Amazon Basics 4K HDMI Extractor Review

[Doodski]

On a DAC I had, that had both coaxial and optical inputs, I did listen to both using the same source, and the coaxial sounded better in all aspects. But can't say how and if that difference was measurable. "Sounding different" is not a measuring parameter.

If you can hear it then it can be accurately metered and way more accurate than any humans' ears.

 

[carlmart]

If you can hear it then it can be accurately metered and way more accurate than any humans' ears.

Of course I agree with you, but I've been involved in some discussions in this forum when I said what you said, but with a slight difference. I think the ear can listen to things that can't still be measured.

That makes me part of the "subjective club" that for many many years fight with the "objective club" about listening and measurements. That doesn't mean that I don't care for measurements as a starting point, but having been a film/TV audio engineer since my young years in analog times, I Iearned that the ear was a finer instrument than the electronic ones, and that new techniques needed to be developed to be as fine as the human ear for several things. As simple as that. End of discussion.

Now back to this SMSL box. Amirn hasn't tested it yet, has he?

 

[JSmith]

I Iearned that the ear was a finer instrument than the electronic ones, and that new techniques needed to be developed to be as fine as the human ear for several things. As simple as that. End of discussion.

Not as simple as that... it's only end discussion if you can't back up your statements with evidence.


JSmith

 

[damirj79]

https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/842.html

ASR has measurements of PS100 and it does not look promising. I don't know how it is just not possible to add some higher quality DAC in HDMI ARC to Analog extractors, all of them are just junks what I saw. Or are they?

SMSL PS100 *$30.00* DAC (some limitations apply)

May or may not help: On your Sony TV, check if you have an option under Settings -> Channels & Inputs -> External Inputs -> Bravia Sync Settings -> Device Auto Power off Well, it turns out you've solved my issue! I followed your advice and the DAC stays on irrespective of the TV. It looks like...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[mc.god]

ASR has measurements of PS100 and it does not look promising. I don't know how it is just not possible to add some higher quality DAC in HDMI ARC to Analog extractors, all of them are just junks what I saw. Or are they?

SMSL PS100 *$30.00* DAC (some limitations apply)

May or may not help: On your Sony TV, check if you have an option under Settings -> Channels & Inputs -> External Inputs -> Bravia Sync Settings -> Device Auto Power off Well, it turns out you've solved my issue! I followed your advice and the DAC stays on irrespective of the TV. It looks like...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Uh, I missed that, what a mess

Then the most reliable way still reasonably cheap appears to me going with this amazon box digitally to an SMSL SU1, as Amir said:

"And if you need better, you can get yourself a $100 DAC and be good to go. Inversely, you can think of this as $22 to add HDMI input to any DAC with Toslink/Coax input!

 

[MCH]

Being so cheap the parts that come inside that converter box, I can't understand why there aren't more affordable DACs available. with HDMI inputs.

I would love to know for sure but maybe it is not that cheap of a device: metal enclosure, multilayer PCB cramped with components, very decent toslink transmitter that goes up to 192kHz, specialized chip... The price has been constantly in the 20 euros whereabouts for years.

That said, there are chips that output SPDIF and is2 from HDMI in products, now mostly obsolete, that sell for as little as 1 euro on occasion:

The 1 euro HDMI input solution for your next DIY DAC

Hi, A couple of weeks ago i bought one of these from Aliexpress. I had no idea what was inside but these HDMI to whatever boxes are always full of surprises and i couldn't resist for as little as the title price (1.8 euros to be exact). Of course, as soon as i had it in my hands the first...

www.audiosciencereview.com

So might be more a matter of licenses or who knows what else.

 

[carlmart]

Not as simple as that... it's only end discussion if you can't back up your statements with evidence.


JSmith

Yes, end of discussion. Because you don't need to get anywhere. No one will convince the other, and I have read lots of words over that. End of discussion for me, not interested in pursuing it. I believe I'm right, you believe you're right. End of discussion.

 

[JSmith]

I believe I'm right, you believe you're right.

It's not about belief... it's about facts. I could say I believe the Earth is flat... but that is not a fact.


JSmith

 

[carlmart]

ASR has measurements of PS100 and it does not look promising. I don't know how it is just not possible to add some higher quality DAC in HDMI ARC to Analog extractors, all of them are just junks what I saw. Or are they?

