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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.

 

kjl1065
brbrock's avatar
brbrock
167 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara Do you have any new updates on the DAC's you are testing?

yyzsantabarbara
5,557 posts
 

I have the imersiv D-1 working great with my CODA #11 and Yamaha NS5000 speakers in the Livingroom. In fact, it will get even better since I sent the CODA back to the factory to get refreshed and they are going to add some new parts that they think are improvements, such as new amp speaker cable terminals.

A couple of folks on Head-Fi and Audiogon have contacted me on the D-1. I advised them on how to get a home demo, and they ended up buying the DAC. It is different from all other DACs, so resolving.

For my office, I will be buying the Meitner MA3i DAC after I sell my CODA #16 amp, I am keeping the #11 amp, and I bought a low-cost Class D amp for the office. The office does not need an amp as good as the #16. The Meitner MA3i (or the D-1) in the office makes a bigger difference.

The Meitner is not as resolving as the D-1 but is a terrific DAC nevertheless. It is incredible on SACD's with my D.BOB. The built-in streamer is also very good. The D-1 does not work with the D.BOB on SPDIF and only has XLR output. The RCA on the D-1 may not work on some systems, like mine. I need the RCA out for headphones. The Meitner is also a bit warmer than the D-1. 

At the moment I am using the RME DAC in the office and it is as functional as the Meitner. It also sounds very good, the MA3i sounds great in the office.

BTW - I heard the $10k Bricasti SACD transport with a $5k Bricasti DAC. I think the D.BOB and the Meitner are better with my $240 OPPO transport.

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,557 posts
 

I see I spoke about the network streamer on the MA3i. After some changes in cabling, I was rather happy with the Ethernet into the MA3i. So much so that I sold 1 of my 2 Sonore OpticalRendu's. The Rendu's are better than the Ethernet streaming, however the Ethernet was good enough and I wanted the $1k from the Rendu sale to save up for the MA3i.

I use the remaining Rendu to stream to the D-1 DAC

yyzsantabarbara
5,557 posts
 

I should add that I had the Meitner MA3i at my home for about 16 days of demo, so I put a lot of hours on it streaming via Ethernet.

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