News help choosing a SACD Player / transport

While it is true that many SACDs are originally recorded using high resolution PCM, not all eschew DSD.  Editing is much harder in DSD, and adding effects really requires conversion, so pure DSD recordings tend to be of classical works, not pop/rock.

An alternative format for delivering high resolution PCM on silver disk is Pure Audio Blu-ray.  This is another reason for choosing a universal disc transport over a specialised player.

The Norwegian company 2l.no, probably the world leaders in immersive sound, often deliver packs containing both hybrid SACD and Blu-ray, sometimes including Dolby Atmos.  The differences between these and 2-channel stereo are astounding - you are not left wondering about some barely audible difference!

@old_ears 

"Assume yes...DSD over USB is DoP (DSD over PCM);  that is DSD 1 bit files embedded in PCM protocols (files)."

Yup, for me, sound wise, SACD .dsf files played in this way is the same as SACD hard drive.  Note: the DAC will show the file as DSD64.  However, when SACD .dsf files are actually converted to PCM, usually 24-bit, 88.2 kHz PCM file and the DAC shows the file as PCM, I feel like something is "lost in translation"...  lol. 

First, thank you all for your answers and suggestions.

Some of them request or need more information from my side, here it is:

My DAC: Lampizator Golden Atlantic: it is a previous version of the present Atlantic TRP, made with better components than its equivalent Atlantic. I love its sound and I think it does not convert DSD to PCM.

My DAC playing DSD files: I made several comparisons with files downloaded from Native DSD, and I prefer always the DSD file to the PCM file. It does not matter the recording was made in PCM or in DSD or in “Pure” DSD.

My small problem and why I have put this demand for help: my ripped SACDs (all of them old Classical recordings of great and big orchestras) sound worse when played with my system: server - Roon app - Lampizator DAC than when played with an Esoteric K-03XDse (owned by a friend) Besides, ripping the SACDs is a non easy task for me.

So for the time being and from the answers, I see three options:

1) Go with Esoteric PLAYERS, but price of the lowest one K-05xd is too high

2) Go with the Onyx Zenith XST20 TRANSPORT, whose specs say it delivers “DSD64 via DoP or D2P via Optical / Coaxial / BNC / AES” to any DAC: that would be my case as my DAC has not I2S input.

But I do not have any reference from this manufacturer owned by Shanling, and no dealer in my zone has this equipment.

3) Keep my system as it is … but all of you know that this is not a pleasant thing for any of us.

Any other idea or recommendation for my three options?

@corente 

Shanling Onyx SACD transport. $2400, should work with your budget

https://www.safeandsoundhq.com/products/shanling-onix-zenith-xst20-sacd-cd-transport

It will do native dsd transport through I2S only and offers 10 different adjustable I2S pin configurations (fpgq assisted for compatibility with any number of dacs).

Don't get stuck with some other gatekeeping manufacturer forcing you on their own dac & transport combos..

PS Audio, Esoteric, Luxman, McIntosh