CD/SACD-проигрыватели и транспорты — PS Audio PMG Signature SACD Transport

The PMG Signature SACD Transport is described by PS Audio as its most advanced optical disc transport and its top disc player, the result of 43 years of engineering work at the company. It follows the PerfectWave SACD Transport and, like that model, gives PS Audio converters access to the raw DSD layer of copy-protected SACDs. It has no internal DAC, so a separate converter is always part of the system.

Key specs that matter

Supported discs are SACD, audio CD and recordable CD formats, as well as DVD-R, -RW, +R and +RW discs containing audio data files. A USB port plays MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, DSD and 2xDSD files. Digital outputs are one I2S port carrying PCM and raw DSD, one RCA coaxial, two BNC and two balanced XLR, the last three types carrying PCM and DoP. The two BNC or two XLR outputs can run in tandem for double-rate DoP. Power consumption is 25 W from 120 or 230 V AC mains at 50 or 60 Hz. With its feet the case measures 375 x 445 x 112 mm, and it weighs 13.7 kg. Finish options are black and silver, with a remote control in the box.

Engineering and use context

SACD stores audio as DSD, a 1-bit format sampled at 2.8 MHz, which is 64 times the CD rate and is quoted at 120 dB of signal-to-noise ratio. Most transports cannot export that data stream, while this one routes it over I2S to a compatible PS Audio DAC. The output stage is galvanically isolated - it shares no wires, ground paths or power supplies with the rest of the machine, and the signal crosses the gap over a short-wavelength radio link. PS Audio states that this separation lowers jitter and noise reaching the converter. Discs are read into memory and then played from it, with signal handling done in an FPGA. A large linear power supply with separate regulators feeds the circuits, and the build places one chassis inside another. No setup is needed after connection.

Pairing

The full benefit arrives with a PS Audio DAC that has an I2S input, since only this link passes native DSD from SACD. Converters from other brands can still use the coaxial, BNC or XLR outputs for CD and DoP data. The matching size and finish options make it a natural partner for the PMG Signature 512 DAC.

Alternatives

The PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport is the earlier disc transport from the brand that also delivers the DSD layer of SACD to PS Audio DACs over I2S.