Pioneer 45a

Does this unit convert DSD to PCM? Should I be concerned about this?

You are probably posting this because of the recommendation that I made on another thread. I don't think that anyone here can answer this question. Pioneer had earlier players that did a conversion from DSD to PCM however they guard their technology quite closely and do not provide this information in their literature. All I know is what I hear and what I hear I like. I have been through resin turntables with insanely expensive moving coil cartridges and boosters. I have had at least 10 CD players and 3 DVD-A players and while this is my first SACD player I know that after breaking the unit in it sounds really good. Also, there is that factor that you can pop any CD\DVD disc in there and it plays. what other equipment do you have?

I was afraid you'd ask that question<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT="">
My system is not as great as most of you guys probably have....an Onkyo 575SX receiver....Denon CD...Panasonic DVD...Energy C5 main speakers..Cerwin Vega Sub....my front and rears are not great ones...plan to upgrade those soon.
I really am thinking of going strictly SACD. But we'll see....I need more info on the Pioneer....but if you say it's good, then it's good.

There is nothing wrong with Energy. I started with DVD-A and would not want to give it up. Unfortunately as you know there are titles on DVD-A that will not be on SACD. One is Trapeze by Tom Cochrane which will be released tomorrow on DVD-A. As you know speakers and equipment in general is a matter of taste. I am fairly new to surround (2 years) and I currently do not have any of the components left that I had in my original system. Polk speakers all around currently. They all have silk tweeters and multiple 6.5" drivers so they are well matched. The subwoofer is also Polk. I am very happy with this system. You can run all speakers as large but generally it is better if you run the mains as large and the rest as small. I went through the same issues with the SACD/DVD-A universal player issue. I had a Panasonic RP82 that did DVD-A and I was thinking of getting a SACD player and all those switch boxes and extra cables to get multiple 5.1 analog from 2 players into the single set of 5.1 analog inputs on my receiver. Then I read the review of the 45a in Sound and Vision Magazine and I took a trip to Whitby Audio to hear it and that was that. I would have spent $400 minimum on the SACD player and $250 minimum on the switch boxes and extra cables making $650 before taxes. I ended up selling the RP82 and getting the 45a and the difference was less. Neither one of the units would have had bass management which I have with the 45a. It just made more sense. In the end, all that matters is what the music sounds like and I love this player. Dark Side of The Moon sounds awesome.