I know of 6 channel SACD and DVD-Audio but I've just noticed my receiver offers 8 channel stereo as well (designed to go with SACDs and DVD-As). Has anyone used this? Does it hit all 8 channels (7.1)? Thanks all. I want to order cables for my player and need to know if it's going to be 6 or 8

I have never seen a 8 channel SACD/DVD-A player. Do you have one?

I'm going to be getting a Denon 2200. This has 8 channels output. They call it FL1, FR1, FL2, FR2, CTR, SUB, RBL, RBR. Something like that. So anyways. In a 7.1 the FL2 and FR2 would be used on the side surrounds. Theoretically. Of course...this is why I'm asking the question

And while I'm here ...is anyone using special interconnects from your player to your receiver? Thanks again!

AIEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee!!!!! {runs screaming into the night}

I guess it is that time again.

Seems I hit a nerve. Should be fun. Let me guess. Interconnects are like speaker wire. It doesn't matter...
Though I heard when it comes to "interconnects" it matters and speaker wire, as long as it's a good 12 guage your good. I guess I'm ready for an ear full either way.

12 gauge interconnects would be... a little excessive, methinks. Unless you're doing runs over, say, a few miles.

You'll find the lineup on either side of the question is about the same as on speaker wire.

Yeah, MT, I love it when someone wants "special" interconnects, but first to the player. No, there isn't any 7.1 output with SACDs or DVD-As; the maximum is 5.1 and many SACDs are two-channel only. The 8 analog outputs(instead of 6)on the 2200 have nothing to do with surround channels; the extra 2 are front channel outputs for use with a possible separate stereo component. So, at most you'd need 6 more analog interconnects. The player comes with 3 connects, one of which(yellow plugs)is a 75 ohm coaxial cable which can be used for your digital audio connect from the player(if the length is okay) if you don't use it for a composite TV connection(which you probably won't want to do). If the length on the other two(red and white plugs usually)is okay, they can be used for 2 of the 6 analog connects. Unless there's unusually severe interference which might call for the use of more heavily shielded coaxial cable, regular lightly shielded "RCA" cables("RCA" actually referring only to the plugs, strictly speaking, not the whole cable)in whatever length is convenient, are entirely satisfactory.

Have you JohnK, or anyone here, actually done any A/B testing on this. I'm not talking about all the techy testing. Just your ears hearing a difference or not? Thanks!

MT, at home I've never used anything but inexpensive interconnects. Of course I've heard systems using cables that might have run 100 times as much and noted that they were also successful in connecting the components. Other than the heavy EMI situation(relatively rare)that calls for extra shielding, just about anything is fine for analog connects operating at extremely low audio frequencies over the short distances involved in homes. There's no technological basis for any of the rip-off items that charlatans peddle in this area. One of Tom Nousaine's old blind tests including interconnects illustrates that when the name plates and price tags disappear, so do any claimed differences in sound.

As the heading on the pcavtech site goes, it's a case of "Shedding light by means of the combustion of snake oil".

When someone takes out your stereo with a HERF gun, John, you'll be wishing you had used expensive, ultra-shielded components.

That'll be the day.