Well, it doesn’t say specifically that it is passing the DSD layer, but if your DAC says it is then that’s a valid indicator. If many more people learn of these devices I have to believe the D.BOB’s value is going to plummet. Maybe they’re technically illegal and flying under the radar? I don’t know, but I actually like the outputs better on this device than the D.BOB. You’ve got a direct I2S output in addition to the coax and optical that the D.BOB has.
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.
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FWIW, here's my old report on the D.BOB: https://www.stereophile.com/content/geerfab-audio-dbob-digital-breakout-box |
Don't think there's anything "illegal" about playing music from media you've purchased. If you're copying it, that's when you get into copyright infringement. |
I have had several SACD players over the years. The latest are Reavon and Sony universal disk devices. The Sony is a pure transport with two HDMI outputs. The Reavon might as well be a transport because its dacs are unsuitable for DSD - it converts to CD quality. But it also has two HDMI outputs. You can choose the CD layer, or either two-channel or multi-channel DSD which are not converted to PCM. Never a problem with HDMI which can transport just about every high-res audio format in multi-channel glory. It was designed as much for audio as for video and can shift 48-Gbps - going to 96-Gbps. Try that with I2S |
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