SACD Rabbit Hole...

[motleypixel]

Hey gang,

Been awhile, but I still use my WiiM Ultra daily, such a wonderful kit of tech if you ask me. I use it to play CD's, LP's via MM cart, and stream from internet and UPnP via Plex from my flac music library.

Now I'm in a little over my head, my CD player currently is an SMSL PL-100 mainly a transport but I think it does have a built in DAC since it outputs PCM via stereo RCA. I output via Toslink optical to the WiiM and enjoy it.

Now I have an OPPO DV980-H DVD/multi with SACD playback capability and I'm wondering how to get the best out of it when playing SACDs to my system.

I only have a 2.1 system, that is from WiiM LFE sub out to my active subwoofer and RCA L/R out to my RCA L/R in of my amp that powers my two L/R bookshelf speakers. So onto my questions:

1. Does the WiiM Ultra support SACD DSD audio over HDMI (HDMI v1.2a or greater)?

2. If the answer to #1 is no, then perhaps I should just use speaker setup downmix to "stereo" but I'm unsure if I should keep SACD at DSD or PCM?

3. Again, just wanting to know in the case of this SACD player which I will only use to play normal CD's and SACDs how to connect it to my WiiM Ultra (RCA out of SACD player to RCA in on WU, Toslink Optical and/or Coax digital out of the SACD player to digital in on WU, or HDMI out of the SACD player to HDMI in on the WU?

Even with some quick research, I have read that an SACD read as DSD in a player, then converted to PCM is an improvement in quality over just CD PCM source? I'm all new to this at this point.

Starting on pg. 21 of my SACD player (OPPO DV980-H) shows my audio setup options for the player. https://www.oppodigital.com/support/dv980h/download/DV-980H English Manual.pdf

Thank you.

 

[d6jg]

The Oppo won’t be able to use the Ultra’s HDMI input. That’s reserved for HDMI ARC from a TV etc

 

[motleypixel]

The Oppo won’t be able to use the Ultra’s HDMI input. That’s reserved for HDMI ARC from a TV etc

That's easy then. I think to realize the full glory of SACD DSD then keep it simple, use the Oppo's internal DAC/processor to read the SACD DSD layer and output it from the rear stereo RCA outputs of the Oppo and send that to the WiiM Ultra RCA input.

Should it be better than CD PCM? I think?
Will I hear the difference? Yes, it's my stuff and my method!
Would someone else hear the difference? 50/50, yes/no

 

[Valentino]

If you want to get the SACD layer to the Ultra it’s RCA analog only.
I improved on the Ultra ADC by using a MiniDSP Adept as its analog front end. Flowchart on my user page.

 

[motleypixel]

If you want to get the SACD layer to the Ultra it’s RCA analog only.
I improved on the Ultra ADC by using a MiniDSP Adept as its analog front end. Flowchart on my user page.

Which one?

 

[dtc]

You might also try to have the Oppo output PCM through the coax output for conversion to analog by the Ultra. Not sure if it will work.
The manual only talks about using coax output for Dolby Digial and DTS, but it might also work with SACD converted to PCM.


On the Oppo

Set Digital Output to PCM

Set SACD output to PCM

Connect the coax on the Oppo to the coax input on the Ultra.


That may allow you to compare using the DSD DAC in the Oppo to letting the Oppo convert DSD to PCM and then using the Ultra DAC.

Again, not sure if it will work or not.

That Oppo was cutting edge in its day but it is somewhat dated.