Someone is still taking SACD seriously

[Al ears]

Interestingly it's Shanling.

Shanling SCD3.3 Launches as New Flagship Top-Loading SACD Player

Shanling has lifted the lid on the SCD3.3, a new flagship SACD player that mixes old-school disc playback with some very modern engineering.

stereonet.com

 

[Revolutions]

That's really cool.

 

[Al ears]

That's really cool.

I thought so.
Unfortunately my old Oppo is still going strong.
🙂

 

[manicm]

It's nearly 4k GBP, and does not state clearly if the internal DAC truly decodes DSD or converts it to PCM. The I2S and USB outputs allow DSD externally, but at this price I really want to know what I'm getting apart from using their own disc transport and laser mechanisms which is admirable.

Otherwise one may well stick to a high-end Marantz.

 

[Al ears]

It's nearly 4k GBP, and does not state clearly if the internal DAC truly decodes DSD or converts it to PCM. The I2S and USB outputs allow DSD externally, but at this price I really want to know what I'm getting apart from using their own disc transport and laser mechanisms which is admirable.

Otherwise one may well stick to a high-end Marantz.

True, but do Marantz convert to PCM?
Shanling website states " True DSD data from SACD for internal DAC and Digital Outputs (I2S & Coaxial) " , whatever that means.
Nice to see an I2S output but that means an expensive external dac would be required.

 

[manicm]

True, but do Marantz convert to PCM?
Shanling website states " True DSD data from SACD for internal DAC and Digital Outputs (I2S & Coaxial) " , whatever that means.
Nice to see an I2S output but that means an expensive external dac would be required.

The Marantz SACD 30n and the flagship SACD 10 explicitly do not convert DSD.

 

[daytona600]

New one from Esoteric

 

[nopiano]

Fascinating too that they’re using the rather unusual R2R DAC approach, which seems rather a DIY choice given the availability of so many great DAC chips, or programmable FGPA devices. But I applaud the ingenuity and distinctive design.

Would be curious to know their sales volumes, as although a novelty here, I could believe there is significant demand in Japan, China and Korea for example.

 

[Al ears]

Fascinating too that they’re using the rather unusual R2R DAC approach, which seems rather a DIY choice given the availability of so many great DAC chips, or programmable FGPA devices. But I applaud the ingenuity and distinctive design.

Would be curious to know their sales volumes, as although a novelty here, I could believe there is significant demand in Japan, China and Korea for example.

Yes indeed, it seems it is the Japanese primarily keep SACD sales alive although interesting to see that MOFI usually offer an SACD version of their latest LP releases.

 

[Al ears]

New one from Esoteric

View attachment 10392

Slightly outside my budget at £28.8k

 

[daytona600]

£28k is mid range for Esoteric