SACD and the XDA-2

[mepositive]

My ERC and iMac (Spotify streaming) are both connected to the XDA-2. And in both cases I see that they are playing 44.1KHZ versions. I was expecting to see a different value when playing SACDs. Just played my first one, and the XDA continues to show it as 44.1 KHZ.

Is there something wrong that I am doing? Or am I just mistaken.

Appreciate your thoughts.

[garbulky]

I know the ERC doesn't do SACD's. Your imac has an SACD drive?

[RightinLA]

The ERC is playing the CD layer of the disc. Unfortunately, it can't play the SACD layer, so your XDA-2 is showing this.

[mepositive]

Thank you.

I assumed that the ERC could play SACD. That explains it indeed.

[roadrunner]

Jan 6, 2013 13:59:09 GMT -5 mepositive said:

Thank you.

I assumed that the ERC could play SACD. That explains it indeed.

The DAC used in the ERC and the XDA have native SACD capability, but Sony was unwilling to negotiate a reasonable license agreement with Emotiva so the SACD flag on the DAC is not enabled. Sony has a long history of being difficult to deal with, but if they ever change their stance on Licensing Agreements the ERC-2 and XDA-2 could easily be enabled to play SACD encoded media by turning on the flag in the DAC.

[hemster]

^ Sony again!

I sincerely hope they see play ball and that the ERC-2 and XDA-2 can be firmware updated to play SACDs.

[RightinLA]

They licensed OPPO, so I don't see why this can't be negotiated with Emotiva.

[djoel]

Jan 6, 2013 23:33:25 GMT -5 RightinLA said:

They licensed OPPO, so I don't see why this can't be negotiated with Emotiva.

Perhaps $$$$$$ would help things move along more smoothly.

Djoel

[RightinLA]

How much would each owner of an ERC-2 be willing to pay to have SACD on their machines?
We would still be limited to two channel SACD as the ERC-2 doesn't have HDMI output and I don't believe that Sony will let multichannel SACD be available over fiber to prevent piracy.

[stiehl11]

Just buy the Oppo and get it all! ;D Besides, as witnessed at Emofest, the ERC-2 won't play the CD layer of certain hybrid SACDs.

[Dark Ranger]

Jan 7, 2013 0:08:46 GMT -5 stiehl11 said:

Besides, as witnessed at Emofest, the ERC-2 won't play the CD layer of certain hybrid SACDs.

Interesting. All my hybrid SACDs play fine in my ERC-2.

I'd love SACD playback, but as RightinLA pointed out, it would be limited to 2 channel output. Oh well, my HK player is fine for now. If it ever breaks or dies, I'll just get an OPPO. ;D

[brubacca]

I find it hard to believe that Sony wouldn't licence SACD to Emotiva. It is much more likely that based on design criteria or target price point that Emotiva chose not to include SACD.

If it added another $100 how would that have affected sales?

[geebo]

Also remember that SACD will not play over anything but HDMI and analog outputs per the licensing. So an XDA (with neither of those) cannot play SACDs in anything other than the hybrid CD layer. DSD cannot be sent over coax or Toslink. So ,even if you do get an SACD player, you won't be able to use an XDA to do anything other than what you have now. You would have to bypass the XDA to get the full benefit.

[peterk]

I may be wrong but my Denon multi player (1940?) has a setting for 2 channel SACD output. So would think that using just the 2 main front channel analog outputs of the multichannel output would give me a stereo SACD signal without having to go to the CD layer. Not sure what happens in the player if it combines the other surround and center channels into a stereo output or if it just ignores them.

Well that was not worth typing as I forgot the XDA-2 does not have RCA analog inputs. Would have to go to my pre-amp. So - geebo is correct as no way to get an SACD signal into the XDA-2.

[reedermw]

SACD and DVD-Audio both appear to be dying a slow death. It's becoming more difficult to find these as time goes on. I would be more keen on the XDA supporting HDCD (if it doesn't already). HDCD is used in a high percentage of redbook audio CD's. I would guess that 50% of all the CD's out there are mastered with HDCD. Note however that most of them don't advertise it. It's rare to see HDCD noted on the packaging. Does anyone know if the XDA supports HDCD? The specs on the ERC show that it does and this is a function of the DAC so I'm guessing that it does but the web page for the XDA doesn't mention it.

[moovtune]

DVD-A is definitely dying slowly, but SACD is quite alive with over 8300 titles presently available and dozens more every year. This is the first I've heard that 50% of CD's are using HDCD encoding. If that's true then it's not turning on the HDCD light on my ERC-1. I tend to doubt that's true.

[Deleted]

I thnk it's probably more like 10-15% of mfgrd. CDs have HDCD encoding. And most of those are artist-specific - ALL of the Grateful Dead (And Furthur, etc.) CDs are HDCD-encoded. And, keep in mind, there are various levels of HDCD playback support. I really like well-done HDCDs, they tend to sound "fuller" with better bass response.

All of the Oppo units, even older DVD models support HDCD playback...

-RW-

[Pauly]

Jan 7, 2013 11:51:54 GMT -5 moovtune said:

DVD-A is definitely dying slowly, but SACD is quite alive with over 8300 titles presently available and dozens more every year. This is the first I've heard that 50% of CD's are using HDCD encoding. If that's true then it's not turning on the HDCD light on my ERC-1. I tend to doubt that's true.

I agree. SACD is definitely still alive and kicking, and there is no way that 50% of CDs are HDCD. Maybe more like 15%. A lot of them say "enhanced" but that doesn't mean squat lol.

[garbulky]

I thought the ERC-2 did HDCD

[Dark Ranger]

The ERC-2 can play HDCDs.