• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Recommendation: DAC to connect active speakers to TV

I haven't seen the DL100 here in SEA yet. Can anyone confirm this is different than the other SMSL DACs with ARC inputs and supports CEC and volume control?
 

I'm trying to figure out if this unit will take and HDMI arc connection from a TV, do volume commands from the TV, and output to toslink. Nothing explicitly says it'll do that - the 'output' to the TV does say CEC/ARC/eARC, but I worry that is only for sending out video, and not for receiving audio....
 
Trying to find a dac myself that will do this.

I have a Fiio K19 (has HDMI 1.4 input as well as HDMI ARC input) which did not work with HDMI CEC / volume control using either the TV remote or Apple TV remote or Google Chromecast remote :(

I tried both ARC output from tv to K19 HDMI arc as well as HDMI splitter to K19 HDMI non arc input.

Edit: officially from fiio, it doesn't support cec
 
Last edited:
I haven't seen the DL100 here in SEA yet. Can anyone confirm this is different than the other SMSL DACs with ARC inputs and supports CEC and volume control?
DL100's HDMI ARC supports CEC volume control, but does not support CEC power control.
 
For me, I ended up getting the DL100 per the recommendation few posts above. And HDMI CEC / volume control seems to "sort of work" using TV remote or 3P remote over it's HDMI arc.

I say sort of, because the TV does tend to reset to max volume on startup if the DAC was also powered down and restarted. So have to keep the DAC on for long periods of time.

Also the volume change does not change the DAC volume levels, the DAC has its own dB levels that remain static. So now I have to 2 sets of levels to play with which is a bit annoying.

And lastly power on/off also does not work. Have to use the DL100 remote which sucks in directionality.

I am also powering active speakers (Genelecs) and using the analog balanced XLR outs. Will have to live with the DL100 till something better comes up. Would have been nice to have something like a minidsp SHD studio with HDMI ARC input. Or something else once I plan to go more than a stereo setup. I personally don't mind multiple remotes, but big inconvenience for others since it's a shared media space.
 
Last edited:
For me, I ended up getting the DL100 per the recommendation few posts above. And HDMI CEC / volume control seems to "sort of work" using TV remote or 3P remote over it's HDMI arc.

I say sort of, because the TV does tend to reset to max volume on startup if the DAC was also powered down and restarted. So have to keep the DAC on for long periods of time.

Also the volume change does not change the DAC volume levels, the DAC has its own dB levels that remain static. So now I have to 2 sets of levels to play with which is a bit annoying.

And lastly power on/off also does not work. Have to use the DL100 remote which sucks in directionality.

I am also powering active speakers (Genelecs) and using the analog balanced XLR outs. Will have to live with the DL100 till something better comes up. Would have been nice to have something like a minidsp SHD studio with HDMI ARC input. Or something else once I plan to go more than a stereo setup. I personally don't mind multiple remotes, but big inconvenience for others since it's a shared media space.

There is something better now. Wiim Ultra. I got one with my active speakers. works great!
 
I looked at the WiiMs, and while they look nice, I wanted something with at least a balanced XLR out. Have been hearing lot of hums and buzzing with RCA and I also want the flexibility for longer wire runs to keep them out of sight.

I actually wanted a good non-AVR DAC with AES/EBU out to keep everything digital till the speakers but such a device does not exist (afaik) that also has HDMI ARC and CEC and does not cost a fortune like those multi channel audio processors. If volume control over HDMI wasn't desired I would just go for a RME adi 2 pro or minidsp SHD studio.

Lastly, while it may not make a difference subjectively to the ears, objectively the DL100 seems to be better on paper than the WiiM pro plus atleast per ASR reviews, and also costs less.

I am planning to get the new upcoming google TV streamer, and that would serve me for non video streaming needs also. No matter how good the software is for 3P streamers like WiiM, it can't beat the convenience and integration of a chromecast device specially for those of us on Android.
 
I looked at the WiiMs, and while they look nice, I wanted something with at least a balanced XLR out. Have been hearing lot of hums and buzzing with RCA and I also want the flexibility for longer wire runs to keep them out of sight.
This might be of interest:

With the right cable, you can get all the advantages of balanced Line connections using RCA output.
 
I have two Yamaha HS8 in the living room and next week I will receive a new TV TCL QM8B
https://www.tcl.com/il/en/tvs/qm8b - https://www.kitele.com/en/tv-tcl-55qm8b

It has
- HDMI2. 1 (eARC&ARC)
- HDMI CEC
- AV Composite In 3.5 mm jack
- 3.5 mm Audio In
- S/PDIF

image.php


Until now with my previous TV (top level Sony TV) I was using an RCA Stereo cable from the TV to XLR to the speakers (not balanced), which worked for 15 years.

Now I doubt that the TCL has a good DAC as the Sony, so, I'm thinking of buying an external DAC to XLR.

Some recommendation? the idea is to use the TV remote control for the volume, so, a single remote control for everything.
 
I have two Yamaha HS8 in the living room and next week I will receive a new TV TCL QM8B
https://www.tcl.com/il/en/tvs/qm8b - https://www.kitele.com/en/tv-tcl-55qm8b

It has
- HDMI2. 1 (eARC&ARC)
- HDMI CEC
- AV Composite In 3.5 mm jack
- 3.5 mm Audio In
- S/PDIF

image.php


Until now with my previous TV (top level Sony TV) I was using an RCA Stereo cable from the TV to XLR to the speakers (not balanced), which worked for 15 years.

Now I doubt that the TCL has a good DAC as the Sony, so, I'm thinking of buying an external DAC to XLR.

Some recommendation? the idea is to use the TV remote control for the volume, so, a single remote control for everything.
Currently you can't use the TV remote to turn the DAC on/off.
The DACs on the market with HDMI ARC function can only control the volume. This includes brands such as wiim smsl.
Unless your TV remote has spare buttons and can learn the frequencies of other brands of remote controls.
 
thanks all for your answers
I think that I will go for a Fosi Audio ZD3 DAC and connect it to the TV by HDMI... then, I'm thinking to acquire a Wiim Pro or make some DIY Raspberry alternative with moOde to stream music without the need of having the TV on all the time.
 
Back
Top Bottom