HDMI and TV built in DAC - beginners streaming solution...

[REW]

Well, a toe in the streaming waters at last - in my second system I now use my laptop/itunes to rip and play digital music (uncompressed) from my CDs and have sold my CD player, so there's no going back.

The laptop is connected to a Sony LCD TV via HDMI and the analogue feed from the TV plays through my Nait. I can even use the Sony remote to alter analogue output level, so this may also be the first remote controlled Nait 1 :)

And it doesn't sound bad at all, just a little drier than the Arcam CD used to sound but perhaps a little less life like, though I have not done critical listening A/B testing 'cos the CD was going to go for space reasons, no matter what.

So, finally questions I hope some of you knowledgeable people can answer:


How much processing of the audio file goes on in order to create HDMI output?
How much processing goes on in the TV to extract the audio signal from the HDMI feed?
How good in the scheme of DACs (Beresford, VALAB NOS level) could that in a TV be?


I am pondering getting a DAC but wonder if its worth it (hence the questions above) and then of course, how to connect up and to what?

Experienced streamers may be shaking their heads at this point, but I had to start somewhere!

[REW]

Put another way, what's the difference using HDMI to DAC rather than USB to DAC in audio terms - sample rates etc? Any one know?

[StanleyB]

The connectors are different. The data is the same. So you won't get classical at 192KHz on HDMI, but rock at 48KHz on USB if you are watching the same program on TV. i.e. HDMI and USB are not sampling formats. They are merely means of connecting one device to another.

[REW]

Thanks Stan, I think that answers my question about data from the source (laptop) to DAC (in the TV). Now, what quality level do you suppose a TV DAC represents?

[Butuz]

Very low. Probably 5% of the cost of the TV. If that.

Moving to USB > Caiman > Nait will blow you away. :eyebrows:

Butuz

[REW]

And presumably laptop > hdmi > TV > coax digital > Caiman > Nait would also be a major step forward?

[Jac Hawk]

Ron first off ditch iTunes for ripping your CD's, try dBpoweramp it will do a much better job and gives you far more output formats and sample/bit rates. As far as using your TV as a DAC it's not a great idea (it's like using the speakers on the TV as your main speakers, you just wouldn't) a much better idea is USB to a seperate DAC, or if you're looking to go down the A/V route you could go HDMI into an A/V amp and let the amp do the conversion for you.

[Butuz]

Yes that should also be a big step up provided that method is actually bypassing the TV's DAC. I guess that depends on your TV.

I have not tried that configuration. I don't see the point of routing audio through through the TV (and using an extra 200-300 watts in the process) when you can just route it straight into the Caiman via USB.

Butuz

[REW]

I currently route my laptop via HDMI to TV so I can do a variety of things from the comfort of my sofa, using a wireless mouse and keyboard. Using iTunes or streamed radio I can surf at the same time. Audio out from the TV is analogue (so has been through the TV DAC) to my Nait. If I then switch to watching TV I get great TV sound as well, and I don't have to unplug/change wires etc.

Now it occurs to me I could use coax out from TV to a good DAC then to amp and continue the flexible arrangement I have but with better sound. What do you reckon Mike, Butuz?

[Reid Malenfant]

The DAC in the TV is likely to be a cheap chip tbh, after all most people will just use the internal TV speakers ;) Yes, if you wanted to increase the audio quality i'd suggest you output whatever digital input you are feeding it to a good DAC & then feed that through a decent system.

I'm not sure what kind of digital signal would be fed along the HDMI lead from your PC, i'm guessing it'll be the very same as what you are playing in all honesty.

If you are just talking stereo i see no problems at all :) 5.1 could be taken care of by an AV amp, but it won't decode any of the blu ray stuff as these require it to be fed via an HDMI input..

[Butuz]

Now it occurs to me I could use coax out from TV to a good DAC then to amp and continue the flexible arrangement I have but with better sound. What do you reckon Mike, Butuz?

Yes - do it!

I've done the very similar except I run the TV in via Optical and my CDP in via Coax and PC Via USB. For optimum quality the Caiman should be the "audio hub" not the TV. But if you are after maximum convenience I can see why you want to route from the TV. E.g. if I switch from TV to PC I have to get up and switch the DAC input also. With your setup you wouldnt have to move a muscle.

No biggie for me as I drink too much beer and need the exercise. :cool:

Butuz

[Heady]

I also did something similar for a while and it worked well enough for my liking.

Although my setup was fully digital:

HTPC -------- HDMI --------> Sony Bravia TV -------- SPDIF Optical --------> Camian --------> Headphones

[Marco]

Hi "Heady",

Could you please add your real first name and basic location details to your profile at your earliest convenience, as this is a requirement of all of our members - cheers! :cool:

Marco.