Playing SACD discs

[Confused]

if  you dont want to go into pc audio... will you be getting more SACD's?

why dont you purchase a cheaper SACD player with a digital output?

my understanding was that digital outputs on SACD players only supply the CD layer info; and that the SACD bitstream is not available digitally except over an encrypted digital output like HDMI (a copy protection designed into the SACD system by Sony).

The exception is early Playstation 3s just after SACD was added, where they overlooked this in the firmware that processes the disc bitstream. Sony later corrected this, hence the current market for serviceable early PS3's with FW 3.55 or lower.

My Pioneer BDP-450, which is a relatively cheap and cheerful Bluray and SACD player, will output the SACD layer.  This unit is a transport only, no DAC or analogue output.  Maybe this is one way around the copyright restrictions?  Maybe Pioneer ignore the restrictions!  I'm not sure.  It can be set to output 24bit PCM, which is how I've been using it with the Devialet.  I guess it might work outputting bitstream now we have the 8.x.x firmware?  I'll give this a try at the weekend.