TOSLINK to AES/EBU converters

[geoffrey5239]

I want to send the TOSLINK signal from a "Smart" TV to Genelec 8351Bs speakers without doing a conversion to analogue and then having to use an analogue output device.
I therefore need to convert the TOSLINK signal to AES/EBU and have found several devices to do this.
The first I have tried is this from Aliexpress:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006072184064.html

This works fairly well but with quite frequent glitches where the speaker red LED flashes and the volume fades.
The alternative to replace this (which is recommended elsewhere in this forum) is the now discontinued HOSA ODS-312.
Gear4You have a device LAMBDEN LA507 which looks the same as the HOSA unit apart from the labelling - but there is no proper specification quoted for this unit.

Can anyone say whether the Lambden LA507 is just a rebadged HOSA ODS-312 and if not whether it will perform more reliably than the Aliexpress item?

 

[Behrelec 37]

It seems like the same product as hosa to me.

www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Lambden-Audio-LA507-Toslink-S-PDIF-AES-EBU-Converter/6Q1F

 

[geoffrey5239]

They look the same but does they perform the same? Has anyone opened and compared them? There is a huge difference in cost. And the test description of the Lambden LA507 on the Gear4You site is a little odd because it only mentions AES to Toslink conversion although the pictures seem to imply that it does both Toslink to Aes and Aes to Toslink. However, another seller does say it does conversion both ways: https://www.reflexion-arts.com/en/tienda/lambden-audio-la507/

 

[voodooless]

I suspect the issue is not the converter, but the abysmal SPDIF implementation of the TV. Many TVs are known to have a very poor implementation, leading to out-of-spec timings and, therefore, glitches.

 

[Behrelec 37]

At least my few years (5 years?) old Sony TV does not modify the sound from the toslink output at all. It outputs digital sound to my Hosa converter and from there the aes/ebu goes directly to my genelec 9320a device, and from there the volume control allows you to adjust the overall sound sensitivity, like an explosive fire expanding quickly or rapidly diminishing, to put it figuratively. In other words, the stereo sound continues as aes/ebu to the heart of the speakers, i.e. the dac, very clean and beautiful.

I have not heard any stutters or sound deterioration from this device. I once bought it from Amazon in Germany. I don't think that the other model would be any worse than this Hosa ODL 312, which I own and use every day for a few years. I see that it is also sold to studios here in Finland. That already tells you that it is of sufficient quality.

 

[geoffrey5239]

I suspect the issue is not the converter, but the abysmal SPDIF implementation of the TV. Many TVs are known to have a very poor implementation, leading to out-of-spec timings and, therefore, glitches.

But if the TOSLINK is fed directly to the TOSLINK input of my previous system - a Marantz M-CR612 with QUAD ESL63 speakers there is no audible problem. Maybe I need to look at the AES output with an oscilloscope!

 

[Behrelec 37]

geoffrey5239

This was probably humor from you. But if not, then it's hard to take audio enthusiasts' expressions of mind seriously if they go crazy.

It's still good to have humor.

 

[geoffrey5239]

At least my few years (5 years?) old Sony TV does not modify the sound from the toslink output at all. It outputs digital sound to my Hosa converter and from there the aes/ebu goes directly to my genelec 9320a device, and from there the volume control allows you to adjust the overall sound sensitivity, like an explosive fire expanding quickly or rapidly diminishing, to put it figuratively. In other words, the stereo sound continues as aes/ebu to the heart of the speakers, i.e. the dac, very clean and beautiful.

I have not heard any stutters or sound deterioration from this device. I once bought it from Amazon in Germany. I don't think that the other model would be any worse than this Hosa ODL 312, which I own and use every day for a few years. I see that it is also sold to studios here in Finland. That already tells you that it is of sufficient quality.

But would the Lambden LA507 do the same but much cheaper?

 

[voodooless]

But if the TOSLINK is fed directly to the TOSLINK input of my previous system - a Marantz M-CR612 with QUAD ESL63 speakers there is no audible problem.

Some devices handle it better than others. All these conversion devices do, is level conversions. They do not interpret the data, so garbage in, is garbage out. I would not look to them as a first item to debug in these instances.

 

[geoffrey5239]

geoffrey5239

This was probably humor from you. But if not, then it's hard to take audio enthusiasts' expressions of mind seriously if they go crazy.

It's still good to have humor.

No - I was being serious!

