INTERACT FORUM
Devices => Sound Cards, DAC's, Receivers, Speakers, and Headphones => Topic started by: omaha on February 02, 2014, 07:02:38 am
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I'm not an audio sophisticate, so please bear with me. I have an HTPC with a PCI sound card. I use SPDIF to an Anthem AVM 20 preamp which has only 6 analog input channels. I wish to enable Dolby TrueHD through MC. Can someone explain what hardware and physical connections would be required to feed a 7.1 TrueHD signal from the HTPC to my power amps? Thanks.
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Ok.I'm learning. Sounds like the most reasonable option...certainly the cheapest... Would be to just use analog out to the receiver and settle for 5.1 HD audio. Or, get a new receiver with either HDMI, or 8 analog channels. The third option would be to run a USB audio interface to a preamp, which would reduce electrical interference, but if i have that problem, i can't hear it. Any thoughts?
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Hopefully I've got the right piece of kit. Is this your unit?
http://archive.anthemav.com/OldSitev1/pdf/avm20lit.pdf (http://archive.anthemav.com/OldSitev1/pdf/avm20lit.pdf)
If so, looks like the best you could go with for digital in is S/PDIF and from this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=S/PDIF (http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=S/PDIF)
S/PDIF can carry two channels of uncompressed PCM audio or compressed 5.1/7.1 surround sound (such as DTS audio codec); it cannot support lossless formats (such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio) which require greater bandwidth like that available with HDMI or DisplayPort.
This question gets asked a lot.
But my thought is why not output the audio via S/PDIF and let MC process the channels. MC can mix audio channels down or up (via Tools > Options > Audio > DSP & output format > Output Format). OK - it won't be lossless but using the analogue outs from your PC may not be the best plan either, unless you've got a high powered sound card. Do a comparison and let your ears decide what works best.
That should get you sorted until you work out what will replace the AVM 20.
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Thanks for the reply, Astromo. Yes, that is my receiver. I've been on vacation for a couple of days, looking out over azure water and palm trees. I had a chance to do a little reading and there is a very good thread discussing much of this here: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=55607.0. It's a little dated, but well worth reading for anyone who's interested. Some are outputting directly from sound card to amp. That makes it a lot simpler as i was thinking i might get a Parasound P7 to feed the mains. Might do it anyway, for the same reason I'd get a trophy wife...just kidding, honey.