Multi-channel ADC with HDMI output?

[BDWoody]

I've reported your post.

And I rejected it. This isn't kindergarten. You are upset that someone has made an assumption that may be wrong?

Maybe just correct the error in good faith. You have 20 posts...settle in a little before you try to tell our senior members how things should go.

If you have a $15k budget for this, good for you! Just make it clear.

 

[voodooless]

I'd prefer to buy a converter off the shelf if it's available, rather than DIYing something, with a computer or anything else.

I think you'll just have to accept that there is no single box solution that will do this.

 

[voodooless]

Maybe it would be good to understand the full breadth of your use case for the things your asking. That may help narrow down solutions, dismiss options better, or find alternatives that offer a similar outcome.

 

[rah]

Maybe it would be good to understand the full breadth of your use case for the things your asking.

As I said above:

I don't have a specific application in mind. I'm more concerned with having the ability to input multi-channel audio into an AVR whose only multi-channel inputs are HDMI, regardless of the source of the multi-channel audio.

 

[peng]

Would an old AVR convert multichannel analog input to HDMI output? IMHO the AVR is the end device/renderer for audio and HDMI outputs are mostly only for video.

Yes, lots of them do, mostly would do 5.1 but some could do 7.1.

 

[voodooless]

As I said above:

Yeah, but this isn’t very specific. There must be some method to this madness (figure of speech, not an offense) ? Your not just doing this for sh#ts and giggles, are you?

Your wishlist includes analog audio, and then both digital PCM and bitstream audio? For bitstream, you want this input to the AVR? Or decoded? What would be the source of this? You also mention higher than 7.1 audio as well (11.2)? What’s the deal with that? No AVR will accept this..

 

[EERecordist]

In video broadcast studios there is a need to move around large channel counts of audio and video. You could research audio ADC banks with SDI out, then find a compatible SDI to HDMI converter.

The same concept is found in recording studios or on stages, there is a need to carry large channel counts that originate as analog balanced mic/line level. Similar to the DANTE/Ravenna/AVB/MADI suggestion. A common category would be digital stage box. Makers of professional multichannel ADCs include RME/UA/Focusrite/DAD/Millennia/Apogee/Merging etc.

I think another search term is HDMI audio embedder.

 

[MCH]

If I remember correctly, but don't take it for granted, the lattice eARC evaluation boards have multichannel digital audio inputs and are capable of many encoded hdmi audio formats, but this would be very far from what op is asking for.

https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/lattice-semiconductor-corporation/CP9437/7672116

https://www.mouser.lu/ProductDetail/Lattice/CP9437?qs=r5DSvlrkXmLklhOH%2F69i0g%3D%3D

 

[phofman]

Yes, lots of them do, mostly would do 5.1 but some could do 7.1.

Thanks, please do you have a specific example of such an AVR?

 

[peng]

Thanks, please do you have a specific example of such an AVR?

Something like the Denon AVR-4311 CI, 4308 CI, Marantz SR6010 through 7015:

examples for D+M below, obviously you can check out Onkyo, Yamaha, Anthem, Arcam, NAD, Sony etc.:

SR7015:

Denon AVR-4520 CI:

 

[-Matt-]

Those 7.1 analogue inputs allow you to get audio into the AVR, but are you certain that this can then be output over HDMI, rather than just out of the speaker terminals?

(It may work just fine that way, it is just not something I've ever felt the need to try).

Edit:
In order for the above to work I think you may need to go into video settings and set:
HDMI Audio Out to TV

(I've not tested it).

Edit 2: (As pointed out by @EERecordist below, I'd previously cropped the important note at the bottom of the manual snipping. It states that HDMI output to TV will only be stereo).

 

[EERecordist]

Those 7.1 analogue inputs allow you to get audio into the AVR, but are you certain that this can then be output over HDMI, rather than just out of the speaker terminals?

(It may work just fine that way, it is just not something I've ever felt the need to try).

Edit:
In order for the above to work I think you may need to go into video settings and set:
HDMI Audio Out to TV
View attachment 436098
(I've not tested it).

From the Marantz manual right after the above it says “HDMI Audio Out” is set to “TV”, audio is output as 2-channel from the HDMI OUT connector.

