SACD Surround is Working!!

To answer, maybe but it gets complicated with SACD tracks over HDMI.  Open the s2 app, hit gear icon at the bottom right, then system settings, now look at audio in.  Let us know what you see during the multi channel later on the SACD.

Here's where it gets tricky the blu-ray player is converting DSD to LPCM over HDMI on the fly. I have the x800 m2, very similar really. I would be shocked if Sonos and LG could pass through or even receive 1bit DSD 2.8-5.6mhz signals.  Sonos doesn't support anything below 16 bit depth / 44.1kz from their own language.

All this is irrelevant because you are sending DSD as LPCM though, so it appears to work but not in the purists of ways if that makes sense.  If you ever heard pure DSD you would know (have you, just curious since you do own some super audios)

Funny thing is ever since owning my Sonos surround set up this year I haven't tried a single SACD, yet.  Now  you have me interested in listening to Dark side of the moon in 4channal surround all over again. Thanks!   (Will report tomorrow to see if the app sees DSD or bitrate).

Hi guys. New Sonos user here, just about to give up on SACD when I found this thread!

I also have a Sony UBP-X700 connected to an Arc (Sub and a couple of Plays coming soon), but in my case via a Samsung Frame. The system is happy with DVD movies and 'normal' CDs - including the non-SACD layer of a super audio disc - but although the player knows when it's playing SACD I get no sound. 'Audio In' in the Sonos system settings shows 'Silence' - which is at least accurate 🙂

@amfnyc, if it's not too much trouble, could you post a screenshot of your Sony audio settings? I feel like I've tried most permutations, but I'm clearly missing something. Thanks.

@Tylertron21 - yes! Dark Side of the Moon for sure. And a couple of months ago I tracked down the SACD/5.1 version of War of the Worlds that I'm keen to hear on the new system.

   I recently tried Dark Side of the Moon (SACD) on my Sony UBP-x800m2 which is pretty similar to the x700 you guys own. The SACD layer does not work with the ARC. Nor does the LG Oled know what to do with the DSD 1bit audio. 

The Sonos app also shows “silence”, you can faintly hear the tweeters playing static and gargled noises at medium-high frequencies.  I have tried every audio setting in the Blu-ray player. No luck on getting the SACD layer to work.

I am unsure how the OP is getting surround with SACD’s.  My only guess is stereo that is simulated in “surround” from the CD track. His Sony TV may have a different handshake with the Sony player, or something special is happening with that combo.  I can speak for LG users like me it’s no Bueno.

My setup is definitely working, but I don’t know at what bitrate, etc.  I am also listening to Dark Side - specifically the 30th Anniversary SACD/CD hybrid.  They X700 is playing the SACD 5.1 layer.

To answer some questions:

Gear > System > About My System

The Arc shows “Multichannel PCM 5.1” but does not list a bitrate.  Is there anywhere else to see bitrate?

My X700 TV display shows “DSD Multi 2.8MHz / 1 bit”

(What does that mean?  Seems very low, but I don’t really understand what bitrates etc are in this context...)

It is definitely the 5.1 mix, not simulated from the CD layer.  The Dark Side surround mix has some very distinct surround elements that are specifically placed.  Beck’s Sea Change 5.1 mix is another of my favorites and is a very good surround experience. 

I am no technical expert by any means, but I do have some experience listening to high end SACD mixes.  In the heyday of SACD I was working at Legacy Recordings (the catalog division of Sony Music), so I spent some time in studios and demonstration rooms listening to the highest level setups.  They were mind-bendingly magnificent.  The Sonos setup is certainly not equal to those, but it is a happy surprise that it is working for me, and it sounds pretty great for what it is.

I am really disappointed that it’s not working for you guys.  I don’t know what the problem could be.  My X700 settings screen is below.  Do your TVs have HDMI eARC or just ARC?  Multichannel 5.1 requires eARC per Sonos.  Maybe it’s a Sony to Sony thing that is allowing mine to work. 

