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TV digital audio - Home theatre vs Stereo audio

Hi,

I have a question that is confusing me quite a bit. I just set-up a brand new 2 channel system which also has a Oppo BDP-95 Blue Ray player from my legacy system and a new OLED LG 4K TV. I trying to get the best sound from my TV. I usually view sports through the now-TV (cable TV provider in HK), Netflix (through my TV connect) and Blue-ray through my Oppo.

The TV has a HDMI ARC connection and an optical digital audio out. Currently I have connected the optical digital audio out to my Auralic Vega G2 DAC and then play the TV audio through my McIntosh/ B&W Diamond 2-channel set-up. I also have connected the digital Coax output from my Oppo to the Auralic DAC and hence I have bypassed the Oppo DAC as I consider the Auralic DAC superior.

However, I read up some material saying that an optical connect from the TV and the Coax output from the Oppo will not carry full Dolby Atmos and other higher end digital audio from the Blue-Ray and hence the audio from both my blue-ray discs through the Oppo and the Netflix that I play through the TV will both be downgraded to normal 2-channel audio.

My question is that if I anyways have only a 2-channel music system set-up through which my TV sound plays, does it matter whether I use the optical out from my TV or the more advanced HDMI ARC?

The second question is that the only way I can see to get the higher end digital audio is to buy a surround sound bar and connect it through the HDMI ARC connect on the TV and play the sound through the sound bar rather than the 2-channel set-up. The problem is that I do not have space to keep the sound bar and hence will need to go through substantive pain to get this done. Is it all worth it?

Thanks in advance.

sudhirgoel
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I tried surround and decided it was a waste of money. Some folks just love surround sound. Not me. To me, the questions seem 'theoretical' like 'I am missing out on something I do not need or want, but should I want them?"    
The answer is no, don't worry about stuff you don't need.The two channel mix is designed for two channel. That other stuff is all for surround. And really cannot fit into two channel any better than you now use it. (for the purists, yeah if the op spend many thousands it might be better. But that is the audiophile solution spend money. lots of money!! and it will get a little better..LOL)
sudhirgoel's avatar
sudhirgoel OP
23 posts
 
Nice one elizabeth
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Can the Sychro-mesh be used in HK where the voltage is 220V and not the 110V as in the US. Also since I already have high quality Coax and Toslink now (connecting my Oppo and TV to the Auralic DAC), I will only need a Coax cable to connect the Synchro-Mesh out to the DAC. I already have a very high-end Coax with me now. Please can you send me a quote for the product with shipping to HK Island.


Yes, the AC adapter has different plugs and universal voltage rating. I sell world-wide. I also offer a fast-reacting LPS for the SM that has a Hynes-based voltage regulator. Hynes is famous for his excellent discrete regulators, coming from the UK actually.

As for coax, if you don’t have a BNC-terminated coax with RCA adapters as needed in a length of at least 1.25m, you will need 2 new cables. My Standard BNC cable is very affordable and pure silver. Aerospace grade. My Reference cable is exceptional and very liquid sounding.

Go to the Empirical Audio website and click on "contact us" to send me an email and I will send you a paypal invoice.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Not saying many old/new DACs have great jitter suppression, but most modern ones do reduce it better than CD quality.


CD quality (from a CD player) is a low-bar for me.  My digital is much better than that.  There is no way that I would have gotten best of show several times with a CD player in the system.

I have had a lot of different DAC's in my system since I modded them for many years.  None of them were jitter immune, none.  I have heard from customers that the Benchmark DAC3 is jitter immune, but I have not heard it in my system.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
mzkmxcv
558 posts
 
@audioengr

I’m assuming you mean jitter immune as in total suppression, or at least past 24Bit. I’m talking at least a fair deal of reduction.

You state the 96dB of dynamic range that unditered 16Bit offers is too low. Can you explain how you can hear noises of around 5 decibles in a room where the noise fooor is roughly 30dB? The hum of a lightbulb at 2m away is ~10dB I believe.

Also, it may be a different measurement technique than what you’ve used for your Syncro-Mesh, but here is the picosecond amount of jitter when using a Topping D10 as a USB to Toslink convertor, and not using a J-Test like you’ve stated many times.
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