SACD and optical cable

SACD players (generally) don't output any digital signal when playing an SACD. This is down to the rights management restrictions (preventing copying of SACDs). 

I see, thank's

Strictly speaking SACD will output a digital signal, but it will not be a DSD - it will play back a CD layer via its digital output.

The only way to enjoy a full SACD functionality is to use a dedicated player. If you want a multichannel SACD, you will need a player with 6 analogue outputs for a full 5.1 sound. Very few players offer this - Oppo 105 is one of them.

I have a Marantz UD 7007 is SACD Blu Ray player, stunning with music, SACD work well via analog RCA cable to analog input in SU but no signal with coaxial cable. I'm not interested in multi-channel signal

Have you enbled the optical or digital  input on your SU? I use my Oppo into NDX via optical and it works fine.

Some years ago people reported success with transporting the hi-res audio from an SACD player via HDMI to an Octava HDMI switch and from there via TOSLINK to a DAC. I haven't tried it myself. Search the Naim forum for "Octava".

Anto68 posted:

I have a Marantz UD 7007 is SACD Blu Ray player, stunning with music, SACD work well via analog RCA cable to analog input in SU but no signal with coaxial cable. I'm not interested in multi-channel signal

Your experience is correct, SACD's DSD digital content will not be available from the player as a digital out (optical or coaxial). 

jfritzen posted:

Some years ago people reported success with transporting the hi-res audio from an SACD player via HDMI to an Octava HDMI switch and from there via TOSLINK to a DAC. I haven't tried it myself. Search the Naim forum for "Octava".

This won't be DSD though, but converted to PCM (likely 24/88.2 iirc).

There is a way to get DSD over PCM (DoP), which is what the SuperUniti requires for its digital inputs, using a Oppo 103/105 but that requires adding an AudioPraise Vanity HD board.

I tested a Hybrid CD, Sacd track in analog input and the same tracks in CD format with coax input with my SU: I prefer the second option: how is it possible? The winner is the power of SU dac or what ?

You believe that using a CD player via coax is the best?

I apologize for my imperfect English

Regards

Adam Zielinski posted:

Have you enbled the optical or digital  input on your SU? I use my Oppo into NDX via optical and it works fine.

Have you tried using coaxial? You may have some surprises. But perhaps also the optical is excellent

Anto68 posted:

I tested a Hybrid CD, Sacd track in analog input and the same tracks in CD format with coax input with my SU: I prefer the second option: how is it possible? The winner is the power of SU dac or what ?

You believe that using a CD player via coax is the best?

I apologize for my imperfect English

Regards

Hi Anto

What you are hearing are differences in DACs. Clearly you prefer the SU dac. Which is good.

Adam

Anto68 posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

Have you enbled the optical or digital  input on your SU? I use my Oppo into NDX via optical and it works fine.

Have you tried using coaxial? You may have some surprises. But perhaps also the optical is excellent

I use an optical cable for a very specific reason. Oppo and NDX  are parts of my rather complex home theater setup. In order to avoid ground loops I keep the connections between the NAIMs and Yamaha and Oppo to a bare minimum. AV input into 282 is via isolating transformers. Oppo to NDX is via an optical to remove a galvanic connection between the two.

This set up is optimised for playing back streo music via an NDX / RP10 and surround-sound music from Blu Ray Audio. It also plays movies

Have a look at my profile pictures to see what I mean.

I see, amazing,  how complex is your set-up. You know, I wanted to buy a universal player to match up with my SU and I was undecided between the Oppo 105, Cambridge CXU and Marantz UD 7007. I read a lot of good reviews on both products especially for the 2-channel stereo quality sound where the Marantz is specialized. I even saved some money compared to Oppo and Cambridge.

Regards

Marantz is a good player. It has a very refined sound. I also tested it, but prefered Oppo's processor. I also wanted analogue, multi-channel outputs. For 5.1 music and listening to concerts Oppo does the processing and the analogue PCM is sent to a multi-channel processor, running in a PureDirect mode. So Oppo does all the speaker distance management, etc. Video is sent directly via HDMI to my TV.
For normal BluRay / TV watching the set up returns to a normal mode - via HDMI.

To operate all that in a foolproof manner, I actually had to get a Logitech universal remote control - the Harmony 950. Works very well indeed. It has this macro functions, where complex commands are programmed under one icon - watch TV, play CD etc etc.  It reconfigures all the components, switches appropriate inputs, mutes and unmutes NAIM. Very impressive.

But I think I've deviated from the topic.....

One thing that is very important in a set up like this are multiple earth connections and ground loops. 
Hence the use of optical cables and isolating transformers on analgue connections.

Adam Zielinski posted:

. I also tested it, but prefered Oppo's processor. I also wanted analogue, multi-channel outputs. For 5.1 music and listening to concerts

In fact, I had noticed this feature that is not important for me not having a set-up for multichannel

 The Marantz does not have 5.1 analog outputs but only via HDMI: on the other hand it has stereo XLR balanced outputs which is not possible with Naim, unfortunately

Cheers

Actually ballanced outputs are not so critical in a domestic environment. Cable runs rarely exceed 1-2 meters.

Ballanced connections are important when long runs (say 30-100 meters) come into play in a stage or studio setups.
Occasionally they can help if one has a very noisy domestic environment.

Of course a fully ballanced, differential source, pre and power are generally quite good. But I wouldn't loose sleep over it DIN is not so bad...