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Possible solution for DTS/Dolby/Atmos+eARC+HDCP to AES/EBU - via Dante? (for Okto DAC8PRO etc)

Looking further into the Apple TV, it seems like passthrough for the DTS/Dolby formats hasn't materialised for tvOS 26. I've seen people speculate it won't because of how much of Apple's feature set will break (similar to DSD playback on PC) and it's just not in Apples interest.

Shoot me down if this is wrong - I had rather welcomed trying my first Apple device in 14 years. Now for me would the next best thing be the Nvidia Shield Pro?

Nvidia Shield Pro -> H16-AES -> DAC8PRO ?
 
carolimagni said:
Looking further into the Apple TV, it seems like passthrough for the DTS/Dolby formats hasn't materialised for tvOS 26. I've seen people speculate it won't because of how much of Apple's feature set will break (similar to DSD playback on PC) and it's just not in Apples interest.

Shoot me down if this is wrong - I had rather welcomed trying my first Apple device in 14 years. Now for me would the next best thing be the Nvidia Shield Pro?

Nvidia Shield Pro -> H16-AES -> DAC8PRO ?
Click to expand...
What about a Mac mini?
 
Mainstream sources that might include Apple Music, Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. But also local playback with something like Kodi or Plex. Bit of an open question really.
 
carolimagni said:
Am I right in thinking that would somewhat limit the formats available? Docs lead me to believe DTS-HD or TrueHD wouldn't be supported for example


About HDMI Passthrough - Apple Support
Click to expand...
Apple TV will decode those the LPCM. For any 8 channel or less source does it really matter when that is decoded as long as your processor will let you post process up to 8 channels of LPCM?

I use my Apple TV 4k for pretty much everything included playback from my Plex server.
 
realized from this thread (hi darth) that converting AES3 to S/PDIF coax works for some (most?) DACs, as both signals encode PCM the same way. seems not guaranteed to work, but when it does that opens up a ton of consumer equipment for a mere ~$35 in adapters per stream (2 channels).

I had the terrible thought of a home theatre based around an HT processor feeding like 4-6 Wiim Vibelinks. I kind of want to do that now, on paper it’s hilarious performance per dollar as long as you don’t need super high power.
 
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masterhw said:
realized from this thread (hi darth) that converting AES3 to S/PDIF coax works for some (most?) DACs, as both signals encode PCM the same way. seems not guaranteed to work, but when it does that opens up a ton of consumer equipment for a mere ~$35 in adapters per stream (2 channels).

I had the terrible thought of a home theatre based around an HT processor feeding like 4-6 Wiim Vibelinks. I kind of want to do that now, on paper it’s hilarious performance per dollar as long as you don’t need super high power.
Click to expand...
This is actually a pretty brilliant idea...6 channel DAC and 100+ Watts for under a grand. Compact, quiet, could fit in a mini (10 inch) rack.
 
masterhw said:
I had the terrible thought of a home theatre based around an HT processor feeding like 4-6 Wiim Vibelinks. I kind of want to do that now, on paper it’s hilarious performance per dollar as long as you don’t need super high power.
Click to expand...
IIUC the Wiim Vibelinks use some SPDIF receiver (my 2 cents the one directly in the ES9038Q2M DAC chip) for receiving a PCM signal. What part would convert the 6ch AES3 signal to PCM and extract the requested pair for the stereo DAC to convert? But I may have just incorrectly understood the proposed method.
 
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phofman said:
IIUC the Wiim Vibelinks use some SPDIF receiver (my 2 cents the one directly in the ES9038Q2M DAC chip) for receiving a PCM signal. What part would convert the 6ch AES3 signal to PCM and extract the requested pair for the stereo DAC to convert? But I may have just incorrectly understood the proposed method.
Click to expand...
Probably something like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1445515-REG/ferrofish_verto32_adat_to_dante_converter.html, which kind of defeats the "budget" aspect of using a slew of Wiims.
 
danstahl said:
Probably something like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1445515-REG/ferrofish_verto32_adat_to_dante_converter.html, which kind of defeats the "budget" aspect of using a slew of Wiims.
Click to expand...
I believe something like this would work for 4 AES/EBU stereo streams from ethernet on the Hyperion DPR-16 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ools_wallcat_fx_b_double_gang_wall_panel.html

for tascam DB25 like the NuprimeX H16 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...nology_DTM_803_DTM803_DB_25_to_8_Channel.html

definitely hoping to avoid expensive conversions, a lot of these formats are electrically compatible and shouldn’t need real logic involved in conversion so I’m optimistic it can be done on the cheap (even if slightly janky).
 
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masterhw said:
I believe something like this would work for 4 AES/EBU stereo streams from ethernet on the Hyperion DPR-16 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ools_wallcat_fx_b_double_gang_wall_panel.html

for tascam DB25 like the NuprimeX H16 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...nology_DTM_803_DTM803_DB_25_to_8_Channel.html

definitely hoping to avoid expensive conversions, a lot of these formats are electrically compatible and shouldn’t need real logic involved in conversion so I’m optimistic it can be done on the cheap (even if slightly janky).
Click to expand...
S/PDIF can feed AES sometimes easily (I do it on my QLI-32 just fine) but going the other direction might take a bitmore work since AES is around 5v and S/PDIF is 0.5v.

Other thing I would look into is bass management. Reading the manual quickly it didn't seem like it has it. Just levels and time alignment.
 
Finally got to connect the H16-AES and got windows to detect it and enable Dolby Atmos home theater.

But running into an issue where apple music sounds completely distorted playing Atmos. Netflix seems fine.


EDIT: Fixed the apple music issue by turning off windows exclusive mode for the audio device.

And noticed a new issue where youtube audio is completely distorted. Had to just turn off dolby atmos home theater. This was getting hella annoying.
 
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Welp, the Nuprime-X H16-AES device I think resamples everything to 48khz. It's advertised as handling 96khz. Not sure if it's a bug or feature. I connected the AES output to DAC which just shows 48khz no matter what I change in windows audio control panel and use the default windows test sounds.
 
darth said:
Welp, the Nuprime-X H16-AES device I think resamples everything to 48khz. It's advertised as handling 96khz. Not sure if it's a bug or feature. I connected the AES output to DAC which just shows 48khz no matter what I change in windows audio control panel and use the default windows test sounds.
Click to expand...
Just read this entire thread. And I swear someone spent dozens of posts trying to explain this. So comes as no shock.
 
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