I've got a 3910 player connected via Denon Link cable to 3805 receiver. DVD's work great, DVD audio works great, but SACD CD - no sound. I've been all through their ridiculous manuals and stayed on hold with CS until I couldn't stand it any longer, so could someone give me a "yea" or "nay" on whether or not you can run 6 channel SACD over a Denon Link II connection? If not, does it work over Denon Link III? Seems ridiculous to have this multi-channel connection then have to hook up 6 OTHER cables just for SACD, kinda defeats the purpose, so I'm hoping there's some config thing I'm missing. TIA,
Terry

You need DL3.

You need DL3.

Which, please correct me, is not available for the 3910 DVD/CD player or the 3805 receiver (actually, I think the receiver might have 3, but of course the 3910 is the key as it's the source).

-tlp

It is. I have a 3910 which I upgraded to DL3 and used it successfully with the 4806.

It is. I have a 3910 which I upgraded to DL3 and used it successfully with the 4806.

What was the cost/process for this? I'm having a hard time it's worth just not connecting up the six cables...

Downloaded the update from the Denon website.

Downloaded the update from the Denon website.

Got it, did it, works great! Thanks! Amazing how hard it is to find stuff on the Denon site, not even a user forum or anything, which they really need for support. So now I'm doing Dolby Digital, DTS, NEO, SACD, etc, etc. all over the Denon Link cable. And since I recall seeing the question somewhere else, if anyone's still wondering, a CAT6 cable works just fine, I did not try a CAT5, but suspect it'd probably work too after reading the Denon Link spec.

Got it, did it, works great! Thanks! Amazing how hard it is to find stuff on the Denon site, not even a user forum or anything, which they really need for support. So now I'm doing Dolby Digital, DTS, NEO, SACD, etc, etc. all over the Denon Link cable. And since I recall seeing the question somewhere else, if anyone's still wondering, a CAT6 cable works just fine, I did not try a CAT5, but suspect it'd probably work too after reading the Denon Link spec.
CAT 5 works as well ( at least fro me and my 3910<--->4306 connection ...

Kal,
So all the DL3 equiped receivers have a built in DSD decoder?

Kal,
So all the DL3 equiped receivers have a built in DSD decoder?
I believe so. Otherwise, it would not make any sense ... ;)

I believe so. Otherwise, it would not make any sense ... ;)

Cute.

The player could very well convert it to PCM before it is sent to downstream. Wouldn't be the first time that a company mislead the consumer about how they implement things. ;)

Have my 5900 sent into NJ for the update right now. Are you saying the DL3 update is actually downloadable? I didn't see it anywhere on their site (old or new).

Kal,
So all the DL3 equiped receivers have a built in DSD decoder?

Actually, DL3-equipped receivers don't decode SACD at all; the connected DL3 player does. And not all SACD-compatible players have "true" DSD chipsets. Most universal disc players (including every Denon manufactured, if I'm not mistaken) converts the DSD data to PCM before it passes to the DACs. This is done to save money by not having a dedicated single-bit DSD chipset that's separate from the PCM chipset.

Marantz (D&M's music-oriented division) builds true DSD chipsets into most of their universal players, but makes sacrifices on the video scaling (an aspect in which Denon's higher-up players like the 2930/3930 are clearly superior with their HQV chips). Go figure.

I suppose this all really depends on how much of an SACD purist you are. Granting its merits, I still think it was a poorly executed format that could have been so much more.

Actually, DL3-equipped receivers don't decode SACD at all; the connected DL3 player does. And not all SACD-compatible players have "true" DSD chipsets. Most universal disc players (including every Denon manufactured, if I'm not mistaken) converts the DSD data to PCM before it passes to the DACs. This is done to save money by not having a dedicated single-bit DSD chipset that's separate from the PCM chipset.

Marantz (D&M's music-oriented division) builds true DSD chipsets into most of their universal players, but makes sacrifices on the video scaling (an aspect in which Denon's higher-up players like the 2930/3930 are clearly superior with their HQV chips). Go figure.

I suppose this all really depends on how much of an SACD purist you are. Granting its merits, I still think it was a poorly executed format that could have been so much more.

I'm not a purist I was just curious. However if DLIII isn't for sending DSD then why Denon needed to wait for that certification. DLII could had sent hi-Rez PCM already as it did with DVD-A.

I'm not a purist I was just curious. However if DLIII isn't for sending DSD then why Denon needed to wait for that certification.Because Sony said so. You have to sacrifice your first born to them before they'll let you make a player that outputs hi-res SACD digitally (in whatever format ... DSD/PCM).

I wonder how Oppo got permission to send SACD over HDMI and could still keep the player at only $200.