I have heard a rumor that Sony is going to announce this month that it will no longer support DSD. Also, from the same source, Sony is going to announce its support of MQA. First, let me say I am not sure exactly what that means. In my opinion, Sony has not supported SACD for something like a decade. It no longer makes a dedicated SACD/CD player and has not released an SACD title in a long time. In spite of this, there are new SACD’s released by others almost every month and new SACD players of one kind or another are still being made. I have noticed online that in a few adds for the Sony HAP-Z1ES hi-rez player that plays DSD files is being offered as a discontinued item at discount prices. I have no idea how will that player has been selling, but since it did not play SACD’s it was of no interest to me. I also have no idea how popular DSD downloads are.
tonyplachy said I have heard a rumor . . .Source?
Sony released a 3 SACD version of Santana’s “Lotus” several months ago (fantastic release). Sony is also reissuing previous SACDs via Hong Kong. Personally I don’t believe that Sony SACDs are “dead” nor that they will drop support of DSD. We’ll see I guess.
To say that they will “drop support for DSD” could mean three things:
a) they won’t produce SACD players, which apparently they are no longer doing
b) they won’t produce SACDs on their own label
c) future products such as network players will not support DSD
Regarding b), I have read that SACDs are more popular in Japan than in the US or in Europe. If that’s true, it would seem strange for Sony to drop the format. I also note lonson’s comment about reissues.
Regard c), dropping support would be going against the tide; support for DSD playback among hardware manufacturers has been growing, as has the number of available DSD downloads. It’s still a niche market, certainly, but one with a decent following among those who care about sound quality.
We will have to wait and see.
They just released a Blu-ray player this year (ubp-x800) that supports SACD/DSD playback via HDMI. Only digital outputs, the unit most likely will work with PS DS.
lonson saidSony released a 3 SACD version of Santana’s “Lotus” several months ago (fantastic release). Sony is also reissuing previous SACDs via Hong Kong. Personally I don’t believe that Sony SACDs are “dead” nor that they will drop support of DSD. We’ll see I guess.
Lon, You know your killing me. I saw this post and looked at my SACD copy of Santana’s Lotus and it is only 2 disc from Audio Fidelity (which acknowledges both Columbia Record and Sony Music). So I go online and search for “Santana Lotus SACD” and up comes my copy and the 3 disc set from Japan. I check the track list and of course my 2 disc set is NOT complete. So, I go to my source for all things from Japan - CDJapan. I just spent the yen equivalent of ~ $77 to get the three disc set. Your killing me, I assume you know that.
Sorry Tony, thought you would have known about that. You will enjoy this set, not only the sound (I’m not that crazy about the AF sound) but the packaging is TOP-NOTCH. And the complete show for the first time is a must!
a25105 saidThe coaxial output will be usable with the DS, but not the HDMI. And therefore SACD playback through the DS will be PCM from the input, not DSD.They just released a Blu-ray player this year (ubp-x800) that supports SACD/DSD playback via HDMI. Only digital outputs, the unit most likely will work with PS DS.
Sony also released a new multi-channel SACD of Jeff Beck’s “Wired” last year, and probably a few other titles… . .
I have not seen anything about Sony dropping DSD, but I assume everyone has heard the announcement Sony is going to start pressing vinyl again - after not doing so for 28 years.
a25105 saidI just bought this for my living room.They just released a Blu-ray player this year (ubp-x800) that supports SACD/DSD playback via HDMI. Only digital outputs, the unit most likely will work with PS DS.
Hi Frode,
Does it work with your DS via HDMI on SACD?
Unfortunately it will not. The signal the Sony outputs is encrypted. Plus, the I2s connection on the DS entirely different. The only ting in common is they both happen to use HDMI cables.
I thought the Sony player will be compatible like the DMP. Paul said he works out a deal with Sony on the DMP and I just assume it will use the same chip. Correct me if I am wrong.
Elk is correct. The deal PSA worked out with Sony (as the licensor of SACD technology) was to allow the DMP to send the DSD layer from SACD to PSA DACs. Only PSA devices know the secret handshake that permits this. Sony normally only permits the DSD layer to be sent over encrypted HDMI, with a SONY decoding chip/DAC in the HDMI receiver.
a25105 said I thought the Sony player will be compatible like the DMP.I understand what you are thinking, but unfortunately only the DMP works with the DS this way.
I have a model just below the one mentioned in this thread. I havny ever had the opportunity to use the I2s over HDMI but I just bought a W4S DAC with the HDMI audio only output that SAYS it supports the DSD. I’m searching now to see what the cable wiring protocals are on the 2 devices.