Digital Drive

Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

Return to Digital Drive


Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

SCD-1 and Dcs

24.5.227.149

Posted on March 31, 2000 at 08:53:27
Has any body tried using their SCD-1 with the Dcs Delius and Purcell DAC's?
Supposedly the Delius can also take the DSD feed. I was planning on running my SCD-1 (due in 3-4 days) through my theta Casablanca, but I would rather run it through the Delius which can act as a digital preamp and run the main speakers out of the Theta into a secondary input through the Delius.

Thanks,
David Shapiro

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
The SCD-1 doesn't output a DSD bitstream..., posted on March 31, 2000 at 10:07:49
Rich


 
only 16/44.1 digital.

 

Re: SCD-1 and Dcs, posted on March 31, 2000 at 18:47:35
nataraj


 
From what I hear, scd1 will never output digital in spdif ... apparently too much jitter. Only in spdif-2 or firewire. So unless the other components have these inputs ....

 

I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 1, 2000 at 07:45:55


 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 1, 2000 at 20:17:29
Yes a few modded SCD-1's exist.

The news however is that Sony will in Frankfurt in May, show a unit with DSD output hooked up to a dCS Elgar. Should be interesting since the analog output stage is probably the SCD-1's number one shortcoming.

Myles B. Astor
Publisher
Ultimate Audio

 

Not commercially available (nt), posted on April 2, 2000 at 07:08:18
Rich


 


 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 2, 2000 at 17:45:40
Myles,
Are you suggesting that this is a unit that will be on the market relatively soon?

David

 

Thank You, posted on April 2, 2000 at 23:30:09
Thanks for the info in this thread you guys. It has been very helpful. A primary reason I have been reluctant to purchase an SCD-1 so far is due to the fact that there is no DSD digital output. No DSD output means I can't run the signal through my Wadia 27ix DAC and therfore continues to require that I maintain an expensive preamp. Someone told me that even the DSD licenees are contractually precluded from offering a DSD player that will have digital outputs. This has been a major reason I have been sitting on the sidelines so far. Looks like I should stay there a bit longer until this gets cleared up.

Thanks

 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 3, 2000 at 05:00:01
Are you suggesting that this is a unit that will be on the market relatively soon?

I don't know when you'll see a unit outputting a DSD datastream--but it's closer rather than futher away at this point. The powers to be at Sony said that a unit would output as DSD datastream as soon as the copy protection issue is settled--which has apparently been done. So if I'm a betting person, I'd wouldn't be shocked to see a new unit by years end.

Will it be a top of the line model? Who knows?

Myles B. Astor
Publisher
Ultimate Audio

 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 4, 2000 at 02:37:38
DK


 
>>Will it be a top of the line model?<<

Does it need to be? If used as a transport, some corners could (perhaps) be cut. OTOH, I am so impressed with the SCD-1 now--as a redbook transport, as a redbook player, and of course as an SACD player--that for me 'tis all moot. I've been running upsamplers with various DACs and nothing has beat the Sony yet.

Just my 2 cents....

 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 4, 2000 at 07:35:31
Does it need to be? If used as a transport, some corners could (perhaps) be cut. OTOH, I am so impressed with the SCD-1 now--as a redbook transport, as a redbook player, and of course as an SACD player--that for me 'tis all moot. I've been running upsamplers with various DACs and nothing has beat the Sony yet.

David:

You can bet the bank that the quality of the transport in a less expensive, say a $1500 SACD player, is not going to match what is used in the SCD-1. While I can't tell you what Sony pays for the transport, the price to other manufacturers is $1500. That compares to the say the price of a Philips CDM12Pro kit which is around $200.

And from what I've recently heard, your spot on about upsampling vs SACD. The SACD does a really great job playing back 16/44 discs. Now if they can take the digital section and improve the analog electronics we'd have a real winner. We'll certainly know the answere to that question I imagine by years end.

Myles B. Astor
Publisher
Ultimate Audio

 

Re: SCD-1 and Dcs, posted on April 4, 2000 at 14:33:03
No, really? Where have you been the past couple of years. SPDIF doesn't have enough bandwith for 24/192 and SACD, not a question of jitter.
I highly doubt SPDIF2 would even be considered; Firewire and Ethernet are the likely choices. Universal I2S might be a long shot.

 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 4, 2000 at 19:49:58
DK


 
Sounds like what is needed is for someone to do some one-off mods on the Sony's output section. Don't know if there's room inside that chassis to do so, but it would be interesting.

I've been using the Perp P1-A to upsample and send to the Muse 296 and EVS Millenium DACs, and to (20/48 limited) Lexicon DC-1 and Classe SSP-25 surround sound processors. In all cases, the P1-A/whatever combo, at its best, can match the Sony alone, but not beat it. And that's on redbook.

 

Re: I heard of people with modified SCD1's with DSD digital out (nt), posted on April 6, 2000 at 09:57:01
I've been using the Perp P1-A to upsample and send to the Muse 296 and EVS Millenium DACs, and to (20/48 limited) Lexicon DC-1 and Classe SSP-25 surround sound processors. In all cases, the P1-A/whatever combo, at its best, can match the Sony alone, but not beat it. And that's on redbook.

Have you directly compared the SCD-1 to the upsamping combo? Must admit that's not been my conclusion.

Myles B. Astor
Publisher
Ultimate Audio

 

Yep, posted on April 7, 2000 at 02:33:34
DK


 
The comparison was to the SCD-1 in my system, using alternatively the SCD-1 or a stock Toshiba DVD player as transports. I tried different digital and power cables too. I'd try even more combinations, but my audition time is limited and I don't have as many neat toys on hand as some ;) The upsampling seems to soften everything and rob the music of its dynamics. Bass in particular gets a bit soft, and (with the DACs I had available) the midband becomes a bit recessed as well. At times, I felt as if the upsampling was making the music "less natural, more artificial", if that makes sense.

On some music, this presentation could be a bit more preferable, but overall, I prefer the dynamics and presence without the P1-A. For example, I prefered the 296 driven directly by the Sony than I did with the P1-A inserted between the two. I also preferred the Sony alone to any combo with the upsampler. I rate the Sony and the Muse a dead heat. The Sony has better presence, which is flattering on female voice, and the soundstage is definitely deeper. There is also greater air between the instruments, and the bass has better slam. OTOH, the Muse has a sweeter top end, the soundstage is wider, strings are just lovely.

I level-matched the Muse and Sony via my BAT VK-30, both were using balanced outputs via Cardas Golden Cross. Both used ESP Essence power cords most of the time. Both were plugged directly into a PS Audio PP300. I used alternatively a BAT VK-60 and a Belles 150A Hot Rod for amplification on the Merlin VSM-SEs w/o BAM.

Just my 2 cents......

 

That's the result I would have expected <nt>, posted on April 7, 2000 at 08:51:04
nt

 

Huh?, posted on April 7, 2000 at 10:11:24
DK


 
What do you mean? That you concur or do not concur with my impressions of the upsampling P1-A? Or the perceived attributes of the SCD-1 and/or Muse 296? Or some combo of these?

 

Re: Huh?, posted on April 7, 2000 at 16:38:29
What do you mean? That you concur or do not concur with my impressions of the upsampling P1-A? Or the perceived attributes of the SCD-1 and/or Muse 296? Or some combo of these?

That you preferred the SCD-1 to upsampling in the long run.

Myles B. Astor
Publisher
Ultimate Audio

 

Page processed in 0.019 seconds.