audphile1 and cundare2
This is a bit of rambling diversion from the Op's post but,
1. The T+A 2005 specs, being 2ch, looks like it would allow an outboard SACD "Player" to be set to output the 2ch DSD layer of a standard SACD disk, via HDMI to the T+A; that is a 1bit stream (native) and the dedicated T+A "streaming" DSD DAC will do the decoding to analogue and put it out to the amp section and speakers. I'm doing similar with an OPPO 83...but the 1bit output goes to a Pontus II with a 1bit SACD DAC inside...via I2s/HDMI thru a $60 breakout box. It was all plug and play!...usually Best sound! (depending on the recording/mixing).
2. Cundare2, Understand ur frustrations with wanting best DAC performance on multi-ch HT as well as front channels... but the main issue to me is completely different file types; Adobe and other movie codecs are not analogue (PCM/PoP, 16/24/36bit-96/192/ etc.) nor DSD 1bit. So they require dedicate digital converters, in a "Player" or AV receiver. There are expensive outboard multi-ch decoders also but in all cases the sound and video are packaged together to create a cohesive atmosphere... except for the occasional Dolby Atmos audio disks. So any AVS decoding needs all input channels to be treated equally (eg. volume and delays, LFE, room correction, etc).
3. Though DSD has inherently greater sonic possibilities, I find many times Redbook 16/44.1 CDs sound as good or better than SACD versions...manage expectations and just groove with the Music!
