."  As does, I suppose, the 5.1 mix of Bohemian Rhapsody.  Although, for me, the 5.1 of BR sounds appropriate for some reason.  Maybe because the song itself is "gimmicky." 

The opening track (All that Jazz) of the soundtrack to Chicago on SACD, though, sounds marvelous.  It sounds like you're sitting in a club and the instruments are just washing over you from all directions.  Interestingly, they chose to remove the "jazz club" sfx from the track on the CD...but it still gives that feel of sitting at a stageside table. 

I don't believe so. I'm pretty sure those players are hdmi 1.1 and you need 1.2 for SACD and the particular player has to support it. For some reason the dv79avi manual isn't available on-line  .


The new Pioneer SC-09 ($6000) has it as does the Yamaha Z-11 (I think  ). I haven't looked at the flagship Denon to see if it has it


DVD-A only needs HDMI 1.1. The 59 will not play SACD thru hdmi. And remember, most players convert DSD to PCM for output thru hdmi which some feel degrades the sound quality. I don't have any experience with hi-res thru hdmi so I have know idea. There are a few players that transmit DSD over hdmi like the Pioneer dv58avi.  And you also need a receiver that accepts DSD like the Pioneer 94txh and 92txh. Again, not many that do but more avr's are DSD friendly than players. Am I puttin' ya to sleep yet?


I've been researching this whole thing for a couple of years now and they just don't want you to know what there products are capable of. CSR's don't even know. That's why I went with the older Pioneer i-Link stuff. I new they would do what I wanted them to do. Besides, I think i-Link really is the best way to transfer hi-res, in our budget.


Getting back to DVD-A and new releases, S & V magazine reports King Crimsons first 3 or 4 albums have been re-mixed in surround sound for release on DVD-A. I hope this is true. But why not just put it on BluRay?? It's almost the same thing?