Digital conversion options (audio)

[MTVhike]

My system is regularly being changed, and I want to understand what types of digital conversion options I have, e.g. HDMI to Optical or Coaxial. Questions: what restrictions are there in file format, bit depth, surround capability, etc. For HDMI sources, I have a laptop computer, a Sony X800 player, and my cable box. My two amps do not have any HDMI inputs, but they do have the others I mentioned. I bought an HDMI switch which claims to do the conversions, but it's flaky.

 

[lovinthehd]

HDMI is capable of all the digital audio formats. Optical/coax is limited to lossy multich codecs and no Atmos metadata.

 

[MTVhike]

Some of the files I want to play are from 5.1 SACDs or 5.0 DSD files.

 

[nathan_h]

Then you better stick with HDMI.

 

[MTVhike]

Neither of my amps have HDMI inputs. One of them, a NAD C368, has the ability to add an HDMI card, but it's pretty pricey.

 

[nathan_h]

What "amps" are you using / have access to? I assume you may mean an AVR? The one you listed is a two channel affair so how would you play back five or six channel audio?

And what budget are you willing to spend on a solution?

 

[lovinthehd]

Some of the files I want to play are from 5.1 SACDs or 5.0 DSD files.

Not sure how you plan to play anything multich thru the Nad C368, its just a 2ch integrated amp. Maybe if the X800 had analog outs but it doesn't appear to. You could connect your X800 to your Nad C368 via digital coax for 2ch use (or up to 5.1 lossy with suitable electronics).

 

[MTVhike]

I know I have no surround for my living room, where the NAD is located, but was just using that as an example. The X800 is in my HT room, and has only HDMI and coaxial outputs. The AVR in the HT room is an old Outlaw 1050 which is 6 channel, with analog, coaxial, and optical inputs. I am experimenting and need to get a device to convert the HDMI to these other digital formats and don't want to restrict the capability unnecessarily. I may eventually want to get a current model AVR for the HT room. I'm using the Outlaw to learn about surround sound and, since it has no HDMI, use what it does have for learning.

 

[nathan_h]

I can’t see any solution cheaper than an AVR you pick up on Craigslist that has hdmi inputs. Probably cost 150 bucks.

The second best option will be to downconvert your lossless surround sound down to lossy surround sound Using the coax output of the x800 And adjusting the settings in the x800.

 

[MTVhike]

Nathan, what do you mean by lossy surround sound? MP3? PCM?

 

[nathan_h]

Dolby Digital. AC3. Similar to MP3 but multichannel.

Not PCM which is lossless.

 

[MTVhike]

So, if I want lossless, multichannel which is not HDMI, then I have to get an HDMI-input DAC, and use the analog inputs of my AVR? For my 2-channel system, the HDMI module for the NAD C368 is $350!

 

[nathan_h]

Yes, if you want lossless MULTI CHANNEL sound, you need to use HDMI (or analog).

However, you can get TWO CHANNEL lossless sound over a coax or optical SPDIF. You don't need HDMI for lossless TWO CHANNEL sound.

 

[Eppie]

HDMI is capable of all the digital audio formats. Optical/coax is limited to lossy multich codecs and no Atmos metadata.

So optical won't pass PCM? I don't always have the surround receiver on, so my cable box is connected to the TV via HDMI and then I ran the optical out on the TV to the receiver for those times I want to use the surround speakers. So if I understand lovinthehd and nathan_h's posts correctly, the TV is converting multi-channel audio to a lossy format when using the optical out? Only the cable box is affected since all other sources connect to the receiver, so might be a necessary compromise to keep the wife happy.

 

[BMXTRIX]

There is very little demand for the equipment you need to convert HDMI to a suitable format. This makes the cost for what you need much higher than the cost for new gear which simply does what you want/need out of the box. In some ways, what you say you want to do makes a lot of sense because you have decent gear to begin with. But, at the end of the day, getting new gear which is purpose built to handle exactly what you need is a better course of action.

At some point, you accept that HDMI is now nearly a 20 year old format and is the industry standard. Anything short of that connection requires conversion which can end up costing more than just getting newer gear.

 

[lovinthehd]

So optical won't pass PCM? I don't always have the surround receiver on, so my cable box is connected to the TV via HDMI and then I ran the optical out on the TV to the receiver for those times I want to use the surround speakers. So if I understand lovinthehd and nathan_h's posts correctly, the TV is converting multi-channel audio to a lossy format when using the optical out? Only the cable box is affected since all other sources connect to the receiver, so might be a necessary compromise to keep the wife happy.

Optical can pass 2ch pcm, not multich. Some tv's are more capable than others as far as what signal it can pass on....but you should be able to see what format your tv passes out with help of the avr's identification of the input signall.....

 

[lovinthehd]

I know I have no surround for my living room, where the NAD is located, but was just using that as an example. The X800 is in my HT room, and has only HDMI and coaxial outputs. The AVR in the HT room is an old Outlaw 1050 which is 6 channel, with analog, coaxial, and optical inputs. I am experimenting and need to get a device to convert the HDMI to these other digital formats and don't want to restrict the capability unnecessarily. I may eventually want to get a current model AVR for the HT room. I'm using the Outlaw to learn about surround sound and, since it has no HDMI, use what it does have for learning.

Just use the coaxial connection....it will give you what you can get.