DAC Question

[MiddleMan]

Here's a question for you.

To follow on from my earlier post about the best choice between Apple TV or Airport Express as a music streamer, my question now concerns adding a DAC, as I haven't had much experience with how these work.

So the question is:

If I went for the Apple TV, I would want to output the audio streamed from my computer directly to my Rotel amp from the DAC. However, I would also want to connect the ATV to my AV amp to give me 5.1 sound from any rentals from the itunes store. My amp has no HDMI input, so could I connect the ATV to both amps at the same time via the DAC, depending on its audio source i.e 5.1 or standard audio stereo. I read on the specs for the Cambridge Audio DAC that it can't do 5.1 sound only 2.0PCM. Therefore do I actually need an Airport for my audio stream to Rotel amp and then an ATV connected to my AV amp to keep its surround sound capabilities?

 

[axman]

ATV outputs via both optical and HDMI at the same time.

 

[MiddleMan]

Thanks axman

However, I need the the optical to feed into the AV amp. as it doesn't have any HDMI sockets. I was wondering if you could feed the optical into the DAC and then output into the AV on optical for 5.1 movies and simulateously via RCA to the Rotel amp for tunes, but I don't think it works this way.

 

[axman]

Ahh.. so you can't use the HDMI output of ATV?

Then I don't know... maybe there is such a thing as an optical signal splitter? Split the optical signal into one that goes to your AV amp and the other to the DAC?

Is your stereo amp not connected to your AV amp via pre-out?

 

[MiddleMan]

yes, the rotel is connected to the AV amp via pre out. However the sound quality via this link for music is not as good as direct RCA into the Rotel, Think this is down to the age of the Yamaha Processor I am using.

Anyway decided to go for a refurb Airport Express and will get a DAC to make this ideal and then perhaps add an ATV later for the TV/video stuff.

 

[Dan Turner]

Some DACs (Cambridge Audio DAC magic for example) also have an optical out with '5.1 passthrough', which would allow you to do exactly what you want to do.

 

[manicm]

Dan Turner:Some DACs (Cambridge Audio DAC magic for example) also have an optical out with '5.1 passthrough', which would allow you to do exactly what you want to do.

I seriously doubt this. The DM does not anyway - it's pure stereo.

 

[iMark]

From the DACMagic manual:

Note: Being a stereo device, this unit does not decode 5.1 Dolby Digital or
DTS Bitstreams from a DVD player, etc. When receiving a multi-channel digital
input, the analogue audio outputs are muted. However, a 5.1 DD or DTS Bitstream will pass-through to the digital outputs.

Of course the DM has to be switched on for the pass-through of signals.

 

[Anonymous]

It’s hard to find knowledgeable folks on this topic, however you sound like you already know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
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