I think on AVRs the analog-in are routed to the analog-out, line level or the speaker terminals. I don't see the use case for what is requested.

 

[-Matt-]

Contemporary AVRs seem to have lost their multi-channel analogue inputs (e.g. Denons, Arcams, etc.)

I was surprised that 7.1 analogue inputs were dropped from the Denon AVR-A1H, AVR-X6800 etc. It looks like the last Denon model with this is the AVR-X8500HA.

 

[phofman]

Something like the Denon AVR-4311 CI, 4308 CI, Marantz SR6010 through 7015:

examples for D+M below, obviously you can check out Onkyo, Yamaha, Anthem, Arcam, NAD, Sony etc.:

SR7015:

Thanks. As @-Matt- already pointed out, the user guide does not mention multichannel output to the HDMI TV output, only stereo. Unfortunately the schematics of this AVR is not easily locatable.

Denon AVR-4520 CI:

For this AVR the schematics (service manual) is available online https://audiocircuit.dk/downloads/denon/Denon-AVR4520-avr-sm.pdf . Let's trace the EXT-SR input - it goes to pin 97 (SBRIN1) of R2A15220FP. This is an 8ch analog switch & volume & tone control chip with digital control whose datasheet is also available online https://maker.pro/forums/attachments/r2a15220fp-1-pdf.60188/ (after registration). The SBR channel output from this chip (pin 3 SBR Pre-OUT) named AMPIN_SR goes directly to output amplifiers of the AVR. The other output pin 2 SBROUT goes to PREOUT_SR output cinch of the PREOUT connector of the AVR.

Therefore IMO it's very unlikely this AVR would feed the analog EXT multichannel inputs into some AD conversion and pass such sampled audio digital signal to HDMI output for the TV. IMO it's logical because the component to handle power amping multichannel audio is the AVR itself, not the connected display which shows the video part.

 

[peng]

Thanks. As @-Matt- already pointed out, the user guide does not mention multichannel output to the HDMI TV output, only stereo. Unfortunately the schematics of this AVR is not easily locatable.


For this AVR the schematics (service manual) is available online https://audiocircuit.dk/downloads/denon/Denon-AVR4520-avr-sm.pdf . Let's trace the EXT-SR input - it goes to pin 97 (SBRIN1) of R2A15220FP. This is an 8ch analog switch & volume & tone control chip with digital control whose datasheet is also available online https://maker.pro/forums/attachments/r2a15220fp-1-pdf.60188/ (after registration). The SBR channel output from this chip (pin 3 SBR Pre-OUT) named AMPIN_SR goes directly to output amplifiers of the AVR. The other output pin 2 SBROUT goes to PREOUT_SR output cinch of the PREOUT connector of the AVR.

View attachment 436266

View attachment 436262



View attachment 436263

Therefore IMO it's very unlikely this AVR would feed the analog EXT multichannel inputs into some AD conversion and pass such sampled audio digital signal to HDMI output for the TV. IMO it's logical because the component to handle power amping multichannel audio is the AVR itself, not the connected display which shows the video part.

Sorry, I missed the part that you want analog in, HDMI out, I thought you just want to have 7.1 analog in and 7.1 analog output.

Not looking for excuse but it is hard for me to visualize one would want 7.1 analog in, and HDMI 7.1 out because in my mind, people who want to do that tend to be those who believe their 7.1 players such as some DVD/BDPs has better DAC/DSP than their AVRs/AVPs so in that case they wouldn't want HDMI output that would mean the signals would be going through D to A and then back to D again. Anyway, now that I realize what are looking for, I am not aware of any AVR or even AVP that has such an unusual feature. Hopefully some one might know of such a product (AVR or AVP).

 

[phofman]

@peng : No need to apologize, this is a technical discussion and we are determining features as are. I do not know of any ready-made device capable of that either. On the other hand - any computer (PC or a tiny ARM board) with HDMI output can be used to make that. E.g. RPi5 + the new Hifiberry 8ch ADC8X hat + CamillaDSP for asynchronous resampling to merge the ADC and HDMI clocks.

