INTERACT FORUM

Devices => Sound Cards, DAC's, Receivers, Speakers, and Headphones => Topic started by: zoom+slomo on March 04, 2023, 04:00:44 pm

Title: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: zoom+slomo on March 04, 2023, 04:00:44 pm
While many today choose to stream content, I play lots of 1080p BDs and DVDs, and prefer using these Windows players:

JRiver
PowerDVD
VLC

They decode DTS-MA to a lossless MCH PCM signal, play all region discs and have the zoom and slow motion features which I often enjoy using, but which are found in practically no hard wired BD players.

Thus, my pc would need to output the video via HDMI, either to the processor or directly to my TV. But as neither SPDIF nor AES/EBU can transmit lossless MCH audio, the processor would need to have a USB audio input to do so, to be fed from my pc, like this DAC has. https://exasound.com/Products/s88StreamingDAC.aspx

But regardless of brand, design or price it seems that few if any MCH processors have a USB audio input.

https://bryston.com/preamps/sp3/
https://www.audiocontrol.com/home-audio/immersive-av-preamp-processors/maestro-x7/
https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/home-theater-processors/MX100 https://nadelectronics.com/product/m17-v2i-surround-sound-preamp-processor/

And even if they did, could perfect syncing and quality of the video and PCM 5.1 audio from the Blu-Ray disk be assured, when played via any of these three Windows players?

Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: eve on March 04, 2023, 04:26:12 pm
While many today choose to stream content, I play lots of 1080p BDs and DVDs, and much prefer using these Windows players. https://jriver.com/ https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdvd-ultra/features_en_US.html?r=1  https://www.videolan.org/

They decode DTS-MA to a lossless MCH PCM signal, play all region discs and have the zoom and slow motion features which I often enjoy using, but which are found in practically no hard wired BD players.

Thus, my pc would need to output the video via HDMI, either to the processor or directly to my TV. But as neither SPDIF nor AES/EBU can transmit lossless MCH audio, the processor would need to have a USB audio input to do so, to be fed from my pc, like this DAC has. https://exasound.com/Products/s88StreamingDAC.aspx

But regardless of brand, design or price it seems that few if any MCH processors have a USB audio input.

https://bryston.com/preamps/sp3/
https://www.audiocontrol.com/home-audio/immersive-av-preamp-processors/maestro-x7/
https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/home-theater-processors/MX100 https://nadelectronics.com/product/m17-v2i-surround-sound-preamp-processor/

And even if they did, could perfect syncing and quality of the video and PCM 5.1 audio from the Blu-Ray disk be assured, when played via any of these three Windows players?

HDMI will carry multichannel lossless audio.

Weirdly enough, most of the 'Processors' with USB in actually only support stereo on that input.

Topping Dm7 if you want a pure 'DAC' that's multichannel. The Exasound stuff is really nice but quite overpriced IMO
https://www.topping.audio/productinfo/862560.html
Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: mattkhan on March 04, 2023, 04:31:49 pm
Why don't you want to use HDMI?
Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: eve on March 04, 2023, 04:58:34 pm
Why don't you want to use HDMI?

Yeah HDMI is going to be the easiest. There are some drawbacks, at least that I personally found, which pushed me towards audio interfaces / proper multichannel D/A.
However for most people, doing playback only, HDMI is perfectly acceptable.
For example, even on high end processors, changing display formats (so refresh rate for example) would cause a very brief audio interruption due to the 're-handshaking' that has to happen I guess.
Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: mattkhan on March 04, 2023, 05:27:35 pm
Actually I assumed there was a reason to use a prepro (usually means Atmos) but perhaps there isn't, it's unclear
Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: JimH on March 04, 2023, 06:23:20 pm
Same question on AVSForum:  https://www.avsforum.com/threads/jriver-media-center-owners-thread.1352282/page-136#post-62385513
Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: eve on March 04, 2023, 10:14:11 pm
Actually I assumed there was a reason to use a prepro (usually means Atmos) but perhaps there isn't, it's unclear

He only mentions DTS-HD and also says he decodes to PCM.
Title: Re: Any High End Processors Supporting Lossless 5.1 Audio via JRiver/PowerD
Post by: mlknez on March 05, 2023, 06:33:47 pm
Add anydvd software to your pc and you can play all of those physical media formats just fine via jriver, etc.