Have I misunderstood the point about HDMI stereo sound?

[TKratz]

I am a little uncertain where to post this thread, as it is borderline between Hifi and Home Cinema.

Recently I auditioned quite a few speakers with my brother. We incidently heard another audition (way out the league for my brother). The speakers tested was the B&W 804S. I was blown away by the clarity and details in the sound of Leonard Cohen singing Hallelujah. Afterwards I found out that the other equipment used where the awesome Denon AVC-A1HDA - but here was the surprise for me, the 'CD-player' was Denon 2500BT!

I can then only conclude that the sound must have been transmitted via HDMI. I honestly didn't think you could get stereo sound like that using HDMI. Or have I simply misunderstood the point about stereo sound via HDMI?

 

[Andrew Everard]

The HDMI connection can carry anything from stereo - or indeed mono, if that's what disc's recorded in - all the way up to multichannel, be it from DVD, BD or indeed SACD.

 

[TKratz]

Yes, I am aware that you can get stereo sound via HDMI. The question I was trying to pose was more whether you should?

I was always of the impression that you should use decent analogue connections for superior sound quality, at least when dealing with stereo music, rather than HDMI. On Denon 2500BT you of course cannot make the analogue connection.

I was just surprised about the HDMI sound, and wondered whether I have got it all wrong.

 

[The_Lhc]

TKratz: Yes, I am aware that you can get stereo sound via HDMI. The question I was trying to pose was more whether you should?

I was always of the impression that you should use decent analogue connections for superior sound quality, at least when dealing with stereo music, rather than HDMI. On Denon 2500BT you of course cannot make the analogue connection.

I was just surprised about the HDMI sound, and wondered whether I have got it all wrong.

It's just a digital connection, just like the optical or coaxial digital connection you might use with a CD player. With any digital source (PC based audio file, CD, DVD, Blu-ray) at some point something will have to convert the digital signal into an analogue one. That can be in the source, as with a lot of CD players, or integrated into the amplifier (as in the case you mentioned, the DAC is in the receiver) or indeed neither, should you choose to use a standalone DAC. That is what determines whether you use an analogue or digital connection, nothing else.

 

[TKratz]

Well, I see your point, it all comes down to the equipment. I guess my knowledge is a bit outdated, and I am not too familiar with the technicalities in converting the sound from your player to the speakers.

I assume you should then instead consider which part of your setup has the superior DAC? And how do you determine that?

 

[professorhat]

You can research which DACs are in what and look for feedback from others on them or, as always, the best option is just to listen to them yourself.