28-Apr-2021, 18:19
Hi
I am sure many have this issue with SACD and Devialet Expert and I am trying to see if there is a solution out there. The problem with playing SACD and using Devialet Expert is this:
1. DSD data from SACD - Most SACD transports now extract the DSD data via an I2S link into their same-brand DAC which is the only way DSD is allowed to be extracted from SACD as stipulated by Sony. This is the best way to realize the full benefit of SACD but unfortunately DSD cannot be fed into the Devialet Expert.
2. Downsampled PCM (normally 88.2/24) - A few SACD transports are capable of this but most of them are being phased out. Whilst the downsampled PCM 88.2/24 can be fed into the Devialet Expert (via AES) it is not the most ideal as one is not getting the full benefit of the SACD because of the downsampling
Therefore my questions are:
1. Are there any solutions for the Devialet Expert to receive the full DSD data from SACD?
2. Assuming that one decides to go down the route of purchasing the same-brand SACD transport and DAC, this would mean that the DSD data would be extracted from the SACD and processed into analog signal by the DAC before being fed to the Devialet Expert. However, the Devialet Expert would then digitize the analog signal from the DAC and convert the digitized signal once again to analog signal before outputting to the speakers. By going through this Devialet 'digitization' process, would the DSD data be 'colored' or even 'corrupted' further as it has gone through two rounds of digital-analog conversion, once by the DAC and a second time by the Devialet Expert? Or is the sound still very close or true to the full DSD sound despite having gone through the second round of digital-analog conversion in the Devialet Expert? I have read many who use combination of same-brand SACD transport-DAC and monoblocks that the resulting sound from SACD is amazing as it is the full extraction of the SACD DSD data. And I am wondering if using same-brand SACD transport-DAC and feeding into Devialet Expert will produce the same amazing sound? Ideally, the best most 'uncorrupted' way would be to extract the DSD data and feed it directly into the Devialet Expert but this is not possible because it does not have an I2S link input
Just as background, for a long time, I was using the PS Audio Directstream Memory Player (DMP) as transport for my SACD. The DMP had the option of downsampling the SACD data to PCM 88.2khz/24bit which would be fed via AES directly into my Expert Pro 1000 which sounded great. However the DMP had many issues and I was presented with PS Audio's new version of the transport (Perfectwave Transport). Unfortunately this new transport will no longer downsample SACD to 88.2/24 via AES (in other words the AES will only output the 44.1/16 CD layer of the SACD). Hence I can't play SACD now - because it is not possible to feed DSD data from SACD to my Expert Pro 1000 and the new transport does not downsample the SACD data to PCM 88.2/24.
Would really appreciate your feedback and experience. Thanks.
I am sure many have this issue with SACD and Devialet Expert and I am trying to see if there is a solution out there. The problem with playing SACD and using Devialet Expert is this:
1. DSD data from SACD - Most SACD transports now extract the DSD data via an I2S link into their same-brand DAC which is the only way DSD is allowed to be extracted from SACD as stipulated by Sony. This is the best way to realize the full benefit of SACD but unfortunately DSD cannot be fed into the Devialet Expert.
2. Downsampled PCM (normally 88.2/24) - A few SACD transports are capable of this but most of them are being phased out. Whilst the downsampled PCM 88.2/24 can be fed into the Devialet Expert (via AES) it is not the most ideal as one is not getting the full benefit of the SACD because of the downsampling
Therefore my questions are:
1. Are there any solutions for the Devialet Expert to receive the full DSD data from SACD?
2. Assuming that one decides to go down the route of purchasing the same-brand SACD transport and DAC, this would mean that the DSD data would be extracted from the SACD and processed into analog signal by the DAC before being fed to the Devialet Expert. However, the Devialet Expert would then digitize the analog signal from the DAC and convert the digitized signal once again to analog signal before outputting to the speakers. By going through this Devialet 'digitization' process, would the DSD data be 'colored' or even 'corrupted' further as it has gone through two rounds of digital-analog conversion, once by the DAC and a second time by the Devialet Expert? Or is the sound still very close or true to the full DSD sound despite having gone through the second round of digital-analog conversion in the Devialet Expert? I have read many who use combination of same-brand SACD transport-DAC and monoblocks that the resulting sound from SACD is amazing as it is the full extraction of the SACD DSD data. And I am wondering if using same-brand SACD transport-DAC and feeding into Devialet Expert will produce the same amazing sound? Ideally, the best most 'uncorrupted' way would be to extract the DSD data and feed it directly into the Devialet Expert but this is not possible because it does not have an I2S link input
Just as background, for a long time, I was using the PS Audio Directstream Memory Player (DMP) as transport for my SACD. The DMP had the option of downsampling the SACD data to PCM 88.2khz/24bit which would be fed via AES directly into my Expert Pro 1000 which sounded great. However the DMP had many issues and I was presented with PS Audio's new version of the transport (Perfectwave Transport). Unfortunately this new transport will no longer downsample SACD to 88.2/24 via AES (in other words the AES will only output the 44.1/16 CD layer of the SACD). Hence I can't play SACD now - because it is not possible to feed DSD data from SACD to my Expert Pro 1000 and the new transport does not downsample the SACD data to PCM 88.2/24.
Would really appreciate your feedback and experience. Thanks.
