Digtal Signal Path for Rotel 985 (long)

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I have a Rotel 985 ($2000) preamp/processor and a Sony S9000ES for my HT system. The Rotel changes all analog signals through the analog inputs to 24/48 digital, processes them (e.g. balance, bass mgt, trebble, sub, Dolby Ditigal, etc.) and then converts back to analog. Obviously, this is choking my SACD sound. However, the Rotel also has a 5.1 input that keeps things analog. Only the volume control is in the signal path. The trouble is that the Rotel uses a DB25 interconnect rather than RCA.
A local dealer just made a db25 to rca stereo interconnect for me, and I spent about 2 hours listening to it today.
With SACD, the most obvious difference is that the 5.1 input has better defined bass. Next comes improved clarity. It's not a huge difference, but there is a difference. Strings come through more clearly and the music appears louder. I kept the sound at similar db levels using my sound meter. The normal input sound appears a little quieter and duller.
Next, I tried CDs. While the effect wasn't as large, I still preferred the sound of the 5.1 inputs rather than the digitally processed inputs. I noticed some of the same things as I heard with the SACD--just not to the same degree.
Next I had my 22 year old son listen. He listened to about 2 minutes of the same cut (SACD version of Carole King's Tapestry) to both inputs, and made the same conclusions. Better bass, more defined, and more dynamic.
I did not compare the 5.1 input with the digital coax input, but several months ago my son and I compared the analog out of the 9000 (going into the Rotel normal inputs) against the coax out. We concluded that it was too close to call. I slightly preferred the coax, while my son the analog.

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Topic - Digtal Signal Path for Rotel 985 (long) - Tommart 23:28:14 02/28/01 (0)

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