Looking for Reliable HDMI --> COAX/SPDIF Converter

[rimmi2002]

Looking for a HDMI audio extractor to run digital audio to my Anthem STR preamp for a 2.2 Setup, where I watch a lot moves / TV shows as well on my ATV and Panasonic UB420 4K player.

Looked through all the review I could find, and it seems like this Amazon one is one of the top rated for this purpose (Digital --> Digital conversion). Is there anything else worth considering that does a better job and a reasonable cost?

Also it seems the Coaxial Cable has higher bandwidth than the TOSLINK, but is at risk for interference. It doing a small 3ft run I am assuming it should be fine. Also does cable quality matter for such a small run. Can any standard cable (like Monoprice RCA cables) fill the role or should I get somehting highend from Blue Jeans?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[DVDdoug]

I've never tried a converter like that...

Note that you'll have to set your TV (or other source) to PCM. Your preamp doesn't support the Dolby or DTS formats. And S/PDIF (coax or TOSLINK) doesn't support the special Blu-Ray formats.

Also it seems the Coaxial Cable has higher bandwidth than the TOSLINK.

Both support the S/PDIF standards so you'll be fine unless you have some kind of non-standard bitstream.

but is at risk for interference.

Right. Optical is electrically isolated so it can't create ground loop problems and it doesn't get electrical interference. (But those problems are rare anyway.)

It doing a small 3ft run I am assuming it should be fine. Also does cable quality matter for such a small run.

You should be fine as long as you don't buy a regular "audio cable". You should get a "video" or "digital" cable. But in the real world an audio cable will probably work and if you have one you can try it before buying anything.

 

[pablolie]

I am looking for a converter that goes the other way... Toslink or Digital Coax in, HDMI Arc out.

 

[thcdru2k]

I've used those amazon cheap chinese HDMI audio extractors. It was for an old projector/sound bar setup that I've since donated. They actually work just fine. For your level of gear I would just spend a little extra and get the OREI 8K Audio Extractor its like $66 on amazon. Yes you will likely need to set all your sources to output PCM not bitstream. Even for my WiiM Ultra's I use PCM even though its capable of decoding Dolby.

 

[staticV3]

I am looking for a converter that goes the other way... Toslink or Digital Coax in, HDMI Arc out.

To like feed a soundbar without a TV, directly from a SPDIF source?

Or what's the use case there?

 

[pablolie]

TV out toslink to amp

To like feed a soundbar without a TV, directly from a SPDIF source?

Or what's the use case there?

TV Out toslink to amp HDMI Arc input.

 

[staticV3]

TV out toslink to amp

TV Out toslink to amp HDMI Arc input.

Does the Amp not have Toslink/Coax in?

I know many soundbars have ARC as their only input. Never seen an Amp like that though.

 

[pablolie]

Does the Amp not have Toslink/Coax in?

I know many soundbars have ARC as their only input. Never seen an Amp like that though.

It has but my TV is old yet works awesomely.?

 

[staticV3]

It has but my TV is old yet works awesomely.?

Then what are you hoping to achieve via TV->Toslink->ARC Converter->HDMI->Amp

vs just TV->Toslink->Amp ?

 

[somebodyelse]

I am looking for a converter that goes the other way... Toslink or Digital Coax in, HDMI Arc out.

Sonos do one for connecting TVs with only an optical port to their products that have an ARC port but no optical port. It's not even that expensive.
https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/optical-audio-adapter

 

[pablolie]

Then what are you hoping to achieve via TV->Toslink->ARC Converter->HDMI->Amp

vs just TV->Toslink->Amp ?

You know, sometimes an amp you'd like doesn't have all the inputs you need. Not a matter of "hoping". Wiim Amp. Post in thread 'WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-ultra-streaming-amplifier.68501/post-2528918

 

[Berwhale]

You know, sometimes an amp you'd like doesn't have all the inputs you need. Not a matter of "hoping".

Looks like this will do what you are asking... https://www.blustream.co.uk/audio-integration-bluarc

or one of these... https://cypeurope.com/product-category/audio/audio-embedders-de-embedders/audio-embedders/

 

[pablolie]

Sonos do one for connecting TVs with only an optical port to their products that have an ARC port but no optical port. It's not even that expensive.
https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/optical-audio-adapter

That's ARC to optical. :-(

 

[staticV3]

You know, sometimes an amp you'd like doesn't have all the inputs you need. Not a matter of "hoping". Wiim Amp.

Do you want to connect more than one Toslink source to the WiiM, is that it?

If so, this is a good solution: https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Switcher-Supports-Dolby-AC3-Compatible/dp/B0D45GY575

That's ARC to optical. :-(

That's for connecting to a TV which doesn't have Toslink input. Only output.

The converter therefore has to be Toslink in to ARC out.
Though whether it'll work with the WiiM I don't know.

 

[somebodyelse]

That's ARC to optical. :-(

That's not what their description says:

Use this cable to connect your soundbar to your TV's optical audio port.

Further, the listed compatible products (Arc, Amp, Beam) have ARC/eARC inputs but no optical input. So this is to get optical from your TV into the ARC input of an amp or sound bar.

 

[delta76]

Bought mine from Aliexpress, worked fine.

 

[rimmi2002]

I've used those amazon cheap chinese HDMI audio extractors. It was for an old projector/sound bar setup that I've since donated. They actually work just fine. For your level of gear I would just spend a little extra and get the OREI 8K Audio Extractor its like $66 on amazon. Yes you will likely need to set all your sources to output PCM not bitstream. Even for my WiiM Ultra's I use PCM even though its capable of decoding Dolby.

Thanks Amir's review of the high end OREI product was not too promising: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ei-hda-939-hdmi-audio-extractor-review.42948/

The Amazon performed really well. I got it, it works well, but unfortunately it runs a really old HDMI version so it doesn't support HDR/4K 60fps....I think its HDMI 1.4 only. So now I am going a different route. Keeping my HD fury in the chain and gonna try the OREI EARC to coxial converted and see how it goes.

 

[thcdru2k]

Thanks Amir's review of the high end OREI product was not too promising: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ei-hda-939-hdmi-audio-extractor-review.42948/

The Amazon performed really well. I got it, it works well, but unfortunately it runs a really old HDMI version so it doesn't support HDR/4K 60fps....I think its HDMI 1.4 only. So now I am going a different route. Keeping my HD fury in the chain and gonna try the OREI EARC to coxial converted and see how it goes.

that's fair but sounds like your intention was digital output ? so with digital output seems like his review says no issue . either way good luck!

 

[tmike]

I tried this one and the SINAD was much worse than my LG TV's optical out (TOSLINK). I also tried a laptop running on battery for the USB power and it was about the same. Red is the TV.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G6DD5K5R?ref=fed_asin_title

Optical:

Coax:

 

[rimmi2002]

I tried this one and the SINAD was much worse than my LG TV's optical out (TOSLINK). I also tried a laptop running on battery for the USB power and it was about the same. Red is the TV.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G6DD5K5R?ref=fed_asin_title

Optical:


Coax:

Thanks for sharing. Curious I have REW / Umik Microphone can I measure SINAD for the different devices I have?