 

[welwynnick]

Hi,
Contemporary AVRs seem to have lost their multi-channel analogue inputs (e.g. Denons, Arcams, etc.) They still include S/PDIF inputs but S/PDIF is limited to 5.1 audio only due to bandwidth constraints.
I'd like to be able to use 7.1 audio, or even higher channel counts, with modern AVRs. Hence, I'm wondering if there is an ADC which will take multi-channel analogue input and spit out an HDMI stream to feed into an AVR?
For similar reasons, is anyone aware of a means of converting multi-channel digital audio to HDMI? For example, a USB sound card that will take 11.2 PCM or a Dolby TrueHD bitstream and spit out an HDMI stream? The closest I've been able to find are USB graphics adapters (example) but they seem to universally use DisplayLink chipsets for which there are no open source drivers on GNU/Linux and that makes them a no-go for me.
Thanks,
rah

What you're asking is very difficult, and I echo everyone else's sentiment - why would you want to do it? If I understand your underlying need, have you considered using Auro3D Auromatic instead?

Anyway, the question has been asked and I think there is an answer.

Firstly you would need a multi-channel ADC, and there are lots of those. A few of them will convert multi channel analogue audio into Dante (Audio over IP). Have a look at AVID, RME, Lynx, Audient, Focusrite and Antelope audio interfaces. They have products that will do that, and Dante is now an industry standard.

The next bit is more difficult, but a few days ago I heard about a forthcoming unit from Apantac that is an HDMI Dante Embedder / DeEmbedder. It's called the HDM2.0-DE-UHD-Dante, and its due to be released in the near future. I think that should do what you want, but really, I wouldn't.

 

[BILLMICH88888]

so I have a similar situation;

my DVD-A player is a 5 disc changer and as a child of the 90's I love 5 disc carousel changers. (it can also do HDCD !!)
It was obtained circa 2006 and does not have HDMI, the only way to get to the full resolution multichannel DVD-A is via the multichannel analog outputs, which my previous receiver had. (Yamaha RX-A3010)

Forward to 2023 and the new line of receivers no longer have these multi-channel analog inputs. I obtained a Yamaha A6A

I have 1 home theater set up that is 7.2.4 (formerly 11.2) - what I'd LIKE to do is hook up my changer to my old receiver via the multi-channel analog outputs, and then have THAT receiver convert it over digitally and output it via the HDMI out over to one of my NEW receivers HDMI inputs. I would connect either the component video/composite video as well as it has been established that HDMI needs some sort of video for the audio to ride along on.

Yes, I could always play the DVD-A/SACD;s through my Oppo, and use the HDMI out from there, but where's the fun in solving this very specific story problem? I'd love to just load up my DVD-A's along with CD's and concert DVD's and play it on 5-disc random.

I scoured the internet circa 2023 and 2024 about this, and great to see that in 2025 people are still asking about 5 or 7 channel analog audio to HDMI converters ....or lack there of

 

[Weeb Labs]

There does exist an off-the-shelf means by which OP could accomplish their goal but it would be somewhat inelegant in my opinion. Here is an outline of the configuration, given OP's stipulation that the source must be eight analog channels.

1. Connect your eight analog audio channels to four stereo ADCs (may be cheap or somewhat expensive). This will yield four SPDIF outputs.
2. Connect the four SPDIF outputs from your ADCs to a Blackmagic Audio to SDI Mini Converter. This will yield a single SDI output with the content of your eight analog input channels.
3. Connect the SDI output from the Audio to SDI unit to a Blackmagic SDI/HDMI Micro Converter. This will yield a HDMI output with the content of your eight analog input channels.

If the final output needs to include video in addition to the eight audio channels, then you can use a second SDI/HDMI unit to feed another HDMI video source (without audio) into the SDI IN port of the Audio to SDI unit.

Given a relatively inexpensive set of ADCs, the total cost of this configuration would be approximately €450.

 

[phofman]

Another option would be RPi5 + Hifiberry ADC8x (connected via wires to avoid having to buy the DAC8x) -> CamillaDSP with async rate-adjusting resampler -> 8ch HDMI output. IIUC the async resampler is necessary because the ADCs (slaved I2S) would be clocked by the clock of RP1 (IIUC that 50MHz clock beneath RP1 on the bottom side), while the HDMI (part of the SoC GPU) would be clocked via BCM2712 clock (IIUC that 54MHz clock beneath the SoC on the bottom side).