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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:27:04 GMT -5
So I am thinking about going from 5.1 with my UMC-200 to strictly 2.1 with a DC-1. I need to connect an ATV (optical), BD player (coax), TT (analog), and finally was hoping to connect my TV (only has optical out). What are my options? I have a Panasonic 54S2 Tv, fyi. I have not read many positive reviews on optical switches, so i don't desire to use one. Is there a way to use the AES or BNC with an adapter for any of my digital components mentioned above? It appears i am one digital input short and am trying to not use any other preamp then the DC-1 in my chain. I will split the XLR outs to my subwoofer amp and also whichever amp I decide for my fronts (possibly Crown xls 2500 recently picked up).
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Let me know if you need any other info.
Lastly, can the TV act as a digital audio passthrough? Will the ATV and BD player connected to the TV pass audio through via the optical from the tv to the DC-1? If so, that solves my problem.
Thx
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:33:29 GMT -5
You can get a Toslink to coax converter, and a coax to bnc converter cheaply at monoprice and make use of your bnc input on the DC1, as I do.
The answer to your second question is yes, I connect my STB, Blu Ray and ATV all to the TV via HDMI then from the TV to the DC1 as described above.
Switching among video/HDMI sources takes place on the TV.
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:39:04 GMT -5
BTW, I have an Airport Express connected to the DC1 on its Toslink in.
It's more accurate, at 44.1 for streaming from your computer or tablet than the ATV, which runs at 48.
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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:39:31 GMT -5
You can get a Toslink to coax converter, and a coax to bnc converter cheaply at monoprice and make use of your bnc input on the DC1, as I do. The answer to your second question is yes, I connect my STB, Blu Ray and ATV all to the TV via HDMI then from the TV to the DC1 as described above. Switching among video/HDMI sources takes place on the TV. So does this mean I technically only need to use one optical in on the DC-1 for both the tv audio (antenna) and the ATV, which is connected via hdmi to the tv? If this is the case, then I am fine. Does the tv pass the digital through without altering its content, or does it mix somehow before sending it back out to the DC-1? Hope this makes sense... Thx for the reply audiobill! |
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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:42:09 GMT -5
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:43:54 GMT -5
The TV just passes the digital through. No need to use the ATV optical out.
Everything works great this way- try it!
Bill
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:44:51 GMT -5
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,261
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Post by KeithL on Mar 27, 2014 11:45:29 GMT -5
The output of the TV will almost certainly be altered (for one thing, the TV will probably decode surround sound sources and output the result as stereo). This will depend to a point on the TV you have (and some will have optional settings). I wouldn't specifically count on even stereo content being passed through a TV without some modification. (Since the DC-1 doesn't do surround decoding, having the TV decode it and send it out as stereo would be a good thing.) You can get a Toslink to coax converter, and a coax to bnc converter cheaply at monoprice and make use of your bnc input on the DC1, as I do. The answer to your second question is yes, I connect my STB, Blu Ray and ATV all to the TV via HDMI then from the TV to the DC1 as described above. Switching among video/HDMI sources takes place on the TV. So does this mean I technically only need to use one optical in on the DC-1 for both the tv audio (antenna) and the ATV, which is connected via hdmi to the tv? If this is the case, then I am fine. Does the tv pass the digital through without altering its content, or does it mix somehow before sending it back out to the DC-1? Hope this makes sense... Thx for the reply audiobill! |
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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:48:15 GMT -5
What great news, i am excited to try it out. I will be selling either the umc-200 or the DC-1 in the next few weeks, whichever makes me the most satisfied. I only listen to music in stereo, so it is just a matter of the movie watching experience. I also hope that the DC-1 enhances the experience of listening to vinyl over the UMC-200's stereo inputs. I'll be should to tell of my experience.
