My apologies if this has been already answered but i couldn’t find this topic. I received my DirectStream a few days ago and had been listening/using it via the Bridge. Today I connected the coax output from my Oppo 105D to the coax input on the DS and the touchscreen flashes from green to red but that’s it. There’s no signal being recognized by the DS and therefore no sound. I’ve tried both the LPCM and Bitstream output modes for the Oppo’s coax and no joy.
Anyone have an idea what’s wrong? Thanks in advance.
Again my apologies. This was just another stupid user question. I had the connection coming from the Oppo incorrect. Once that was fixed and I shut down the DS so it could initialize again, everything was fine. Any questions I have in the future will be more thoroughly researched before I pose them here.
No problem. Glad you found a solution and feel free to post questions whenever. There are NO stupid questions with this stuff. We all miss a setting from time to time.
I have an Oppo-105D (w/EVS full mod] and got very excited when I learned that it outputs the SACD digital signal via its HDMI connection only and that the DirectStream has an HDMI input , which is the preferred connection. As Paul pointed out, the DS is not embedded with a SACD decoder which is licensed by Sony. Too bad-how great would that be for those of us with large SACD collections.
In the meantime, I cannot see spending that much on a DS DAC for CD quality music since I don’t download and won’t until there are radical improvements in price and technology.
To nitpick a bit, the DS not have an HDMI input of any kind. It has I2S inputs that use HDMI cables/connectors. It will not decode any kind of HDMI signal, whether SACD or anything else.
The DS does an outstanding job with CD quality files, by the way. It narrows the difference between high resolution and red book files. The quality of the mastering job makes a bigger difference than the resolution. I still buy a lot of high res files but it’s mostly in hopes that they did a better mastering job with the high res files. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.
ned said
In the meantime, I cannot see spending that much on a DS DAC for CD quality music since I don't download and won't until there are radical improvements in price and technology.
If I may ask; when exactly was the last time you enjoyed something get radically better in technology while staying the same price not withstanding getting cheaper? Only reason I ask is your observation got me thinking and I cannot personally come up with even a single product in over 65 years where price remained the same or dropped when technology radically improved. IME price seems to always find a way to mimic ascending technology.
ned said
I have an Oppo-105D (w/EVS full mod] and got very excited when I learned that it outputs the SACD digital signal via its HDMI connection only and that the DirectStream has an HDMI input , which is the preferred connection. As Paul pointed out, the DS is not embedded with a SACD decoder which is licensed by Sony. Too bad-how great would that be for those of us with large SACD collections.
In the meantime, I cannot see spending that much on a DS DAC for CD quality music since I don’t download and won’t until there are radical improvements in price and technology.
I did read about this last year but didn’t understand what a vanity card is, who would install it for me and if the DirectStream would actually decode SACD from my OPPO. Can you tell me how you play your SACD’s ?
Manoet;
I was referring to the high cost of Hi-Rez downloads vs. SACD’s. Also, the technology for downloading/storing is too complicated for me with too many links in the chain for sonic degradation.
rogerdn said
Will a stock 103 using the stick Usb, output 64 and 125 DSD via coax, I can't get mine to.
No, Digital Rights Management Hell. You can get DSD out over HDMI, but only to an HDMI receiver that can decode it. The Sony DSD license precludes having unencrypted DSD available outside of the box...
ned said
I did read about this last year but didn't understand what a vanity card is, who would install it for me and if the DirectStream would actually decode SACD from my OPPO. Can you tell me how you play your SACD's ?
It's do it yourself kind of installation - not very hard if you follow the pretty good instructions. DoP is an option on the Vanity HD card (you have to ask for it) The card replaces the Oppo 103's audio output card and sends out the digital signal over S/PDIF (including sending out DSD over S/PDIF in violation of the above ) For surround I have three DS dacs and run three S/PDIF cables from my Vanity HD card which is in my Oppo BDP-103. To play SACDs I just use the Oppo in the normal way. Put in a SACD and hit play... Obviously for stereo you'd only need one DAC.
rogerdn said
Will a stock 103 using the stick Usb, output 64 and 125 DSD via coax, I can't get mine to.
