External DACs and universal format CD players

2019-07-24 04:17:00

Though I am not a huge fan of formats such as DVD-A and SACD, I do find that artists release unique remasters in these formats that are not available on CD or via digital download that I would like to give a listen to.

I recently purchased a used Pioneer DVD player that will play DVD-A and SACD discs.  If I were to connect this DVD player to a receiver via either TOSLink or Coaxial to a receiver, what formats does the receiver need to support?  I assume if the DAC can do 16/44.1 PCM, CDs will play just fine.  But what happens with SACDs?  Will the receiver need to support DSD in order to decode a digital signal from the player when playing an SACD?  And what abut DVD-A?  It's native format is MLP, which I believe is just compressed PCM?  Will the player decompress the MLP into PCM, or does the DAC in the receiver need to be able to handle native MLP?

Re: External DACs and universal format CD players

Reply #1 – 2019-07-24 05:51:36

It is not possible to send DSD over toslink and coaxial. Also it is not possible to send multichannel over toslink and coaxial except lossy DTS and AC3.

Re: External DACs and universal format CD players

Reply #2 – 2019-07-24 12:45:07

So, for DVD-A and SACD, I have to use the analog out, instead of the digital out?

Re: External DACs and universal format CD players

Reply #3 – 2019-07-24 22:55:10

Yes.
Is it 575A?

Re: External DACs and universal format CD players

Reply #4 – 2019-07-24 23:33:27

Pioneer Elite DV-45A

Re: External DACs and universal format CD players

Reply #5 – 2019-07-25 00:49:18

Quote from: apastuszak on 2019-07-24 23:33:27

Pioneer Elite DV-45A

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/Manuals/Home/DV-45A_OperationInstructions_B.pdf

Page 31 says that SACD disables digital out, and DVD-A will either disable it or give you a downsampled output depending on the disk.