Question about SACD and DSD


Hello,

So I have a question about SACD and DSD because I am I guess a bit confused about something.

First of all let me say that the reason I ask this question is because I am thinking about getting a better SACD player.

Currently I have a Denon Blu-ray Player which I use for CD/SACD playback and I have the digital coax connected directly to my DAC.

CD/SACD's sound great, so I can't complain about that.

I know that SACD is basically DSD 2.8

I also realize that I should probably use the analog output of the Denon Blu-ray going directly to my Integrated Amp because the SACD is simply getting converted to PCM 44.1 from the DAC (it displays as such).

But...

What I am a bit confused on is: Say I have a SACD and I have also ripped the SACD layer to DSD Files.

Now if I listen to the SACD the recommended way through the Denon Player via Analog outputs, will it sound just as good as if I listen to the DSD File version going from my PC to my DAC to the Integrated?

When playing a SACD from a player, are you truly getting the full DSD experience or because it's going through the player, it's just slightly better then CD but not as good as full DSD?

I guess I started thinking about this when I discovered that PS Audio equipment with their I2S connections (according to them because I have not experienced it) stated that, that is the best way to listen to SACD because they are transferring over pure DSD without any conversion.

Well wouldn't that be the same as listening to DSD files from a computer then?

If my thinking is correct, then I don't see a point in upgrading to a better SACD Player, might as well just get my SACD's ripped to DSD files and only purchase DSD versions of new albums (if I think it's worth it, I know there are not many out there).

But if listening to SACD's from a SACD player provides the same experience as listening to the DSD version, then I would consider getting a better player and growing my SACD collection.

Hope what I am asking makes sense.

I guess ultimately, I should just do a test and get a SACD ripped to DSD and then compare.

But I wanted to ask because I always wondered: are we getting the full DSD experience from a SACD?

Thanks

Jay


128x128jay73
Good question. I’m confused about this too. I will say, when you have a truly good system (which I believe I do), what you crave are the best recordings available (few and far between).
I am not sure what you want to know.  What DAC do you have?  How does it handle DSD from files?  What are you using to play your files on the PC?

In theory, direct conversion of DSD to analog is superior to an intermediate conversion to PCM.  In practice, it will depend on the specific routes, rates and devices.  

I prefer playing the files from directly as DSD to a DSD-capable DAC.
Thanks for the responses.

@kr4 , I have a Questyle CMA400i DAC which can handle up to DSD256 (They claim True DSD without any PCM Converting).

On the PC side, I use JRiver Software.

I've bought a few DSD albums but the album that really opened up my ears and eyes was, "Temptation" by Chantal Chamberland.

That album is really good on DSD.