HydrogenAudio

CD-R and Audio Hardware => CD Hardware/Software => Topic started by: Anakunda on 2012-03-04 22:20:33

Title: SACD decoders: do different ones differ in their output quality?
Post by: Anakunda on 2012-03-04 22:20:33
HI, I wanted to know if there's a conversion quality difference among various SACD rippers, or do they give exactly same quality? I only know about SACD plugin for foobar, is it at least as good as other SACD extractors?
Title: SACD decoders: do different ones differ in their output quality?
Post by: db1989 on 2012-03-04 23:06:30
Please keep this to a purely academic discussion of the technicalities of different decoders, not anything specific to ripping or extraction, in view of the fact that SACDs possess copy-protection and any discussion of the circumvention thereof is prohibited by TOS #9.

Also, as per TOS #6, please title your threads with something more than just the name of that to which you are referring. Try something like “Name of thing: my question is this”, not just “Name of thing”.
Title: SACD decoders: do different ones differ in their output quality?
Post by: lvqcl on 2012-03-05 03:22:12
SACD plugin for foobar2000 is not a ripper
Title: SACD decoders: do different ones differ in their output quality?
Post by: saratoga on 2012-03-05 03:41:51
The foobar2000 decoder won't rip anything, only convert DSD to PCM, but its probably quite good since it uses the built in foobar2000 resampler for the conversion.  See:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=76080 (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=76080)
Title: SACD decoders: do different ones differ in their output quality?
Post by: Anakunda on 2012-03-05 07:39:49
Okay I know it's not ripper but decoder, wanted to only know about it's decoding quality compared to decoding only quality of other extractors, thanks.
Btw. can I use DSD output with Realtek HD Audio and does it sound any better than PCM output?
Title: SACD decoders: do different ones differ in their output quality?
Post by: GeSomeone on 2012-03-05 10:35:27
Btw. can I use DSD output with Realtek HD Audio and does it sound any better than PCM output?

For one it will depend on the next part of the chain and how it is connected. I doubt a PC soundcard will do DSD, without HDMI there is no chance. Also when using foobar2000 it will be converted to PCM anyway.

The discussion if DSD sounds better than PCM should be avoided as it is as pointless as the vinyl sounds better arguments. Try it, if you can, and decide what you prefer. Keep in mind that a lot of devices decode internally to PCM before the DAC.