For those who're eyeing the new Onkyo HT receivers for SACD playback

[Danny Tse]

Several days ago, I asked Onkyo whether the 507 receiver will decode DSD or converting DSD to PCM via its HDMI input for SACD playback. Just received an answer from Onkyo....

The TX-SR507 will decode DSD through HDMI

I assume this will be true for the new Onkyo HT receivers above the 507 as well. Onkyo currently has the 506 universal player that can output DSD via its HDMI output.

[Danny Tse]

As a follow-up question, I asked whether the Onkyo receivers convert DSD to PCM before converting to analog. And the answer that I just received....

It is DSD to PCM.

[WilliamM2]

When I had my PR-SC885, I was told there was no conversion to PCM as long as the unit was in "Pure Audio" mode. In any other mode it was converted to PCM first, so that it could perform bass management, dsp, etc.

Don't know which is correct, as Onkyo support is pretty bad, and rarely knows the answer to any question. I do know the DAC's are capable of direct DSD to analog conversion, at least in the 885.