HDMI and DACs not evolving

[Chrispy]

hdmi license fee - Google Search

Now about the deals that are negotiated with volume?

 

[MCH]

what recent MiniDSP product has HDMI? are they into something new?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

In other words we don’t know.

In other words, I don't know because I have not made the effort.

 

[sq225917]

The reason stereo dacs don't have hdmi audio inputs is because that's what AVRs exist and why tvs offer downmixed audio out.

 

[formdissolve]

My current eARC option cost me $600 and all I get is 2 channel 24 bit PCM from the optical out.. or you could use the HDMI out and send to something else.. but that can add some issues like latency etc (some people are sensitive to high ms lip sync, but I assume it wouldn't be THAT high). I have three sources for 4K with Dolby Vision, so a switch with stereo extracting capabilities made sense. My other backup option is a cheap HDMI extractor to run on the second output of my blu-ray player, which outputs 2 channel 24 bit 48 over Coax.

8K VRROOM 40Gbps | HDFury.com | Connect and Fix everything in HDMI

WORLD’S FIRST 8K VRR and HDMI 2.1 sound extractor that allows FULL AUDIO (up to receivers audio specs) from ANY external HDMI source to ANY HDMI/ARC or eARC sound system.

hdfury.com

There's a cheaper option without 120hz / VRR support for $450.. but of course for both of them you'd need a DAC attached.

 

[formdissolve]

The reason stereo dacs don't have hdmi audio inputs is because that's what AVRs exist and why tvs offer downmixed audio out.

Essence makes a DAC with HDMI 2.0b inputs (no eARC).. Amir measured it and it wasn't SOTA, but still has respectable SINAD, especially considering it's one of few standalone DACs with HDMI. I owned own for about a year and thought it sounded good, especially with all the input/output options on such a small device.

Essence HDACC II-4K HDMI DAC / Preamp / Headphone Amp For 4K Sources and TVs - Essence For High Res Audio

Essence pioneered the HDMI DAC category in 2013 and still makes the world's best HDMI DACs. We use genuine Silicon Image® HDMI chips for ultimate reliability and performance. The Essence HDACC II-4K is the most advanced audiophile-class PCM Hi Res Audio DAC / Preamp / Headphone Amp on the market...

www.essenceelectrostatic.com

 

[JSmith]

Amir measured it and it wasn't SOTA, but still has respectable SINAD, especially considering it's one of few standalone DACs with HDMI. I owned own for about a year and thought it sounded good, especially with all the input/output options on such a small device.

Indeed he did;

Review and Measurements of Essence HDACC II-4K HDMI DAC

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Essence HDACC II-4K HDMI and USB DAC. It is on kind loan from a member. It costs USD $699 from company's website although it is on sale currently for $599. For years, I have been looking and asking DAC manufacturers to include HDMI input in...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If Essence can do this for $649 there is no reason other companies can't.

Essence's specs are quite over the top though compared the the real data from the AP;

THD + N = 0.00001% at -141 dB S/N Ratio

JSmith

 

[bungle]

Many sources don’t have anything else than HDMI output (AppleTV, Google TV, gaming consoles, UHD Bluray players), so that is obvious gain that you can get audio to DAC. The HDMI CEC allows you auto power on and power off devices and also allow thing like volume control with any remote in your hand. If the DAC goes wild and starts to support Dolby MAT 2.0 (even if it is PCM only) then you can also get the best available stereo sound track that you cannot get by any other means in HDCP chain.

One additional benefit is automatic (and mandatory) lip sync.

 

[sq225917]

They're claiming thd+noise at -141db on that Essence dac?

 

[bungle]

Essence makes a DAC with HDMI 2.0b inputs (no eARC).. Amir measured it and it wasn't SOTA, but still has respectable SINAD, especially considering it's one of few standalone DACs with HDMI. I owned own for about a year and thought it sounded good, especially with all the input/output options on such a small device.

Essence HDACC II-4K HDMI DAC / Preamp / Headphone Amp For 4K Sources and TVs - Essence For High Res Audio

Essence pioneered the HDMI DAC category in 2013 and still makes the world's best HDMI DACs. We use genuine Silicon Image® HDMI chips for ultimate reliability and performance. The Essence HDACC II-4K is the most advanced audiophile-class PCM Hi Res Audio DAC / Preamp / Headphone Amp on the market...

www.essenceelectrostatic.com

This is almost the same:

Cypress Technology Co., Ltd. a ProAV solution provider. CYP target on vertical markets of enterprise, education, hospitality, Industry IoT and medical.