Ben
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KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 10,261
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Post by KeithL on Mar 27, 2014 11:49:01 GMT -5
Just a note.... Converting between Toslink and Coax requires an active device (although it's pretty simple). The BNC input on the DC-1 is simply a second S/PDIF input (the signal is the same as for the RCA Coax input), so there is no conversion; it's just a passive adapter. You can get little "bullet" adapters for a few bucks; you can also get cables with an RCA connector on one end and a BNC on the other. You can get a Toslink to coax converter, and a coax to bnc converter cheaply at monoprice and make use of your bnc input on the DC1, as I do. The answer to your second question is yes, I connect my STB, Blu Ray and ATV all to the TV via HDMI then from the TV to the DC1 as described above. Switching among video/HDMI sources takes place on the TV. |
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:49:16 GMT -5
Maybe, but if from STB or ATV, no big deal.
In addition to this setup, you could run an additional coax from blu ray player to DC1 to eliminate any question from that source, especially if you use the blu ray for cd playback.
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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:50:33 GMT -5
The output of the TV will almost certainly be altered (for one thing, the TV will probably decode surround sound sources and output the result as stereo). This will depend to a point on the TV you have (and some will have optional settings). I wouldn't specifically count on even stereo content being passed through a TV without some modification. (Since the DC-1 doesn't do surround decoding, having the TV decode it and send it out as stereo would be a good thing.) So does this mean I technically only need to use one optical in on the DC-1 for both the tv audio (antenna) and the ATV, which is connected via hdmi to the tv? If this is the case, then I am fine. Does the tv pass the digital through without altering its content, or does it mix somehow before sending it back out to the DC-1? Hope this makes sense... Thx for the reply audiobill! So Keith, does this mean it would be better then sending out a PCM signal directly to the DC-1 from each device? I am new to standalone Dac's , so forgive my ingnorance as well. |
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:51:34 GMT -5
Remember, you can drive your power amps directly from your DC1.
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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:53:47 GMT -5
Either way, audiobill is right, the antenna and ATV are fine being down mixed processed) with the TV as it already does not have excellent sound qualities. I think I will plan on running a coax from the BD player to the DC-1 though.
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Post by stads77 on Mar 27, 2014 11:54:39 GMT -5
Remember, you can drive your power amps directly from your DC1. That is exactly the plan. |
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Post by audiobill on Mar 27, 2014 11:56:10 GMT -5
And here's the to slink to coax converter Keith and I mentioned...Monoprice
Optical Toslink to Coaxial (RCA) Digital Audio Converter
Product Number: 2948
234 reviews
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Optical Toslink to Coaxial (RCA) Digital Audio Converter
Digital Coaxial audio signals and Optical Toslink Digital audio signals are two variations of the same S/PDIF standard. The hassle comes when you have some equipment that uses Digital Coaxial and other equipment that uses Toslink. In this case you need to adapt one signal type to the other type.
This adapter converts the optical Toslink input signal into an electrical Digital Coaxial output. It has a small footprint, less than 3" x 2", which makes it easy to hide behind your equipment rack. It is powered by an included 6 VDC, 3A AC adapter.
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Post by stads77 on Apr 1, 2014 5:26:08 GMT -5
I have a bit of a problem now after connecting everything. I don't use a cable box as I gave up cable several years ago, but occassionally I like to watch Tv through my Over the air antenna. It appears my TV only sends out a DD signal to the DC-1, so I get no sound. It looks like there are no audio settings to pick a downmixed stereo signal, as the TV only will do this for externally connected devices. This is a big bummer, but I plan on upgrading the TV in the next few months. Does anyone know if any of the later Panasonic plasmas have an option to send out a stereo or PCM signal via their optical out(not just for external sources of course)?
Thx
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Post by audiobill on Apr 1, 2014 5:41:10 GMT -5
Mine does.
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Post by stads77 on Apr 1, 2014 6:26:32 GMT -5
What model is your Panny? |
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Post by audiobill on Apr 1, 2014 6:50:03 GMT -5
It's a TH-50PZ800U.
A few years old, but all audio from HDMI sources is available at the toslink out. I assume the TV audio output is available here, as "TV" shows up at the input selection screen as well as "cable", "dvd", aux (all the HDMI inputs).
I can't imagine the TV output (w/o cable box) isn't available at the optical out, but I'm not on antenna or I'd confirm.
I checked the manual, and no mention otherwise, but maybe a call to Panasonic at 1-888-843-9788 may be in order.
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