5.1 DAC with HDMI input - Forum
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5.1 DAC with HDMI input
jka500, modified 5 Years ago.
5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 1 Join Date: 5/13/18 Recent PostsHi, I'd like to get rid of my old big AV receiver and passive speakers and replace them with set of Genelecs and sub. I mainly use Chromecast as audio and video source so I'm now looking for DAC which has HDMI inputs/output as well as analogue outputs for 5.1 active speakers. As I never have owned active speakers, I don't know how to setup this. Will the DAC even be the solution? Would Evolve II-4K do the job without any pre-amps? http://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/evolve-ii-4k/. This one doesn't have any volume control, so I think that might be the problem.
What are my options otherwise, as I mentioned I don't want any big receivers/pre-amps as I wan't to hide all gear easily.
gurux, modified 5 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 19 Join Date: 12/1/17 Recent PostsIf you are planning to buy SAM speakers a DAC would work because you would use Genelec's GLM room correction / callibration and you can control the volume with GLM, although not ideal because you would not be able to integrate this with a universal control so you would need a remote control for your AV and the Genelec remote for the volume management of your SAM speakers.
If you don't have money for SAM speakers my suggestion would be to look for a multichannel preamplifier / processor which can be anything from a (relatively) cheap Marantz AV7704, all the way to a top of the tree Datasat, Trinnov etc. The processor will have volume control, room correction, full compatibility with all the latest and greatest audio and video formats and it will only be a matter of connecting all your active speakers using balanced XLR cables to the processor, keeping the speakers at full volume and running the calibration in your pre/pro.
In a relatively sane price range (4000-5000£), a special mention for the processors from Arcam (AV860) and NAD (M17) which offer Dirac, superior to most other calibration solutions on the market. Arcam offers Dirac now, NAD should add it by the end of this month.
Of course plan all this carefully because by the time you finish buying the 5 (at least) speakers plus sub, GLM card and remote control, balanced cables, speaker stands, processor etc you will probably end up paying quite a bit more than you initially planned. A Dirac processor will also require a separate Dirac microphone which is not included in the price, a stand for it etc.
Check everything you need, put everything down on paper, do the math, make sure you afford it.
hako, modified 5 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 16 Join Date: 8/5/14 Recent PostsHi,
I have the following setup and it works fine for me:
- 5 Genelec active speakers + an elac sub
- Cambridge audio azur 752 blu-ray player which works as a 5.1 preamplifier (or even 7.1). The unit has HDMI inputs and also digital inputs (optical and coaxial).
I am streaming my audio using the optical output of my Apple airport express. I think Chromecast also has an optical output.
The latest version of a similar product from Cambridge audio is called CXUHD 4K universal blu-ray player.
Additionally I have the following items in use
- Harmony Hub + remote (nowadays called Harmony companion I guess)
- A few Wemo switches
- Wemo, IFTTT, IFTTT Do button and Yonomi apps installed on iPads/iPhones
After creating suitable setups using Harmony, I can now use Yonomi to switch on the front speakers, Cambridge audio player with correct inputs selected, switch on the TV when necessary. Most of the times everything works just fine. Sometimes Cambridge audio fails to have the correct input selected and I need to fix this using the Harmony app on my iPad.
If I just want to watch TV without Genelecs or any other extras, I can just use the Harmony remote. I can control the volume using my iPad when listening to music or using the Harmony remote. Even though my setup may seem rather complicated, it is very straighforward to use. Setting up the gear and applications/rules takes some time but it is very rewarding once done. Now my wife can also launch the system so that she can stream music from spotify or watch movies from or via Apple TV without having to know how to choose correct inputs and gear.
gurux, modified 5 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 19 Join Date: 12/1/17 Recent Postsalbertzhu, modified 4 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 0 Join Date: 10/25/18 Recent Postshako, modified 4 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 16 Join Date: 8/5/14 Recent PostsI think you will need to check in the user manual of your dvd player which version of HDMI-cable is supported by the player. If you don’t have the manual, this page maybe of help. Check when your DVD player was produced and go for a cable from that time. https://www.lifewire.com/hdmi-facts-high-definition-multimedia-interface-1847337
gennies99, modified 4 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Youngling Posts: 4 Join Date: 9/23/17 Recent PostsI've also been trying to find a solution to running the SAM series of genelecs off the HDMI out from my TV. I haven't seen a good solution.
In my mind it should go HDMI > device > AES > Genelec.
The other mystery to me is how to manage volume control. If using SAM I'd ideally want to use the room correction capabilities built into them.
svart-hvitt, modified 4 Years ago.
RE: 5.1 DAC with HDMI input
Padawan Posts: 35 Join Date: 5/6/16 Recent Postsgennies99:I've also been trying to find a solution to running the SAM series of genelecs off the HDMI out from my TV. I haven't seen a good solution.
In my mind it should go HDMI > device > AES > Genelec.
The other mystery to me is how to manage volume control. If using SAM I'd ideally want to use the room correction capabilities built into them.
There are a couple of HDMI alternatives from Arvus: