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Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

tanelv, modified 7 Years ago.

Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/21/16 Recent Posts
I have a problem feeding digital audio to the Genelec 8330A.

The connection chain is following:
1) Audio sources: MacBook pro or Sony KDL-55W755
-2.2mm toslink cable (3.5 mm mini toslink converter for macbook)
2)Toslink switch (to switch between different audio sources)
-2.2mm toslink cable
3) Hosa ODL-312 S/PDIF to AES/EBU converter (http://hosatech.com/product/odl-312/)
- 110 Ohm AES/EBU XLR cable
4) First 8330A (digital input)
- 110 Ohm AES/EBU XLR cable
5) Second 8330A (digital input)

I tried both audio sources, but neither the TV or macbook make any sound.
I tried to remove the toslink switch from the chain to see if that was the problem, but it did not change anything.

Where could the problem possibly be?
ilkka-rissanen, modified 7 Years ago.

Re: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Yoda Posts: 2564 Join Date: 3/23/09 Recent Posts
Hi,

Have your set up your speakers with GLM? During the set up process, you need to configure speakers either for analogue or digital signal.
tanelv, modified 7 Years ago.

Re: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/21/16 Recent Posts
Yes, I set them up with GLM and changed them to digital signal
ilkka-rissanen, modified 7 Years ago.

Re: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Yoda Posts: 2564 Join Date: 3/23/09 Recent Posts
Do you have the GLM network and software running all the time or are you running the speakers in stand alone mode? At what level is the master fader set in GLM?

Can you send your GLM setup file to SAM@genelec.com?

Can you test analogue audio to see if the speakers are working with it?
tanelv, modified 7 Years ago.

Re: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/21/16 Recent Posts
Sent the setup file to the e-mail.

No, I currently do not have cables or sources to try them with analogue signal.

I tried it both with the GLM network software running and running the speakers without connection to the GLM software. I have the GLM Volume controller connected that's why I can't see a place where to set the master fader level? It only shows the external potentiometer and the value that it's turned to.
tanelv, modified 7 Years ago.

Re: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 5 Join Date: 1/21/16 Recent Posts
I found the problem - it was the Hosa adapter, which was faulty. With a new adapter it works!
BTW 8330-s sound really sweet! :)

Thank you very much to your almost instantaneous replies and help Ilkka!
Case closed!
ilkka-rissanen, modified 7 Years ago.

Re: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Yoda Posts: 2564 Join Date: 3/23/09 Recent Posts
Thank God it wasn't our product! :) Happy listening!
johnculter, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 2 Join Date: 9/3/17 Recent Posts

Hello Ilkka,

 

I just found this thread as I'm looking for very similar solution. I'm about to buy two 8340's just for the mastering/monitoring purposes in very simple setup with Macbook Pro 15" (2017).

What options I have if I want to go directly from digital out from my Macbook to the speakers? Is there on the market some Toslink > AES67 adapter? Guess this should be technically superior over the Toslink > AES XLR?

I don't want to buy any expensive and not necesarily big interface with multiple inputs etc. I just want simple (and preferably small) device with one digital output.

Not sure if it it is better to have USB-C powered device with some sort of converter to AES67 ethernet, or mentioned Toslink to AES67? If this type of thing even exists?

Actually I'm really new to the whole AES67 technology, but at the end if I'm not wrong - I found some virtual AES67 virtual audio device for OSX (for example http://www.merging.com/downloads/ravenna-standard-download). In this case it's just enough to connect my Macbook with the ethernet to the 8340's? That sounds as a dream. Easiest ever.

Thank you very much for explanation!

kirma, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 20 Join Date: 5/5/17 Recent Posts

A side note (no, I'm not in any way affiliated with Genelec; just a guy with their speakers and considerable background in networking technologies on the IT side): I thought Apple dropped the digital output integrated to headphone connector from Macbook Pros around 2016. Just be certain a digital output is there before buying anything expensive!

Whole point of AES67 is to enable digital studio sound transport over (now) standard network technologies, Internet Protocol and in practice the de facto local-area lower layer, Ethernet, instead of demanding custom physical cabling and adapter boxes. Thus you are correct; you should be able to drive these speakers using a virtual audio device which actually communicates with your speakers over Ethernet network. (I haven't tried.) Theoretically even using WiFi from the laptop might work, but wired networks have essential benefit of much, much lower chances for packet loss, which does matter for low-latency applications of this kind.

johnculter, modified 5 Years ago.

RE: Feeding Genelec 8330A with toslink optical audio

Youngling Posts: 2 Join Date: 9/3/17 Recent Posts
 

A side note (no, I'm not in any way affiliated with Genelec; just a guy with their speakers and considerable background in networking technologies on the IT side): I thought Apple dropped the digital output integrated to headphone connector from Macbook Pros around 2016. Just be certain a digital output is there before buying anything expensive!

Whole point of AES67 is to enable digital studio sound transport over (now) standard network technologies, Internet Protocol and in practice the de facto local-area lower layer, Ethernet, instead of demanding custom physical cabling and adapter boxes. Thus you are correct; you should be able to drive these speakers using a virtual audio device which actually communicates with your speakers over Ethernet network. (I haven't tried.) Theoretically even using WiFi from the laptop might work, but wired networks have essential benefit of much, much lower chances for packet loss, which does matter for low-latency applications of this kind.


Thanks for the response!

Actually you are right - I wasn't aware of Apple dropping the SPDIF from the 3.5mm jack output.

In this case for 2016/2017 Macbook Pro's there is just option for external interface over thunderbolt / usb or the mentioned  virtual device over ethernet network.

If these new Genelec speakers are capable of AES67, I'm quite surprised they do not officially offer some sort of their own Genelec virtual audio device. Or at least a list of compilant / supported third party solutions?

I would love to know what software or device to buy, having fully supported and working AES67 solution with 2.0 stereo setup. :-)

Also I realised the AES67 is available only with the special version 8430A IP SAM. So guess not an option for 8340?

Perhaps this can be somehow directly integrated to the GLM as well?