[DDDamian]

Wow, sounds intriguing. Do you think converting them to FLAC decreases the sound quality? In the end it is a PCM conversion after all.

I think there are two options: direct DSD stream (gonna now be limited to fewer playback devices) or PCM conversion.

There's certainly loss in any conversion, and many DSD discs have already been through one PCM->DSD conversion as most DAWs are PCM. DSD DSPs are unwieldy and uncommon.

Likewise there's debate on the quality of the Foobar plugin's conversion quality compared to the Korg or Saracon conversions. Weiss Saracon is $1500 and people do object to the hard roll-off above 20khz.

By all accounts the later versions of the Foobar plugin have improved the conversion to near-transparancy with the big guys. I can attest that it sounds fantastic at 24/172.4 and at 24/88.2. As good as DSD via Denon Link 3 (proprietary in any case)? Not quite, but very very close.

Given that many cannot playback a pure DSD stream, and given that many who can will have receiver options enabled that require a PCM conversion I for one think that with AE's 24bit capabilities the PCM conversion is a good thing - it'll bring SACD playback to more people.