Toslink to 5.1 channel audio convertor recommendations with MiniDSP DDRC-88A . . .

Steve_Lee

OK, feeling a little cocky with my recent Mini DSP 4x10 stereo project success and have my sights set on cleaning up my home theater setup.

Can anyone direct me to a a solid and reliable Toslink to 5.1 channel audio convertor so I can start to assemble a solution?

Thanks in advance - need more info? Please ask.

I'll post my results here.

dcibel

Why toslink?

What you're looking for is an AVR or pre-pro.. Spdif only supports 2 channel of uncompressed audio, so 5.1 has to be Dobly Digital or DTS type of encoding.

Besides, the DDRC-88A is requiring you to go from digital - analog - digital - analog. My OCD brain would not like that, so DDRC-88D makes more sense, which I would expect can be coupled with U-DIO8 for a multichannel USB solution.

Steve_Lee

OK, I had incorrectly assumed that the Toslink connection contained the 5.1 audio signal.

Your suggested solution is full of balanced connectors which is a deal breaker for me, unfortunately.

Thanks, though . . .

Steve_Lee

I am trying to add individual speaker channel EQ to an existing AVR (Yamaha HTR-5540).

dcibel

Connecting $1000 of DSP to a $100 AVR...Time to get a better AVR with 5.1 analog out. Of course if Dirac is what you're after, go for a AVR with Dirac already included and skip the miniDSP.

Not sure how a toslink connection was going to come out of the HTR-5540...

Steve_Lee

Thanks for humoring me, dcibel.

I am starting to understand . . .

Steve_Lee

Hey, Looks like the current Yamaha HTR-5540 has 6 channel audio input so the amp becomes a potential dual 3-way amp. So . . . I can recycle it as the amp taking input from the MiniDSP-4x10 outs and doing XO duty for my next stereo 3-way speaker project!!

Sweet.

Or would the center and sub inputs be handled differently by the amp than the mains and surrounds???

Steve_Lee

From the manual:

"When you select 6CH INPUT as the input source, this unit
automatically turns off the digital sound field processor, and
you cannot listen to DSP programs.

• When you select 6CH INPUT as the input source, settings of
“1 SPEAKER SET” on the SET MENU do not apply (except
for “1E MAIN Lv” "

Thoughts?

Steve_Lee

Just did a little more experimenting and moved a sealed 10" sub to the front of the living room (HT location) adjacent/across from the ported 10" sub and it all balanced out nicely - no longer interested in the DSP/Dirac other than the mains could use some EQ as they are just a bit bright - might dig into the XO's (passive) and pad them a bit more but the highs are in the MW's.

I am gonna have sh*t load of drivers for sale if I keep getting the sound I am looking for from the stuff I have tweaked to perfection. (Mental speaker design addict).

The more you learn the less stuff you realize that you needed to buy . . .

Steve_Lee

Moved the Samba Kit speakers into the Mains slot just now - bass is accentuated but clean - needs some balance applied but sounds better . . .