HDMI Audio De-embedder as Budget DAC?

[mjkerpan]

I'm building a new "cheap" rig and I've noticed that since the last time I was involved in building a rig, analog audio output has disappeared from just about all sub-$300 disc players. That means that some sort of affordable rig is needed. Does anybody know how the analog output of these sounds? My only previous use of these things has been to give a SPDIF output to a Chromecast so that it could work with a pre-HDMI receiver, so I have no idea what the analog side sounds like.

I'm specifically looking at a one of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1123524-REG/kanexpro_sw_hd4x1aud4k_4x1_hdmi_switcher_with.html which should solve both the lack of the HDMI inputs on the new TV (only one free one after the Tivo cable box is attached) and the lack of analog audio output on modern affordable disc spinners. Is this better/worse/the same as all the various made-in-China deebedders?

 

[Icevic]

Fiio makes exactly what you are looking for, the Taishan-D03K, and it is $30. Takes digital input, either coax or optical, and gives you RCA output. It's tiny and sounds very nice.

 

[mjkerpan]

It doesn't take HDMI, though. If used with a deembedder, it takes up yet another plug. I'm actually starting to run out. I guess that I could pipe directly from the coax out on the BluRay player, though I've heard to SPDIF outputs on most BluRay players are crippled due to copy protection and bandwidth limitations.

 

[N8Nagel]

My understanding is that recent BDPs are not permitted to output digital audio for SACDs (and DVD-As are limited to 2-channel) other than through HDCP compliant HDMI (that is, S/PDIF is considered insecure and allows you the ability to "rip" a SACD which obviously the Powers that Be do not want you to do) - so I think your original idea has merit. I can't recommend any specific device however.

 

[Icevic]

It's not clear what you are trying to do. If you have SPDIF out then you can use the Taishan. Or you could go HDMI into your TV and then use the optical out from the TV into the Taishan and go RCA analog from there. Easy.

 

[mjkerpan]

I'm trying to get around the fact that many modern BluRay players downsample their SPDIF output to 48/16 rather than passing full 96/24 PCM for stereo. I was also trying to add some extra ports to the TV (which only includes 2 for some stupid reason) at the same time.I'm starting to think that the decrease in complexity from using direct SPDIF out into a DAC from a k known manufacturer might be worth the (theoretical) quality loss though. I can always get a separate HDMI switch. Using optput from the TV would be silly, as that would require I turn the TV on listen to music.

 

[jhoyt]

I have been using an HDMI matrix switch in my system for a while now, and have found it extremely useful. It outputs both digital (SPDIF) and analog audio, and sounds decent doing so. The only pragmatic drawback is that the analog output is about 10dB lower in volume, probably from not having any real audio output stage post-DAC. It seems to be on par, sound-wise, with modern budget DAC's.

 

[woofmytweets]

my DVD/SACD player definitely cuts pcm output when an SACD is loaded. this was an exceptionally frustrating thing, until i learned that it was intentional - it's an anti-copying measure. I also learned that in order to pirate them, one needs a modified playstation with customized software.

 

[mjkerpan]

Well, I decided to try out an el cheapo Fosmon deembedder before getting a fancy switch. It sounds quite good: much cleaner than the noisy mess coming from the TV's line out and no obvious flaws in the sound. Also, being able to spin discs without turning on the TV is nice.