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Esoteric SA-60

Never have I had such problems with a piece of equipment.  It's connected to the 7.1 bypass array of a Bryston SP3.  The display shows multichannel when I play a surround SACD, but I get sound only from the center channel.  I removed the parallel balanced stereo connection between the SA-60 and SP3, but that had no effect.  I never heard stereo from the SA-60 when I selected the balanced input, but I think I've heard stereo and multichannel from 7.1 bypass.

The trouble seemed to start when I learned that the SP3 does no processing in the bypass modes so provides no speaker management.  I set up speaker management using the menu of the SA-60.  But I've tried clearing the SA-60 memory several times since then.

I hope the problem is pilot error and not a defective SA-60. 

dbphd
dbphd OP
1,643 posts
 
I also think my problem is with the menu settings.  I've reset the menu several times, consulting the manual at each step, but later today I'll go through it again.  The SA-60 display shows that it recognizes DSD, is playing the disc, and the speaker icon matches the purported output array.  I hoped resetting the memory and the overnight power-down would give me a fresh start, but I haven't heard a sound from the SA-60 since.  I've been setting up audio equipment for 60 years, and this is the first time I've experienced such problems.

gocubs999
156 posts
 
The fact your only hearing sound from the center channel using the 5.1/7.1 analog input of the Bryston SP3 is leading me to thinking the Esoteric unit is the offender here. As you probably know, there are several formats available of standard SACD's (3 to be exact) With my DV50S, you can change the readable format from Stereo Audio, 5.1 Channel audio and for standard SACD's. (reading right from the manual). This function cannot be performed from the remote, but; the unit itself. 
Short of telling the SA-60 which section to read for playback, sound from only the center is .......pointing to an issue with the SA-60 if all of the setup settings are correct.
jafant's avatar
jafant
21,553 posts
 
db-

Keep me posted and Happy Listening!
jafant's avatar
jafant
21,553 posts
 
gocubs999-

how do you like your DV-50s ? This one is on my list.
Happy Listening!
dbphd OP
1,643 posts
 
This evening I reset the SA-60 memory, set it to multichannel, digital to off, group to continuous.  It played 5.1 splendidly.  I stopped the disc and set speakers sizes: mains to large, center and surrounds to small, SW to on.  It's still playing!  Not sure if I'm brave enough to attempt setting speaker levels.  I think I've done these setting without success in the past several days.  As I write this, I'm playing a recording of Corelli Concerti Grossi Op. 6 that Kal Rubinson recommended, and it is beautiful in surround. 
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