DAC with HDMI?

[bigblue235]

After experimenting with a DAC or two (some oldies and a Beresford) I think I'd like to buy something a little better.

But I was just wondering why no DAC's that I've come across have HDMI. Seems like a logical step? Is there a reason why DAC's don't have HDMI? If not, is it a likely addition to the next wave of machines?

Sorry for so many questions, but I'm trying to maximise the period that I'll have the thing without it being obsolete. Ta!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Because they'd also require additional hardware and software to decode LPCM, plus the HD surround formats.

And if they can't decode those, there's no advantage of having HDMI over S/PDIF connections.

 

[Anonymous]

S/PDIF has less jitter anyway. typically ~400ps. HDMI often has ~6000ps jitter. Saddens me really

 

[Andrew Everard]

Couldn't agree more. Some nights I lay awake sobbing over it...

 

[Dan Turner]

Some laptops (like my HP) have only an HDMI digital output. This is great when connecting to my home cinema amp for AV content, but obviously not for hi-res audio, which I would like to experiment with, but then would obviously want to go via a DAC into my stereo set-up. If HDMI has higher jitter than S/PDIF, then how does that compare to connecting to a DAC via USB?

Incidentally the option in my soundcard settings for selecting the digital output is named S/PDIF, despite only being sent out via the HDMI connection....so it it really S/PDIF?

 

[Thaiman]

Andrew Everard:Couldn't agree more. Some nights I lay awake sobbing over it...

You do make me giggle mr. E....pukka nice one

 

[Anonymous]

In the absence of Toslink and S/PDIF ports, and ruling out HDMI, would you rate connecting a mid-price Cambridge Audio DAC Magic to a USB port as a good solution?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Nick Thorp:In the absence of Toslink and S/PDIF ports, and ruling out HDMI, would you rate connecting a mid-price Cambridge Audio DAC Magic to a USB port as a good solution?

What amp and speakers do you have and will you be using lossless files?

 

[bigblue235]

Andrew Everard:

Because they'd also require additional hardware and software to decode LPCM, plus the HD surround formats.

And if they can't decode those, there's no advantage of having HDMI over S/PDIF connections.

Thanks for the reply, Andrew. Appreciated!

I'm in a similar situation to Dan, in that I have PC's that have HDMI as their only method of outputting digital audio. I just thought (well, hoped!) that as there may be other hardware which was similarly equipped, that there may be demand for DAC's to feature HDMI connections.

I now understand that there would no performance advantage, but it would be far simpler for me to make a direct connection to my laptop, rather than having to stream the audio through another piece of kit. I guess I'll just need to keep using the Airport Express