Re: Outputting multichannel sound through the optical link??
Re: Outputting multichannel sound through the optical link??
- Subject: Re: Outputting multichannel sound through the optical link??
- From: Brian Willoughby <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:10:04 -0800
Hello Simon,
As Jeff has pointed out, the CoreAudio answer to your problem is hog
mode, combined with software that sends a compatible format to a
compatible interface. There are several pieces to the puzzle, and
the missing pieces are outside the scope of CoreAudio.
Every format that your ONKYO receives over an optical link is using
lossy compression. DTS is typically four times the bandwidth of
Dolby Digital, but it is still not lossless. Only the professional
versions of DTS - which are not available for the home, or for any
media that you can buy - are lossless. Thus, your existing method of
converting to analog involves less loss of quality, and is not any
worse than connecting any piece of analog gear to your receiver.
Unless you find the budget for equipment that goes beyond what ONKYO
can do, then you're just wasting your time worrying about the D/A in
your existing interface.
Until someone makes an HDMI audio interface which is CoreAudio
compatible, you're stuck with lossy compression or multichannel
analog (the latter is preferred). In the interest of sharing what
I've found, HDMI support seems to be focused on video monitors, with
very little audiophile audio support. HDMI seems to be for people
who are not interested in building a high-quality sound system, but
rather just want a few simple cables to plug in. This seems like a
contradiction, since SPDIF uses lossy compression for multi-channel
surround, and HDMI does not, but the HDMI audio offerings to date are
lower quality than the setup you have already working.
As to the obvious compromises, even a two-channel amplifier without
digital support would be considered a compromise by fans of monoblock
technology. By placing 10 channels of amplification in a single
cabinet, there are significant compromises to the sound quality, not
to mention mixing digital and analog signals together on the same
power supply.
To get back to the software pieces of the puzzle, you can license
encoding software from DTS which should allow you to create a DTS
Music Disc on CD-R, that will play in a standard system without all
the overhead of DVD. Surround formats up to 6.1 ES are supported. I
use this when recording multichannel audio on my Mac which I want
people to be able to hear on a standard home theatre system. It's
even possible to play through iTunes if you remember to set
everything up just right.
Brian Willoughby
Sound Consulting
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