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SACD Player/Transport Choices

I am planning to acquire a McIntosh MCT500 to go with my C53 (proprietary MCT connection).  But I am wondering if there are other good SACD transport choices that will send a true DSD stream to an external DAC on a non-proprietary basis, either through USB or I2S.  I’m trying to research this, but it’s difficult to find definitive answers regarding the actual digital stream from SACD - often I discover that the stream is converted to PCM.  I do know PSAudio has a scheme similar to McIntosh.

I realize simply purchasing DSD and streaming from an SSD is probably more practical these days.  But I am sort of fixated on a physical disc player.  Budget-wise, most interested in transports around or below that of the MCT500 (~$5K). Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

mattsca
slaw's avatar
slaw
26,515 posts
 

@mattsca 

I bought an Esoteric K-05X on the used market over a year ago and have been very happy. I don't plan on upgrading and this unit has many features, 4 dacs onboard, one of the best transport mechanism out there.

jmrrobbie1
88 posts
 

Great info on this thread.... would appreciate any insight for a transport to pair with my DAC.

I have a McIntosh MCD 600, rarely used other then to contrast & compare sources in my system. It has a built in DAC; I was expecting more with CD/SACDs? In the past year upgraded and "finalized" my digital stream path = Aurender N20 streamer & Berkley Audio Series 3 DAC; now looking at selling/trading the MCD600 for a transport without DAC to take advantage of the Berkley DAC when playing SACDs/CDs. Connections are minimal in the Berkley (they are not fans of USB).  The streamer is connected via the only AES input, it would be cumbersome to have to disconnect/connect streamer & transport each time.  Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome for a transport to take compliment my DAC? 

My Dac: Input sampling rate: 32kHz to 192kHz, Input word length: 24-bit, Ultra-low phase noise Precision Clocking at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz sampling rates ± 100 ppm, Digital Inputs: AES - XLR, 110Ω; SPDIF1 - BNC, 75Ω; SPDIF2 - BNC, 75Ω; TOSLINK - Toslink optical connector, MQA rendering automatically detects MQA Core decoded signals and performs MQA rendering to 384kHz and above, HDCD decoding detects 16-bit flag at 44.1kHz or 24-bit flag at all sampling rates, Multiple digital filter options.

meambler
115 posts
 

As I understand it the Oppo's don't have I2s capabilities unless they have been modified with a separate I2S converter card. Which are available through Oppomod.com. Do I have that right?

Currently I am trying to find a way to use the I2s connection between my Oppo 205d and a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC. 

The converter card on Oppomod.com has all the models of the Oppo's listed except the 205d. Trying to get info from them.

There are I2s converters that can be used between the units but I have no clue as to which are quality and which might be junk.

Anybody have any insights? Thanks

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