Popular Post goldenpiggy Posted March 13, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 13, 2021 First, many thanks to @gmgraves for this fantastic article. Due to starting/running my own business, I've been inactive on Computer Audiophile for many years (that's how long it's been -- missed the name change) and not had time to listen to music...until now. I could not be happier rediscovering my SACD collection, no less since I never got into ripping them. So thank you! I bought the same HDMI-> I2S converter box (with the green LED) and a Topping D90 MQA (hopefully Denefrips or Holo someday.) I believe the box seems to use the PS Audio I2S pinout on the HDMI connector, and that's the default setting on the D90. It's plug-and-play with the D90 and a stock Oppo 205 on the audio HDMI output of the player. Just use the default settings on the D90's I2S settings. (I didn't check if L/R are reversed though.) No need for external 5V power supply. In fact, it did not work if I connect an the 5V power supply. It's also plug and play on my ancient Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray player, which has dual HDMI. I did need to go into the menu of the Sony to set audio out on the 2nd HDMI. No need for external 5V power supply. It did not work at all on my Oppo BDP-83 (original, non-SE, but Exemplar-modded) which has a single HDMI. If I connected the loop out HDMI to a TV, then the box powered up. If I connected an external power supply, the box powered up. But no matter what the settings on the Oppo and D90, nothing. I noticed on the TV that it would say PCM when playing SACD and sound was coming out of the TV. This leads me to believe the BDP-83 will modify the audio format over HDMI based on the TV's EDID. I didn't try another TV. I have an Esoteric UX-3SE universal player that has HDMI out, but not able to try it since drawer won't open. I could not tell much difference between the Oppo 205 vs. Sony BDP-S790 as a transport, so I was a bit disappointed in that regard. The Oppo is slightly faster in loading and advancing tracks, but not by much. There is a loud pop heard through the speakers when the DSD stream stops (when ejecting disc.) It was worse on the Sony than the Oppo. Sonically, the D90 is fantastic for what it costs when used in a HDMI->I2S setup. It is super clean, has amazing bass extension and control, fast, coherent, rhythmic, and has convincing highs. Amazing details that I never heard before, not even out of my 205. Alas it is not a warm sounding DAC by any means, nor does it sound "holographic," but neither does the Oppo 205. The D90 sound can be described as the sound out of mastering DACs, like Benchmark, Lavry, or Prism Sound (but Prism is warmer.) I previously owned an Accuphase DP-700 SACD player which I believe used 4x AD1955 delta-sigma DAC chips per channel. The Accuphase, if I can "recall" what it sounded like, was much warmer and more holographic, like a proper high-end piece. Compared to my Esoteric UX-3SE (I think it used top-spec BB PCM1704-K chips), I do feel the D90 via I2S and stock Oppo 205 best it in every way, maybe except for warmth. I do like th I2S sound of out the D90 better than the internal Oppo 205 when playing SACD. It seems smoother, more natural to me. Both slam hard and have great bass extension and control, with a nod to the D90's AK4499EQ. However, I like the male vocals on the 205's ESS9038Pro better. There's just a bit too much abrasive glare on male vocals with the D90 in my setup. (FWIW, I'm in the pro AV business and take advantage pro audio gear value proposition and being able to buy some gears at dealer cost. My preamp is a retired-from-show-use APB Dynasonics Pro Rack House mixer --analog warmth and full of body. Amp is a LEA Professional Connect 352 class-D commercial install amp, one of the best kept secrets in home hi-fi class D amplification. (Disclosure: I'm an LEA dealer.) Speakers are 12 year old Gallo Reference 3.5. Sub is who knows how old Hsu Research VTF-3 HO. Interconnects are all standard pro-grade mic cables like Pro Co.) For those that like the convenience of popping in physical SACDs but don't have a "high end" SACD player, this HDMI -> I2S converter that @gmgraves reviewed, along with any one of the inexpensive DSD-capable AK4499/ES9038/R2R DACs with I2S (Audio-GD, Gustard, Topping, Denefrips, Holo, etc.) can take your system to another level for the cost of snake-oil power cords. linger63 and hgaggioni 1 1 Oppo UDP-205/Topping D90 MQA/eBay HDMI->I2S/Gallo Reference 3.5/Hsu Research VTF-3HO/APB Pro Rack House/LEA C352 amp/laser printer 14AWG power cords/good but cheap pro audio XLR cables. Link to comment
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