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In Reply to: RE: Need Help with 2 Channel System - but Dolby Surround Input posted by Mel on September 10, 2011 at 16:49:09
Take a look at Gefen and Atlona websites.
Kal
Follow Ups:
Thanks. It looks like Gefen has a unit that would work, its DVI Audio to HDMI Adapter Video converter. But it's pricy for the little that it actually does, over $200.
I found a unit at Monoprice that might work and I am making inquiries.
. . . . and provide switching capability as well. It has a switch for PCM or compressed audio output. And it's less than $45. I'll give it a try and report back.
In my comment below, I should have listed the model number of the monoprice product. What they directed you to is actually the model that I have and I know for a fact that it doesn't work because I've already tested it.
"I have a similar monoprice box -- an HDMI to coax/optical converter (aka HDMI de-embedder) -- and when it's fed Dolby Digital via HDMI, the optical output will be either 5.1 Dolby Digital or 2.0 Dolby Digital (there's a switch). I tested mine last night just in case it could be used to convert Dolby Digital to PCM, but the DAC I tested it with couldn't lock onto the signal, even in 2.0 mode (so it doesn't convert Dolby Digital to PCM)."
Anyone have experience with the little Gefen GTV-DD-2-AA? Is it a quality unit? How much will my sound suffer relative to the Lavry? Does anyone know what chip it uses?
Thanks.
Actually, it's more than $86 overpriced as the monoprice product that you were directed to -- Product ID 5557, which does even more -- also has analog stereo outputs. That 3.5mm jack in the back provides an analog stereo output from what you feed it via HDMI. Just get a 3.5mm-to-stereo RCA cable and you're set.
Did you change your mind on using the DAC in your system? I ask because neither option, the Gefen nor the monoprice, will provide a 2.0 digital PCM signal for a stereo DAC from a Dolby Digital signal. They will, however, (obviously) provide an analog stereo signal.
Below is a link to the 3.5mm-to-stereo RCA cable 3ft version, but they have lengths from 6" to 50' of that type of cable.
My problem is that I have a long run (about 18') where I've been using Toslink. I can use analog cables there already from the DAC in the cable box, but the sound suffers compared to Toslink into the Lavry. That's why I was asking about the quality of the Gefen unit. If it did the job VERY WELL it would be worth the money to me.
So the question is how good can two channel from Dolby Digital be, and whether this unit can do the job well!
Each box, the Gefen and the monoprice, must convert to PCM in order for their onboard D-A converter (the one that feeds the analog stereo output) to work. It would be nice, at least for people who wanted a 2.0 PCM signal instead of a Dolby Digital or DTS signal, if you could just have the signal that feeds that D-A converter available on the coax/optical output.
I would bet that the sound quality from the Motorola FIOS box, the Gefen converter and the monoprice converter, will be no match, by far, for the audio quality that you get from the Lavry DAC fed by an optical connection. The reason is that, even with a PCMed lossy Dolby Digital signal, the analog stage of those devices are no match for the analog stage in the Lavry DAC. Most people do not realize that the analog stage contributes more to the sound quality of a DAC than just about any other part of the DAC. The total cost of the analog stages in the other devices, combined , is less than $6 -- and that's being generous.
If I come across another option or, better yet, a simple device that just converts a Dolby Digital/DTS signal to 2.0 PCM, I'll try to remember to post a link here.
Unless it specifically says it will convert to PCM, the optical output will probably just serve as a pass-thru of what the Motorola box outputs. You might want to call monoprice and see if they can help you with this.
I have a similar monoprice box -- an HDMI to coax/optical converter (aka HDMI de-embedder) -- and when it's fed Dolby Digital via HDMI, the optical output will be either 5.1 Dolby Digital or 2.0 Dolby Digital (there's a switch). I tested mine last night just in case it could be used to convert Dolby Digital to PCM, but the DAC I tested it with couldn't lock onto the signal, even in 2.0 mode (so it doesn't convert Dolby Digital to PCM). I actually use the box to convert PCM from a tablet's HDMI output to an optical output to feed a DAC for a headphone amp.
and it has a digital out, which my Panasonic plasma does, simply feed the signal from your cable box directly to the TV by HDMI and feed digital audio out from the TV to your current DAC. The TV will do the decoding and output PCM for you. No cost at all, apart from the HDMI cable if you need one.
David Aiken
That sounds like the solution!
The TV will do the conversion from DD to PCM. FIOS box HDMI to my Sharp LCD. The TV toslink out to my Bechmark DAC1.
Right, Kal?
All I can say is that there's a menu option for my Panasonic V20A plasma which allows you to set the optical digital out to PCM so it should be possible on my TV. I can't test it since I don't have a DAC I could try this setting with.
The OP can check his TV's manual, or even just try the experiment. Since it requires no gear he doesn't have it's a cheap thing to try—only his time is at risk and very little of that.
David Aiken
At least with the current display in his system listing: the Panasonic PT-50LC13 has no digital audio input or output. If his display has changed, perhaps it is now an option.
I have heard of digital (coax or optical) output from a TV with an HDMI source but I have no idea if the output is PCM or DD. What I have also heard is that this function (HDMI to coax/optical) varies greatly from TV to TV so I advise you to check the user's manual of the TV. I have never used such an arrangement.
Kal
.
since we're talking about the output from a cable box which also includes a video signal, he'll want the display on in order to view the video.
If there's no video signal in the output so there's nothing to view, then my Panasonic plasma allows me to turn the display off while still playing an audio signal. I have some digital radio stations in the digital TV frequency band here in Australia and I listen to them using the TV but with the panel turned off.
David Aiken
"Surely... since we're talking about the output from a cable box which also includes a video signal, he'll want the display on in order to view the video."
I purchased my own tuners for the cable feed (not FIOS). The signals they accept are NTSC, ATSC and clear QAM (SD and HD digital from the cable company that's not scrambled). The tuners have various analog video outputs and a DVI output. The boxes have L/R analog audio outputs as well as optical outputs to feed downstream components with Dolby Digital or 2.0 PCM. I know where the digital music channels are, so I just punch in the station that I want to listen to (there's a numeric display on the front panel of the tuner). The DAC gets 2.0 PCM and the display doesn't have to be turned on when I want to listen to music that the cable company provides. For regular programs, the display is turned on.
Obviously, with his Motorola FIOS box, because the douchebags aren't providing Dolby Digital-to-2.0 PCM capability, he doesn't have this option if he wants to send the optical output to a stereo DAC. Hence his predicament.
I'm in Australia and the pay TV options here are very different from what you have. Actually I don't use pay TV. I rely on free to air transmissions for my TV viewing.
As far as I know, you don't get a choice about what box you use with pay TV here in Australia, you simply use what the service provider gives you though they may provide some options, for example if you want HD programs, but they charge more for that as well.
There's also some variation in the tv models offered by Panasonic here compared to what you get in the US.
David Aiken
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