**Clearly, SACD will not be an officially supported format for Sonos, but it would be great for a Sonos team member to chime in and help us determine:

1. Why it is working on my setup and not others?
2. What bitrate I am getting? (About My System does not say)

The TV is showing the correct signal, which is a 1bit. So 1 bit rate. At a high frequency of 2.8megahertz  People are use to 44.1hz/16bit , 48.0hz/24 bit and everything in between. DSD is in the Megahertz range, just a 1bit. Its a much more granular approach to digitizing sound.  Maybe this can help explain it better.

https://www.whathifi.com/us/advice/what-dsd-audio-how-it-works-where-to-download-files-and-more

You showed the Audio settings but can you show your music settings page for the x800m2?  Thanks.

My wild guess is the TV is converting it to a PCM format the Sonos can use. Which is great news for you!  I am jealous as I absolutely loved that SACD album for a “surround demo night”.  It is such a trip from beginning to end. I’d sometimes close my eyes (and maybe ask my guests over for the demo to do the same) and listen to track after track back when I had the big boy speakers & amps back at home.

I think you’re right...it’s probably the TV converting from DSD to PCM.  I wonder how much loss there is in the conversion process…

Music Settings image is below from my X700.  I don’t know if there are more options on the X800.

Does your TV have eARC going to the Sonos Arc?  Is there a setting to output PCM?

I have also have Earc with the new LG oled. I have tried both bitstream and also the PCM setting in the HDMI audio settings on my TV. No luck. I just get hisses, static and maybe a faint musical note that sounds like it's miles away.

I didn't know Sony TVs could do anything with a DSD signal. With Sony being one of the inventor's and pushers of SACDs I could see how it would work, just not on a modern TV as it seems manufacturers are dropping fringe tech left and right. I may have to get a Sony Oled for my next upgrade, I do miss my SACD collection. I'd hate for it to collect dust. 

Thanks for the information and screenshots, @amfnyc . My system shows exactly what yours does when playing SACD - just nothing comes out of the Arc!

I thought I'd tried most settings, but I'll try again with yours when I get some energy - had a long walk today, then a bit more exertion carrying the components of my old system up to the car with a view to sending it to a new home tomorrow. Dammit, those old Wharfedales are HEAVY!

But I fear @Tylertron21 is right and your success is a Sony-to-Sony thing.

I think you’re right, @Tylertron21.  It must be the Sony to Sony connection and/or that Sony is still supporting DSD.  It makes me sad because, first, you guys aren’t having luck, and because it just means that eventually I may lose my ability to play SACDs when I upgrade my TV (in several years).

For the time being, I will now crawl the internet for good prices on surround SACDs….

Or it could be related to this: https://en.community.sonos.com/topic/show?tid=6842523&fid=228993

(Not just Samsung, if you read down a bit.)

I checked and I didn't have eARC turned on, but as soon as I did I got the kind of issue described in the other thread.

However, since it seems to be a known issue between Sonos and Samsung (and others), we might choose to take the optimistic view that it will be fixed with future firmware updates and we'll all be able to play SACDs!

I have a Samsung 51E6500 55” TV with Sonos Play Bar, 2 Play 1’s, and a Sub, with the Sony UBP-X800m2 plugged into the TV’s ArcHDMI, and the screens for the X800m2 are all as above, and when I try any SACD no sound.  It recognizes the disc and tracks, but no sound.  I can of course play a Blu-Ray without incident.  The SACD will play the CD layer through the TV speakers, if I turn the External Speaker option off, but I am sure that is just a stereo mix?  So again, the X800m2 states that it can play SACD’s and technically it can, just not through certain equipment.  Very frustrating dealing with this crap.  My PS3 plays SACD’s on my Sony rear lite 55” 1080p and with Dark Side of the Moon will show the moon on the screen no problem.  Haven’t tried the PS3 on the Samsung - too much hassle.  Is there a way, setting, that would enable me to play a SACD through my Samsung/Sonos 5.1 setup - Simple YES/NO.  Thank you.