News help choosing a SACD Player / transport
I am very satisfied with my actual system and I like specially my Lampizator DAC sound.
On the other hand, I have some SACD discs which I have ripped, but I feel I do not get same quality when listening to them using a Esoteric player, that a friend has lent for testing if I find differences with the ripped files.
Please, need advice on a SACD player or transport that I could connect to my DAC USING the SACD layer (DSD)
Price is not the main driver although I prefer staying under $5000 and used gear is acceptable.
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.. |
I’ve got a Lampizator big 7 dac - as well as an oppo sacd player and a pro ject rad standard red book transport - I’ve given up on DSD - even though my dac will play DSD. Sacd are mostly multi channel - and the only way I can successfully play an sacd layer is to use the dac in the oppo and output all analog channels to my multi channel ht processor ive also found that there are few sacd recordings recorded well enough to bother with the hassle - red book cd’s on the pro ject transport sound better than the tidal streamed equivalent - but it mostly depends on the quality of the original recording - and how many copies of dire straits / pink Floyd and steely Dan do you need to have id rather listen to discs through my two channel set up than the multi channel home theatre set up as the fidelity is better |
I thought your objective was to output native DSD. Many responded with products that output DSD by DOP. The only two transports I know that output native DSD are the PS Audio Perfect Wave and the Metronome DST. I am sure there may be others. I have not auditioned either, so I have no recommendation. Rather, my recommendation is to purchase a server-streamer that outputs native DSD downloads from the server such as an Aurender N200 or a preowned N20. Native DSD is output by USB only. I believe your DAC has a USB input. I may be wrong. I noticed from your profile you are using a MiniMac. Either Aurender will give significantly improved SQ to that. The counterpoint is that you will need to purchase your favorite SACDs as Native DSD downloads and some may not be available. Otherwise, you need to resign yourself to a player not connected to your DAC or conversion to PCM. BTW: Other than using the MiniMac, phenomenal system. |
