1. Does your source program have facilities to set individual channel levels? If not, then...............................If this works, what is the best way to balance the powered speakers so the 7.1 channels are in balance sound wise (maybe even using different brand powered speakers. for example, maybe you have some older ones you don't use anymore that can be used for the less demanding rear channels.)
You tell us. I used WASAPI (or ASIO) for both stereo and multichannel.Is this even a good idea? Is the audio quality loss too great by using nvidia hdmi audio source instead of ASIO playback for stereo music?
It should work to get the sound out in stereo or multi-channel without a pre-amp. However, this unit is designed to feed audio into older AVRs (or a pre-amp for powered speakers) that do not have HDMI or do not have HDMI 2.0 for 4k, not totally eliminate the AVR or pre-amp.If this works, what is the best way to balance the powered speakers so the 7.1 channels are in balance sound wise (maybe even using different brand powered speakers. for example, maybe you have some older ones you don't use anymore that can be used for the less demanding rear channels.)
Is this even a good idea? Is the audio quality loss too great by using nvidia hdmi audio source instead of ASIO playback for stereo music?
I must be confused. A large part (all?) of the appeal of HDMI for audio is getting multi-channel support. If so, then shouldn't this have multi-channel analog out?
Thinking out loud, what about an HDMI > multiple digital out where each digital is one of the front/rear/center/side/etc. channels? Such a thing (use-case?) exist?
You have covered most of the differences. NanoAVR HDA can also switch between two sources but as you have noticed, it only has HDMI 1.4 ports and so cannot pass through 4k@60hz, HDR, etc.
You can either use its EQ DSP with something like REW and a calibrated mic to do multi-channel equalization and bass management or you can upgrade to Dirac Live if you want the analog outs unlike the pre-configured NanoAVR-DL. But then you cannot do bass management in a unit with Dirac loaded.
The Essence, of course, is just a DAC and audio extractor. No switching for multiple HDMI sources. No DSP processing for EQ, etc. Until this model is rigorously tested in a site like this, I would not be confident that it is any better than the $50 DAC audio extractors on Amazon with the same features. It is probably better built than the latter even if using the same chips/reference designs and will likely work without issues. I am also put off by some of the “marketing” on the Essence site and find some reviews questionable. But that is just a personal gut reaction.
I would not recommend NanoAVR either though. It is an outdated product and like so many of miniDSP products, a 90% complete product with a number of gotchas. It came to the market before the miniDSP people really understand HDMI like they understood DSPs. So, their EDID handling is not robust, some glitches can arise in HDMI handshakes and it has a quirk that it looks for hdcp from downstream connection even if the source upstream is not hdcp compliant or not requiring hdcp for drm-free content. It may work without issues in some specific application but you never know when it will bite you. Their DACs from that period were also not that great.
The miniDSPs are good for experimenters/tinkerers that want to do somethings different from what is available/possible elsewhere and they are relatively inexpensive. But they can have some annoying gotchas.
Thx for review Amir! It is not clear if this device downsamples multichannel audio to stereo. Testing with some 5.1 movies would help.
Still waiting for 1 decoder like this that presents 7.1 as four spdif outputs (or even HDMI uncompressed lpcm)
The Essence Evolve II-4K is an HDMI v2.0 Multi-Channel DAC with 8 RCA analog outputs. It would be redundant to feed its single Optical Audio output to another downstream DAC that would not sound as good. The Evolve II-4K is listed in this years Stereophile Recommended Components, at $299 is a great way to keep an older legacy AVR or PrePro in service. https://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/evolve-ii-4k-hdmi-v2-0-multi-channel-dac/
I understand, but I'm crazy and want to feed the decoded sound into three nad m51 DACs
The Essence Evolve II-4K is an HDMI v2.0 Multi-Channel DAC with 8 RCA analog outputs. It would be redundant to feed its single Optical Audio output to another downstream DAC that would not sound as good. The Evolve II-4K is listed in this years Stereophile Recommended Components, at $299 is a great way to keep an older legacy AVR or PrePro in service. https://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/evolve-ii-4k-hdmi-v2-0-multi-channel-dac/
Would you consider sending one of these HDMI extractor units to Amir for measurements as you are benefiting from free advertisement for this product on the site?
Alternatively do you have a rigorous measurement for this unit?
I can possibly use this unit (there aren't many multi-channel DACs) but only if the DAC is better than the typical similar units on Amazon or eBay and at least above average.
I will discuss with Amir about a review for the Evolve II-4K. This multi-channel PCM decoder DAC is known to sound really good, this quote from the Stereophile review putting it at the top of the class in its category. Native 4K video passes through to the TV with no processing of any kind. It compares favorably to the A+ rated exaSound e38 Mk II at around $4K. There are end-user testimonials on the product page under the reviews tab. I think you would love it, it will make your system sound better than you've heard it before, thats what most people say.
Essence Evolve II-4K HDMI v2.0 Multi-Channel DAC: $299
The Evolve II-4K is that rarity in high-end audio: a bargain-priced niche product. In this case, the niche is the one reserved for D/A processors capable of extracting and decoding the high-quality audio embedded in an HDMI video stream, while sending the video content direct to the user's display. KR put the little Evolve II-4K to work in a couple of settings and was "stunned that it sounded so good," adding that, although the Essence DAC didn't sound quite as good as his exaSound e38, "it was not shamed." (Vol.42 No.7 WWW)
Bob - does the Evolve support HDR and Dolby Vision?
Hi Bob, I’m look at the essence (w a power amp) to replace my AVR for my stereo setup.
Does the essence support
1) HDMI ARC/eARC to play audio via hdmi from the TV?
2) HDMI-CEC for volume control and power on/off?
3) automatic source switching?
Thanks!