Possible HDMI solution for the SM?

[atrocity]

I received an email from HiFiBerry announcing a new set of 8-channel input and output HATs for the Raspberry Pi 5:

"Please note that this add-on is only compatible with the DAC8x and can't be used as a standalone audio card" makes me wonder if that means it can't be used to convert analog to HDMI. Or if they're simply addressing normal people who would have no use for such a conversion.

 

[SeeMoreDigital]

Are you referring to this: -

https://www.hackster.io/news/hifibe...d-60w-of-amp-power-to-all-models-b66baaa6e312

 

[atrocity]

Are you referring to this: -

https://www.hackster.io/news/hifibe...d-60w-of-amp-power-to-all-models-b66baaa6e312

Looks like the one(s)!

 

[Sonik Wiz]

I received an email from HiFiBerry announcing a new set of 8-channel input and output HATs for the Raspberry Pi 5:
View attachment 114798
"Please note that this add-on is only compatible with the DAC8x and can't be used as a standalone audio card" makes me wonder if that means it can't be used to convert analog to HDMI. Or if they're simply addressing normal people who would have no use for such a conversion.

If I read this right the DAC8X offers up to 8 chs analog audio out when mated with a Raspberry Pi5. The SM already has 6 chs analog output. I'm not sure what you think this is solution to....

What is needed is a MCH analog input with HDMI output. So the SM can be hooked up to mainstream AVR's.

 

[atrocity]

If I read this right the DAC8X offers up to 8 chs analog audio out when mated with a Raspberry Pi5.

Yes...but there's also a companion add-on 8-channel ADC for input. In the image I posted, it's third under "We offer the following 8-channel sound cards." HiFiBerry says it won't work as a standalone sound card, but I'm not sure if that's because they assume anyone wanting an analog sound card would be as or more interested in output than input.

In a perfect world, it would be possible to just buy the input card and convert whatever it receives to HDMI. In a less perfect world, you'd have to buy both cards even you didn't need the analog output. Worst case, neither would be of any use because there isn't a way to convert analog in to HDMI out. My assumption is that the conversion is technically possible and probably not even especially difficult, but may be something no one has ever had a reason to code.

I've asked the relevant question in the HiFiBerry forum, hopefully in a way that makes sense: https://support.hifiberry.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/25840358314269-ADC-addon-for-DAC8x-HDMI.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Yes...but there's also a companion add-on 8-channel ADC for input. In the image I posted, it's third under "We offer the following 8-channel sound cards." HiFiBerry says it won't work as a standalone sound card, but I'm not sure if that's because they assume anyone wanting an analog sound card would be as or more interested in output than input.

In a perfect world, it would be possible to just buy the input card and convert whatever it receives to HDMI. In a less perfect world, you'd have to buy both cards even you didn't need the analog output. Worst case, neither would be of any use because there isn't a way to convert analog in to HDMI out. My assumption is that the conversion is technically possible and probably not even especially difficult, but may be something no one has ever had a reason to code.

I've asked the relevant question in the HiFiBerry forum, hopefully in a way that makes sense: https://support.hifiberry.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/25840358314269-ADC-addon-for-DAC8x-HDMI.

Looking forward to the replies on the hifiberry forum to your post.

 

[armyjazzer]

The only real solution is an HDMI out on the Surroundmaster. This way you have one AD conversion from the analog input, then processing and output all remain digital and is fed to the HDMI input on your surround equipment. No luck so far on this happening.

 

[ar surround]

What is needed is a MCH analog input with HDMI output. So the SM can be hooked up to mainstream AVR's.

Amen to that. The 7.1 analog inputs on my Marantz AVR have proven most useless as they do not allow for any signal processing whatsoever, such as tone controls. I find that most material processed through the SM needs a bass boost. I found a workaround, but it involves a Parasound P7 preamp.

 

[SeeMoreDigital]

What is needed is a MCH analog input with HDMI output. So the SM can be hooked up to mainstream AVR's.

I'd quite like a device that can do both. ie: transcode multi-channel phono/rca analogue to HDMI or transcode HDMI to multi-channel phono/rca analogue.

 

[barfle]

Looks interesting. I’ve wanted to fiddle with Pis for ages, but I’ve always had way too many other projects to actually dig into them.

Someday, I hope.

 

[atrocity]

HiFiBerry responded:

In general this should be doable. You could use something like Pipewire to route between the analog inputs and HDMI output. We don't have a specific setup guide for this; therefore, I recommend to check out the Pipewire documentation.

 

[atrocity]

I then asked if it would still be necessary to buy both cards and they responded:

Yes, the ADC8x can't be used without the DAC8x. We can create an ADC-only card for OEMs, but this require a minimum quantity of 50 units.

I vaguely recall Involve hinting that they may be working on a solution of their own, but I wonder if this would be helpful at all. Assuming that the price isn't ridiculous, 50 doesn't seem like too colossal an order.

There certainly seems to be a demand here for something like this, I wonder if the global interest is enough to make this worth the effort it would take for Involve develop it as a standalone product. Though when I say "develop" I'm assuming that the only thing they (or whoever) would need to do is agree to pay HiFiBerry for the card and write the code. I assume it wouldn't be cheap, but given that it would be the first and only gadget of its type, they'd have the market to themselves...but is that market big enough?

Heck, if it came pre-programmed in a nice case, I'd happily pay $300 or so for one. That's about the same price as a Pi 5 fully tricked out with a screen and Topping D10S set up as a Logitech/Lyrion music server/player.

 

[Sonik Wiz]

Amen to that. The 7.1 analog inputs on my Marantz AVR have proven most useless as they do not allow for any signal processing whatsoever, such as tone controls. I find that most material processed through the SM needs a bass boost. I found a workaround, but it involves a Parasound P7 preamp.

Adjusting the sub woof level on the SM usually works for me. I've had only one quad receiver in my life, a Kenwood 9940. It was a convenient problem solver at the time but eventually I realized well chosen separates would offer me the most flexibility & performance. One of these items was an Anthem AVM 30. I appreciated that the 6 ch analog inputs stayed analog with only level & balance controls like your Marantz.

My long term goal in my setup was for it to be good enough I wouldn't need EQ or digital room correction & I've done that.

I don't have Atmos but I can play all the high res surround formats via my Oppo into the analog inputs on the Anthem. Stereo/quad goes through the SMv2 and again into the Anthem analog inputs. I rarely use the SPDIF inputs on the Anthem except for my PC & DTS discs.

But that's just me. I think Involve is missing out on many sales because the SM lacks compatibility with newer equipment. Perhaps something will come of this Raberry Pi5 thing.

 

[atrocity]

Looks interesting. I’ve wanted to fiddle with Pis for ages, but I’ve always had way too many other projects to actually dig into them.

Someday, I hope.

A Raspberry Pi makes a fantastic music streamer. I've got several around the house for that purpose. Some run Lyrion Music Server for stereo and DTS/AC-3, others run LibreElec/Kodi for lossless multichannel and video.

Though I've found the Pi 5 to actually be a step back for video compared to the 4.