Processing SACD's

[Polkapops]

Wasn't sure which forum to post this under, so I thought I'd start here. Does anyone else experience the problem of not being able to extract the entire recording mix from an SACD when playing through the processor? When I use 'EXT IN' I can hear the entire mix, but when I use 'AUTO' on the processor, there seems to be some of the mix missing - It displays 'analog' and 5 channel stereo, but something is usually always missing. Would appreciate any 1st hand explanations......Thanks!
Dan

[PolkThug]

On my Onkyo I have to use MULTI IN with the 6 RCA's. That's the ONLY way to get true SACD on my setup.

Your Auto selection may pickup other audio connections you have going from your source to your receiver.

[Polkapops]

Hmmmmm........have to investigate that one - Thank you kindly, Mr. PT sir!

[bertram]

You have to use the Denon's EXT IN when playing multichannel SACDs if you want to hear all the channels.

When playing 2-channel SACDs, the output is available at both the player's FRONT L/R jacks and also its normal 2-channel stereo out jacks.

When playing a regular CD or the CD layer of an SACD, the output is available at the DIGITAL out of the player as well as the analog FRONT L/R and stereo out jacks. In that case, there are 3 ways to listen to this on the Denon: EXT IN (only the FRONT L/R will have a signal), 2-channel stereo in, and digital in.

If you're playing a multichannel SACD but for some reason set the receiver's input to the player's analog stereo outputs, you'll be listening to only the FRONT L/R portion of the 6 active channels.

[cfrizz]

From what I have learned the hard way, the only way to get the full 5.1 channels on a SACD is to use the Ext In. It is also required for Dolby Digital dvd-A's. The only ones that you can use in the Auto format are DTS DVD-A's.

At least that has been my experience.

[danger boy]

if you have your SACD player hooked up via a digital cable.. ie... coax or optical.. it will not give you the true SACD hi rez mix.

same for DVD-audio.

you need to have 6 analog RCA interconnects to get true hi rez audio from all channels. going from the player directly to the rear of your receiver. :D

[Polkapops]

Thank you bertram, cfrizz & danger boy!
DB - I have the 6 i/c's connected, just forgot to include it in my post.....also have the optical connection as well.

cfrizz - do you notice a volume difference between Ext in and Auto? I have Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time with a DTS track and I don't need nearly the volume to get the same effect as SACD's.......Also have some other DVD-A's that I'll have to experiment with now that I've been enlightened.

bertram - Thank you very much for the detailed explanation, it all makes sense now (well, not really - still don't understand why they have to make things so damn complicated) You'd think things would be more user friendly - pop the dang thing in and let the electronics sort it out! At least that's my feeling anyway.;)

[bertram]

The reason it's complicated is that the recording industry didn't want the high-rez music formats (SACD and DVD-A) to be available to the consumer (and potential pirates) in digital format. So your SACD player has only analog outputs for SACD discs (unless you're playing the CD layer of an SACD hybrid disc, which can use the normal coax and optical digital outs). Your player is doing the D/A converting for SACD discs and your receiver has to be set to analog input.

Lately, however, more and more high-end players and processors can be connected digitally, and eventually this nightmare will go away.

[danger boy]

one other thing to check out... in your SACD set up menu.. do you have to switch the output from digital to analog or does the machine do it automatically?

My old Toshiba DVD-a player... i had to manually go in the menu and switch it from bitstream to analog output.

just a thought.

[cfrizz]

Originally posted by Polk-a-pops
cfrizz - do you notice a volume difference between Ext in and Auto? I have Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time with a DTS track and I don't need nearly the volume to get the same effect as SACD's.......Also have some other DVD-A's that I'll have to experiment with now that I've been enlightened.

LOL you sound just like me while I was trying to get this all figured out!!!:D

Yes there is a distinct difference in volume if you don't use the correct setting. I love DTS simply because you can just put the disk in & hit play. The sound & volume is incredible.

In order to get the same kind of volume on SACD's & non DTS DVD-A's you MUST remember to put your receiver on Ext. In! Otherwise it will sound very wierd & very disappointing.

LOL until the fellas here helped me out I was ready to throw the hi-res audio format in to the garbage as worthless & frustrating!

Thank God for this board! My latest DVD-A purchase: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac!