HDMI to SFDIF?

[Wayman]

Hi,

My universal disk player doesn't have a digital out.

Is there a product that will strip out cd audio from the HDMI output from my universal player so I can use the digital in an my DAC?

I have seen some very inexpensive HDMI switchers with digital but will they mess up the signal?

Thanks, Wayne

[Kevin D]

Yes, there's several out there of varying quality. I've used a cheap one from Amazon with my Fire TV.

The problem you run into is that all lot of them will force the player into stereo pcm output when inline and you will no longer get any multi channel sound from the unit via hdmi.

You would need to make sure the one you get doesn't modify the edid on the hdmi port. Ie, decodes two channel pcm, but passes through everything else.

That said, most of these are so cheap that I would be concerned any quality gained by the dac would be offset by using the converter.

[Wayman]

Thanks for the reply,

I thought there were going to be quality issues.

Time for plan B.

Cheers, Wayne

[Wayman]

Hi,

I wonder if this would be a good option for those of us lacking a USB dac?

http://microjukebox.com/collections/accessories

Cheers, Wayne

[wkhanna]

a used Music Fidelity V-Link 2....if yo can find one.....not easy, however.

or a new peachtree LINK

[JonMarsh]

Don't forget- NAD M51 has HDMI inputs and pass through.

[wkhanna]

of course, the NAD!
this provides a nice all-in-one solution.

there is also THIS iFi unit for < $300

not multi-channel either, but the Schiit is not all that bad, with reasonable entry-level pricing & it is USA manufactured.
i use their USB card in my modified Gungnir and it performed slightly better than the Music Fidelity V-Link 2 which has been the gold standard in lower-cost USB converters for a V long time.

[Wayman]

Thanks for the suggestions!

For me this is kind of like when my diet improved AFTER I started exercising. You know: to get the most out of it & not waste my time.

After I built the Ardents I started to think a lot more seriously about the rest of the system.

Cheers, Wayne

[Wayman]

I have been looking at the M51. It is perfect for what I want.

For now though, I'm going to try to see how much improvement comes with least expensive solutions.


Cheers, Wayne

[wkhanna]

the M51 may in fact end up saving you money in the long run.

you won't need a pre-amp.

and you wont spend hundreds of $ on entry-level DAC's only to discover your Ardents still are not performing anywhere near their capability.

[JonMarsh]

I have been looking at the M51. It is perfect for what I want.

For now though, I'm going to try to see how much improvement comes with least expensive solutions.


Cheers, Wayne

If you are interested in a like new M51 with low operating hours, and at a good price, PM me. I have way too much gear right now, and no opportunity to use it (with HDMI!) as I originally planned... Don't have a video setup of my own right now, just a 50" Sony flat panel in a room with no space to watch it!

Would rather keep it in the family than put it up on Audiogon.

[wkhanna]

Wayman,

if you do get the Maestro's M51, have him $ign it with a permanent marker on the underside of the chassis.:W

[aud19]

Had a similar issue last year:

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php?42903-HDMI-Switcher-with-Optical-Coax-audio-extraction&highlight=hdmi+switch

The Monoprice has been working for me until I recently replaced my Rotel (and the Monoprice switch) with a Marantz receiver with full HDMI capabilities.

[Wayman]

the M51 may in fact end up saving you money in the long run.

you won't need a pre-amp.

and you wont spend hundreds of $ on entry-level DAC's only to discover your Ardents still are not performing anywhere near their capability.

Well that makes sense! I purchased the used dac from my coworker after some lobbying on his part and before I really thought things thru.

Cheers, Wayne

[Renron]

For future viewers of this thread;
The device is called a "HDMI Audio De-Embedder". I just looked it up yesterday. Some do provide 5.1 out. Prices vary and Amazon has quite a few.
Ron