Have New L.K.S. HM-DA9038 with Oppo95 won't play SACD's, HDMI input on DAC is for 12S data

Thanks so much for the response. I do really like this DAC even only after a few days and a feel on tuning everything in with the different filters, and with my Dbx-360, etc... I Knew about that Sony's restrictions on SACD's, that why when I say the HDMI input, I thought perfect, I can now transfer the SACD Data from the Oppo to the DAC, and then have the ability to use the Balanced XLR's. Wth the use of the mono ESS9038's, and everything else they have done with the DAC
, I really saw a lot it had to offer. I really don't have that many SACD's that I couldn't do as you mentioned. But my other issue is a big one, I'm a Mac guy, and when I saw that streaming through L. K. S that "Need" 
10.6 IOS + I assumed that it would run with the latest running operating system of the IOS , which for me wasn't a issue. I can't get it to stream from my laptop "Tidal", or anything else. I then did some more researching and found that someone said that it Doesn't operate with the IOS platform, Mac's, and for me that all I use. I see that there are some Mod's being done with these new L.K.S DAC with what I read are some great improvements to already a great DAC. Is there anyone doing any kind of Mods to them, or do are you aware of what can be done to make it work with Mac's. I may need to return it. I may just go to a dedicated CD/SACD player with hopes I can find one that can match the quality of what this has to offer and stream music with Mac. Again, right now I'm using the Oppo 95 as the transport which I love the ease of operating with the remote and sound that I get with the Oppo 95 for now. I'm thinking a cd/sacd player like the Yamaha cd2000/2100 , Marantz hi end SACD/CD players, etc..
I really do like what this L.K.S. HM-DA004 sounds like, and what it has under the hood, Like the  twin mono ESS9038 . I just can't image what it can do after reading about some of the mods being done to it now.
Really appreciate the input.

Couple of things. There are people that will mod anything, and the spacious layout of the LKS just feeds that hobby. Yet in its un-modded form it has been compared to the very best and the very expensive. The mods being done are quite sophisticated--at the moment over at head-fi, substituting in a new femto-clock.

I am surprised that you have had trouble with the ios. Given that you meet the Mac OSX 10.6+ requirement, I would have thought it would be simple, and much easier than Windows for which a driver has to be installed. LKS usually also recommends a program like JRiver or Foobar. I’m pretty sure you will need one of these to set the right output. Before you decide to give up on it, I would recommend that you write to the designer. He is Jinbo at LKS. Email: [email protected] His English is excellent and he will try to help by email. Could be a day or two turn-around. He has explained things very clearly to me when I needed help.

If you want to play disks I guess that’s OK, but if you can get the Amanero board to respond to your computer, you may find it so much more convenient to rip all of your disks and play them from a hard disk. There are lots of ways to do it, but I bypass my Oppo 105 and use JRiver and control the whole process from my phone. Even if you want to use the the Oppo and its coax output, if you rip your pcm disks you can play them controlling from your phone using the Oppo app. Most people I run into believe the SQ is better that way than playing the disk directly. I certainly do.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out.

I play SACDs from my Oppo 105 into my Bryston DAC3, which has 4 HDMI inputs.  The Oppo is set to send DSD from SACD into the DAC over HDMI.
NAD also makes a DAC with true HDMI inputs for about half the cost of the Bryston.

@mahler123,

The Briston costs about $2000 more than the LKS,  Not to mention an extra $250 for its remote control.  Really!  The LKS has a much more robust power supply and a fully discrete balanced analog section.  Comes with a remote.  I guess one could argue the relative merits of the DAC chips and clocks used in each.  Much too much of a premium though simply to have the hdmi input for a few disks.

Besides, why would anyone in 2019 want to deal routinely with silver disks for audio, except as a file delivery device?.  With your Oppo you can easily rip the DSD disks

Which NAD DAC are you referring to?

Thanks Melm,
I appreciate the great info, and it is  really good to hear how well your music is working out for you. In regards to Running the IOS on  Macbook, I wasn't thinking. I finally check out the output and it was set up wrong on my computer, easy fix, and  is working fine now. I also had to change some setting in the Oppo 95 for the DSD /PCM files and then it all came together.  I've been reading and researching as much as I can  in learning, or catching up with the Digital DACs. I really do like the sound that I'm hearing. I have been playing my SACD's by running then through a different input on the oppo, so I have kind of worked out all those issues, but not running the SACDs through the L.K.S 2 channel DAC. 

It's really good to hear such positive feedback on the New L.L.S DAC from someone whom owns one. How are you running everything from your phone, I was under the impression that it had to run through the usb port by a computer. Did you install a USB Board for wi fi, or is the Oppo app  you mentioned running everything through it. I did,'t realize it could tie into my itunes music library. Looks like I have some more researching. 
The LK.S manual is so basic, it's difficult to get much out of it. Can you use the L.K.S also for network streaming. Right now I have my Laptop sitting on top of a shelve tied into it with the usb input and listening to Sirius, Tidal, right now. I just don't like the laptop having to be hooked up next to it. Unfortunately , my main computer is on the other side of the house. If I can't put everything together, and  I'm trying because I really think this Dac is really nice with so much potential.  I'm trying to learn about the different Fir Filters, like what best for certain sounds, and what they perform and such.  If I can't,  I was looking  at the possibility  of getting an All is one ,  the Lumin D2 Network streamer with the  Wolfson DAC 8741 running mono on each side as the L.K.S., But honestly I don't know how those DAC match up to the  ESS 9308, which I've alway been a big fan on the ESS DAC's. Any help and input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks