[DrGregC]

I am a fan of SACD & regret it's demise. I have been using a SCD-XA777ES since 2001 in my high-end, 2-channel system as my primary source and have been very happy. I've noticed that many of my newer SACD's offer a multi-channel option. I regularly read The Absolute Sound and have heard much praise for this format. I wanted to try it so I bought a long length of fiber optic cable to connect the digital output of the SCD-777ES to the receiver in my home theater system.


I completed the project this morning only to find that the SCD-777ES digital output does not work for SACD's. Are you kidding me?


I know that this is old news to most of you, but I thought I would ask the experts if there is any way of connecting the digital output of my SCD-777ES to my home theater system to play multi-channel SACD's through its digital output? I know that this can be done through the analog 5.1 channel outputs, but it is not a practical solution. I already have the fiber optic cable connected. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[rdgrimes]

In order to get high-res multichannel audio from an SACD player, you need either HDMI or multi-channel analog connects. Obviously both the player and receiver must have these. I'm not familiar with that player, but I would hope that it at least allows 2-ch PCM over optical. Consult the player's manual for specifics.

 

[wse]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DrGregC /forum/post/15518610


I am a fan of SACD & regret it's demise. I have been using a SCD-XA777ES since 2001 in my high-end, 2-channel system as my primary source and have been very happy. I've noticed that many of my newer SACD's offer a multi-channel option. I regularly read The Absolute Sound and have heard much praise for this format. I wanted to try it so I bought a long length of fiber optic cable to connect the digital output of the SCD-777ES to the receiver in my home theater system.


I completed the project this morning only to find that the SCD-777ES digital output does not work for SACD's. Are you kidding me?


I know that this is old news to most of you, but I thought I would ask the experts if there is any way of connecting the digital output of my SCD-777ES to my home theater system to play multi-channel SACD's through its digital output? I know that this can be done through the analog 5.1 channel outputs, but it is not a practical solution. I already have the fiber optic cable connected. Thanks for any suggestions.

I have had this SACD since it came out as well, especially for multichannel music and the ONLY WAY is THE ANALOGUE CONNECTIONS SORRY, optical will only give you stereo!


I am looking to the Sony SCD XA5400ES that can do multichannel Audio DSD through HDMi 1.3

 

[HT_n_Me]

The Oppo 980H does multi-channel over HDMI. It also has analog output for multi-channel but I find the HDMI connection to be much better.

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by wse /forum/post/15635402


I have had this SACD since it came out as well, especially for multichannel music and the ONLY WAY is THE ANALOGUE CONNECTIONS SORRY, optical will only give you stereo!

Not only stereo but CD, only.

 

[whalepirot]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DrGregC /forum/post/15518610


...... only to find that the SCD-777ES digital output does not work for SACD's. Are you kidding me?

I have a 985 and 995 changers and both manuals state the same thing that you have learned. I'm with ya there>> "Are you kidding me?".


Having just started to dabble with this format (just in time, huh?) I cannot get the two front channels to play, but the center, sub and rear all have sound. The Sony is set to play the SACD in 'multi' mode.


I read through the Sony's setup and the McIntosh MX135's but cannot get sound. The Mac is fed analog via coax to it's 'external' input AND optical digital for DVDs, with digital precedence over analog, when present. I have tried 4 pairs of analog cables and get no L or R output even from the Sony's surround setup tones.


Please help!

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by whalepirot /forum/post/15856637


I have a 985 and 995 changers and both manuals state the same thing that you have learned. I'm with ya there>> "Are you kidding me?".

It is too bad but this was part of the expressed intent of SACD development which was to prevent the unencrypted transmission of the full bandwidth digital signal.

Quote:
Having just started to dabble with this format (just in time, huh?) I cannot get the two front channels to play, but the center, sub and rear all have sound. The Sony is set to play the SACD in 'multi' mode.


I read through the Sony's setup and the McIntosh MX135's but cannot get sound. The Mac is fed analog via coax to it's 'external' input AND optical digital for DVDs, with digital precedence over analog, when present. I have tried 4 pairs of analog cables and get no L or R output even from the Sony's surround setup tones.

I am unfamiliar with these models but the 777 was unusual in that it output stereo from a different pair of L/R jacks than it did the L/R of multichannel recordings. Is it possible that you are not using the correct pair of L/R jacks?


Please help![/quote]

 

[whalepirot]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/15857080


Is it possible that you are not using the correct pair of L/R jacks?

I doubt it but I will check and amend this post. Thank you.

 

[whalepirot]

I moved the front L & R cables the regular L and R audio outputs with no change. There is still no sound from the front left or right, but center and rears seem normal.


Switching to CD output and having the Mac process from the other audio outputs yields normal output. Makes me think the Sony 5.1 L & R are not functioning.


I also have a 995 and some new audio cables. Perhaps I can find if the Mac is operating normally from a Sony SACD player using the Mac's External input.


Makes me wonder why I started on this SACD path.

 

[Kal Rubinson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by whalepirot /forum/post/15943384


I moved the front L & R cables the regular L and R audio outputs with no change. There is still no sound from the front left or right, but center and rears seem normal.


Switching to CD output and having the Mac process from the other audio outputs yields normal output. Makes me think the Sony 5.1 L & R are not functioning.


I also have a 995 and some new audio cables. Perhaps I can find if the Mac is operating normally from a Sony SACD player using the Mac's External input.


Makes me wonder why I started on this SACD path.

I have a sneaky thought. If you are getting center and rears, try connecting the player's L/R outputs to the rear L/R inputs on the Mc. If that works, it may have to do with the Mc. If not, it's the player.

 

[whalepirot]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/15944434


I have a sneaky thought......... try connecting the player's L/R outputs to the rear L/R inputs on the Mc. If that works, it may have to do with the Mc. If not, it's the player.

Sneaky, hell. that's just good clever troubleshooting. Doh! I should have thought of that.


Thanks, Kal.

 

[dyates69]

It wasn't because of copyright issues. The optical signal path just can't carry that amount of bandwidth which is why they went with firewire for multichannel digital audio on many SACD players. Not sure if the 777 has firewire.

 

[whalepirot]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/15944434


try connecting the player's L/R outputs to the rear L/R inputs on the Mc. If that works, it may have to do with the Mc. If not, it's the player.

Checking the Mac manual again. While poorly written, maybe there is more to using an external input, bypassing the Mac's processing to just the pre-amp than just connecting to the external processor , analog inputs.


I never got any sound from the L/R inputs, from the switch above or from the 995CX. Either the Mc has a problem or something is not setup correctly.


Added: I got my excellent dealer (Audio Perfection in Minneapolis) involved to solve this one.