Cypress Technology, based in Taiwan, was founded in 1989, specializing in the design and manufacture of innovative AV and Multimedia products. Today Cypress Technology is highly recognized as a pioneer within the AV industry and offers an extensive AV product range that is widely used throughout...

www.cypress.com.tw

CYP DCT-37 HDMI DAC / Preamplifier / Headphone Amplifier HDMI SPDIF USB RCA 32bit / 384khz - Audiophonics

The CYP DCT-37 is a true Swiss Army Knife dedicated to audio and video. It can control many digital and analog sources and then output to a wide variety of digital and analog devices.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[pau]

Lots of nice information. I wasnt aware of the Essense HDMI DAC. Good to see that someone had stepped forward to cross the markets.

What HDMI can / could bring to the table (with the positive side effect to connect almost with anything via HDMI)

 

[prakasse]

Lots of nice information. I wasnt aware of the Essense HDMI DAC. Good to see that someone had stepped forward to cross the markets.

What HDMI can / could bring to the table (with the positive side effect to connect almost with anything via HDMI)

View attachment 241558

Still it doesn't address the requirements. Atmos support is not there. All we need is preouts upto 2vrms with good SINAD. Agree this market has not evolved in last 5 years and stuck with 5.1 DD and DTS.

 

[sarumbear]

Still it doesn't address the requirements. Atmos support is not there. All we need is preouts upto 2vrms with good SINAD. Agree this market has not evolved in last 5 years and stuck with 5.1 DD and DTS.

Why do you expect multichannel decoding on what is a Digital to Analogue converter? A DAC is not a processor. That job is for AVR/AVP.

 

[abdo123]

Unencrypted digital output from a protected HDMI signal is a violation of the license, and so it's impossible for a company to offer it. You either have to resort to DIY hardware mods, or rip/decrypt the content.

This is absolutely incorrect, they're just limited to 16bit 48KHz.

 

[abdo123]

The only extractor I would think of entertaining in 2022 is the VanityPro by Audiopraise, but the fact that it cost as much as a bloody Denon 3800X is a joke.

 

[sarumbear]

The only extractor I would think of entertaining in 2022 is the VanityPro by Audiopraise, but the fact that it cost as much as a bloody Denon 3800X is a joke.

Someone tested an HDMI 5.1 surround sound decoder here a short while ago, which is dirt cheap. Its SPDIF output was almost fully transparent. Wouldn’t that be suitable to extract HDMI audio?

Found it:

Cheapo HDMI Audio Extractor - some measurements

Good afternoon all So I got this cheap HDMI 7.1 audio extractor (aprox. 50$) off ebay or aliexpress (can't quite remember). Usually these kind of products either miss a bunch of specs or stated specs are a blatant lie. So I decided to try some measuring myself. Be warned though - I am no...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Trell]

This is absolutely incorrect, they're just limited to 16bit 48KHz.

Even for multichannel? I wouldn’t mind 16 bit 48 kHz at all.

 

[abdo123]

Someone tested an HDMI 5.1 surround sound decoder here a short while ago, which is dirt cheap. Its SPDIF output was almost fully transparent. Wouldn’t that be suitable to extract HDMI audio?

Found it:

Cheapo HDMI Audio Extractor - some measurements

Good afternoon all So I got this cheap HDMI 7.1 audio extractor (aprox. 50$) off ebay or aliexpress (can't quite remember). Usually these kind of products either miss a bunch of specs or stated specs are a blatant lie. So I decided to try some measuring myself. Be warned though - I am no...

www.audiosciencereview.com

My TV already has an optical output, for anyone who wants just stereo it’s a really good way to go about things.

 

[sarumbear]

The only extractor I would think of entertaining in 2022 is the VanityPro by Audiopraise, but the fact that it cost as much as a bloody Denon 3800X is a joke.

My TV already has an optical output, for anyone who wants just stereo it’s a really good way to go about things.

I replied as you said you will “entertain” an idea of an extractor. The unit I posted has almost pure SPDIF extraction and is very cheap. For studio it does the job as good as the VanityPro.

 

[bungle]

That job is for AVR/AVP.

AVP: only really expensive choices there
AVR: not a nice fit with active speakers

DACs have USB, Toslink, Coax SPDIF, and some have AES (all of these are just same SPDIF, except USB, I think). The most common digital input they lack. Well, there is I2S which already use a HDMI as a connector. Just a few steps away is eARC/CEC and perhaps support for Dolby MAT 2.0 with PCM only. The DAC that provides this for 2.0 will get my money.