Cheap DVD-Audio/SACD player?

[Mike Anderson]

Actually, HDMI 1.1 now allows for DVD-A signals to be passed through using the HDMI connection, provided that both the processor/receiver and DVD player are compliant with the 1.1 standard. HDMI 1.1 also allows for both video and audio signals to be carried on one cable, and for now the audio signals that HDMI carries are DD, DTS, and PCM (including CD audio, the MLP-encoded two-channel 192/24 and 5.1 96/24 PCM signals used in DVD-A, and other high res PCM tracks now available through other sources such as DualDisc and video DVDs). HDMI is a copy-protected digital connection, so it addresses the copy protection issues. The upcoming HDMI 1.2 revision will accommodate one-bit audio formats such as SACD, while version 1.3 is supposed to include the upcoming lossless DD+ and DTS-HD formats that will be included with HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

OK I have a headache now!

If you're looking for unprotected high res PCM audio streams...

Is this something I can run into a Benchmark DAC1?

These discs can output a 96/24 PCM bitstream using just a normal DVD video player.

Hmmm... Unfortunately my present DVD player doesn't have a coax or digital digital out; will a typical DVD-A/SACD player play these?