No, Digital Rights Management Hell. You can get DSD out over HDMI, but only to an HDMI receiver that can decode it. The Sony DSD license precludes having unencrypted DSD available outside of the box…
Ted, I am able to play out my HDMI to my Classe SSP 800 processor but assumed it was transcoding (don't think it does DSD) and just now got it to play over the coax to the DS by setting SACD to PCM. Still sounds pretty good but I like the 64 over the Bridge better.
I was referring to the high cost of Hi-Rez downloads vs. SACD’s. Also, the technology for downloading/storing is too complicated for me with too many links in the chain for sonic degradation.
I was too. Don't understand how HD providers can invest more time & capitol improving their technology then turn around and offer it to us for less. Seems counterintuitive, perhaps even an alien concept, ie; "more for less!?!" However I totally agree its more complicated than it need be. F-A-R- more!!!
Did the price of the Vanity board go down? The link st50maint provided showed it as $849, I thought it was closer to $1k when this was first discussed. I know the Euro has gone down, so that would account for it. Just a little surprised they did that!
It’s been at the current price since I first looked, but I ignored it entirely until edorr talked them into sending me one to test the DS with Tho it’s more expensive than the Oppo I still think you get good value buying both of them as a SACD transport package that also does video things as a bonus.
rogerdn said
Will a stock 103 using the stick Usb, output 64 and 125 DSD via coax, I can't get mine to.
Not sure about the 103, but I can get my 105 to output DSD via coax to my DS by converting to DoP. It disguises the DSD as PCM and fools the Oppo, but the DS will recognize it as true DSD64. You just have to remember to change the coax output settings on the Oppo to bitstream. Works very nicely. Same can be done using the PWT. Here is a link to a guide I found on how to use foobar to convert DSD to DoP. Scroll down to section 3.
rogerdn said
Will a stock 103 using the stick Usb, output 64 and 125 DSD via coax, I can't get mine to.
Not sure about the 103, but I can get my 105 to output DSD via coax to my DS by converting to DoP. It disguises the DSD as PCM and fools the Oppo, but the DS will recognize it as true DSD64. You just have to remember to change the coax output settings on the Oppo to bitstream. Works very nicely. Same can be done using the PWT. Here is a link to a guide I found on how to use foobar to convert DSD to DoP. Scroll down to section 3.
Thks for the reply, a great tutorial but apparently it doesn’t work for 128. Guessing you did this because you don’t have a Bridge to play 64, or am I missing something ?
rogerdn said
Thks for the reply, a great tutorial but apparently it doesn't work for 128. Guessing you did this because you don't have a Bridge to play 64, or am I missing something ?
I have a bridge, but does not work all that great for DSDs. Long gaps between songs (upwards of 15 seconds) and occasional skipping during songs. Just not enough muscle to handle these files, hoping for better from Bridge II.
rogerdn said
Thks for the reply, a great tutorial but apparently it doesn't work for 128. Guessing you did this because you don't have a Bridge to play 64, or am I missing something ?
I have a bridge, but does not work all that great for DSDs. Long gaps between songs (upwards of 15 seconds) and occasional skipping during songs. Just not enough muscle to handle these files, hoping for better from Bridge II.
I don’t have enough experience yet with a lot of tracks but yes long gaps, however no skipping or dropouts yet. Have you compared SQ ?
) For surround I have three DS dacs and run three S/PDIF cables from my Vanity HD card which is in my Oppo BDP-103. To play SACDs I just use the Oppo in the normal way. Put in a SACD and hit play... Obviously for stereo you'd only need one DAC.
Tho it’s more expensive than the Oppo I still think you get good value buying both of them as a SACD transport package that also does video things as a bonus.