SACD Player vs SACD Transport to use the D. Bob a/k/a Digital Breakout Box
Seeking the ability to hear the DSD layer of an SACD. The current standard is PCM. I have read that there is a legal invention called the Digital Break Out Box which allows the user to hear but not copy the DSD layer. Only interested in listening, not copying. It is called the D. Bob and the seller sells same at geerfab.com. My reading says if you wish to use a SACD transport and hear the DSD layer and you wish to connect to an external DAC then the transport must have an HDMI out. Do any SACD transports have this HDMI. Thought HDMI was only for televisions and not high end audio. I f I purchase a SACD player, do I still need the Geer Fab Box in order to hear the DSD layer of the SACD. In short, will I need the box in all cases? IF I am incorrect about any of my assertions, would welcome any constructive criticism.
You asked, "If I purchase a SACD player, do I still need the Geer Fab Box in order to hear the DSD layer of the SACD." The answer to that is no. The SACD player will play the SACD layer from its analog outputs. But, unless something has changed magically over the years, you will need to have an SACD player (or SACD transport) in any event because you need the laser in it that reads the SACD layer of the disc. It wasn't clear in your post if you were planning on that. |
If your DAC has an i2s input, there are inexpensive (less than $100) hdmi to i2s converters that do the same thing. I had no issues playing SACDS through my Rockna DAC and the sound quality is a night and day difference. The big variable is what the i2s implement is on your DAC. Most also include coax and digital outputs, so i2s isn't required on your DAC. |
@big_greg could you post a link to this converter? I would like some confirmation that it is indeed passing along the DSD layer and not converting to PCM. |
Here's one https://ebay.us/m/prFlUm My DAC shows that it is receiving a DSD64 stream. Whether it's DSD or PCM, it sounds great. |