 

[voodooless]

Maybe something like this would work:

AUDIOPHONICS DIGIRESCUE Reclocker SPDIF Optical Coaxial Galvanic Insulation 24bit 192kHz - Audiophonics

This Audiophonics DIGIRescue reclocker module has been designed in association with Ian Canada. Using a high-precision local clock and Ian Canada's reclocking technology, it perfectly resynchronizes S/PDIF signals to achieve very low jitter.

www.audiophonics.fr

This will do interpretation of data, recover the clock, and output a cleaner signal. You'll need an RCA to XLR cable to hook up the Genelec speaker, though.

Just no guarantees, this device may well have the same issues with the TV's output as the speakers..

 

[JustJones]

Mutec MC-1.1+ or 1.2+

MUTEC – Digital Audio Equipment – High End | Professional Audio - MC1.1+

MUTEC Germany - Manufacturer of Digital Audio and Video Studio Equipment

www.mutec-net.com

 

[Esprit]

Toslink-S/PDIF adapter:
https://www.amazon.it/Tendak-Conver...pcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A1Z283UV10OELJ

RCA-XLR cable (if the distance is not excessive, an impedance adapter is not necessary):

pro snake AES/EBU SPDIF Cable Male 3

Digital Interface Cables Length: 3 m, XLR male to RCA male, Suitable for all RME Fireface Cards, For AES/EBU and SPDIF signals, Impedance: 110 Ω, Colour: Black, Made in Germany

www.thomann.it

https://support.genelec.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019582539-Can-I-connect-my-digital-SAM-monitors-to-S-PDIF-coaxial-directly

 

[JayGilb]

I use the Hosa converter. It has been rock solid for over 4 years. I paid $120 new, but now is $230 USD.
Toslink to AES

 

[Behrelec 37]

I also have such a converter, but I don't recommend it except for temporary short-term use. The sound was somewhat bad and it was only used for a short time. That Tendak is apparently of pretty much the same quality. Cheap like mine, bought from Amazon a few months ago.

 

[darth]

I use a Wiim Ultra from TV via ARC. Then USB out from Wiim Ultra to a USB to AES converter. The DDC converter I use is Quloos Qu02. But others can be seen in this thread https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ric-budget-usb-to-aes-converter-review.59663/

Wiim Ultra can take toslink input too. Both arc and toslink input from tv will work with Wiim digital volume control too.

 

[geoffrey5239]

Maybe something like this would work:

AUDIOPHONICS DIGIRESCUE Reclocker SPDIF Optical Coaxial Galvanic Insulation 24bit 192kHz - Audiophonics

This Audiophonics DIGIRescue reclocker module has been designed in association with Ian Canada. Using a high-precision local clock and Ian Canada's reclocking technology, it perfectly resynchronizes S/PDIF signals to achieve very low jitter.

www.audiophonics.fr

This will do interpretation of data, recover the clock, and output a cleaner signal. You'll need an RCA to XLR cable to hook up the Genelec speaker, though.

Just no guarantees, this device may well have the same issues with the TV's output as the speakers..

Thanks for that - but since the Toslink sent to a Marantz receiver has no problems I do not think that the problem is with the TV's output.

 

[geoffrey5239]

Toslink-S/PDIF adapter:
https://www.amazon.it/Tendak-Conver...pcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A1Z283UV10OELJ

RCA-XLR cable (if the distance is not excessive, an impedance adapter is not necessary):

pro snake AES/EBU SPDIF Cable Male 3

Digital Interface Cables Length: 3 m, XLR male to RCA male, Suitable for all RME Fireface Cards, For AES/EBU and SPDIF signals, Impedance: 110 Ω, Colour: Black, Made in Germany

www.thomann.it

https://support.genelec.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019582539-Can-I-connect-my-digital-SAM-monitors-to-S-PDIF-coaxial-directly

But that does not output an AES/EBU signal.

 

[geoffrey5239]

I use a Wiim Ultra from TV via ARC. Then USB out from Wiim Ultra to a USB to AES converter. The DDC converter I use is Quloos Qu02. But others can be seen in this thread https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ric-budget-usb-to-aes-converter-review.59663/

Wiim Ultra can take toslink input too. Both arc and toslink input from tv will work with Wiim digital volume control too.

That link is to the USB version of the Aliexpress item that I have and which has problems. The reviewer did not like it.

 

[voodooless]

But that does not output an AES/EBU signal.

That’s okay, Genelec speakers are perfectly fine with receiving coaxial SPDIF via an XLR cable.