SMSL PS100 *$30.00* DAC (some limitations apply)

May or may not help: On your Sony TV, check if you have an option under Settings -> Channels & Inputs -> External Inputs -> Bravia Sync Settings -> Device Auto Power off Well, it turns out you've solved my issue! I followed your advice and the DAC stays on irrespective of the TV. It looks like...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Those are the DAC output measurements or the adapter measurements? It's not clear to me.

This box seems to work as HDMI to coax adapter AND as a DAC. I wouldn't expect high quality from a $30 DAC.

What about just measuring the adapter stage and measure the coaxial output.

 

[carlmart]

It's not about belief... it's about facts. I could say I believe the Earth is flat... but that is not a fact.


JSmith

Not so fast. It's not really about "facts" on this matter, but on inconclusive tests. But as I said: not interested in discussing it.

 

[staticV3]

This box seems to work as HDMI to coax adapter AND as a DAC. I wouldn't expect high quality from a $30 DAC.

The PS100 is a pure DAC. RCA Line out is the only output, all other ports (including Coax) are inputs.

 

[carlmart]

The PS100 is a pure DAC. RCA Line out is the only output, all other ports (including Coax) are inputs.

Sorry, I misunderstood why it was shown. Apparently just as a DAC that had HDMI input and was cheap.

 

[JSmith]

I Iearned that the ear was a finer instrument than the electronic ones, and that new techniques needed to be developed to be as fine as the human ear for several things. As simple as that. End of discussion.

Not so fast. It's not really about "facts" on this matter, but on inconclusive tests. But as I said: not interested in discussing it.

Nice moving of the goalposts...


JSmith

 

[staticV3]

. I don't know how it is just not possible to add some higher quality DAC in HDMI ARC to Analog extractors, all of them are just junks what I saw. Or are they?

SMSL has ARC extractors with better quality DACs:

https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/878.html

DO100 Pro

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

DO200 Pro

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

It should be noted though that ARC appears limited to 16bit, ergo 96dB SINAD.

 

[Chester]

I’m having some trouble with this little box. I use it from an Apple TV and optical out into my DAC. I only have a 2 channel stereo setup. This unit works fine but every couple of hours seems to switch to 5 channel configuration and I seem to only get background sound through my speakers, very little voice. I’m assuming it’s just applying front L and R to my stereo setup. Each time I have to go and press the button on the box to put it back into 2 channel mode. I’ve had 2 units now and both behave exactly the same. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, did you manage to get around it?

If not, can anyone recommend a well performing alternative (outputs bit perfect via optical) that doesn’t have these issues for stereo usage?

Many thanks

Chester

 

[olieb]

I’m having some trouble with this little box. I use it from an Apple TV and optical out into my DAC. I only have a 2 channel stereo setup. This unit works fine but every couple of hours seems to switch to 5 channel configuration and I seem to only get background sound through my speakers, very little voice. I’m assuming it’s just applying front L and R to my stereo setup. Each time I have to go and press the button on the box to put it back into 2 channel mode. I’ve had 2 units now and both behave exactly the same. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, did you manage to get around it?

It will not fix the extractor, but you can force the AppleTV to use Stereo output (only). Maybe that helps. the extractor to not get confused. (EDID handshakes might be part of the problem).
Settings -> Video and Audio -> Audio Format -> Change Format -> On | and then choose"Stereo"

 

[gfinlays]

Don't know if anyone can answer this, but would would pulling the HDMI ARC output from a TV via this device be a better option than the TV's TOSLINK output?

 

[MCH]

Don't know if anyone can answer this, but would would pulling the HDMI ARC output from a TV via this device be a better option than the TV's TOSLINK output?

I would be very surprised if it is not the same signal in most TVs.
That said, this extractor has a decent toslink transmitter (can even do 192kHz), so if your TV's toslink causes trouble, maybe it is worth a try. If no trouble with the one of the TV, I wouldn't bother.

 

[antcollinet]

Don't know if anyone can answer this, but would would pulling the HDMI ARC output from a TV via this device be a better option than the TV's TOSLINK output?

I think this particular one is HDMI (it will extract the audio from HDMI sent TO the TV). It won't extract HDMI ARC (from the TV)


There are similar devices though that will do ARC.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

I think this particular one is HDMI (it will extract the audio from HDMI sent TO the TV). It won't extract HDMI ARC (from the TV)


There are similar devices though that will do ARC.

How can you tell the difference? I'm trying to find a device like that for my father-in-law. He's frustrated with their brand-new TV because he can't connect it to his old NAD amplifier.