TOSLink Issues

[matthewk]

@Jonathan_Gullman

The only way to know if an HDMI audio extractor will work well is to simply try it. On paper, they should all be good. In practice, it’s a very different story. I went through 3 of them at home years ago before giving up. I brought them into the office and measured the output, and we were shocked at how terrible they were. It seems these more advanced ones at least have 48kHz at the right frequency instead of wandering.

I never found one that really worked right. Apple TV to WiiM (SPDIF) to Cascade via AirPlay works great.

[Raphael]

@Jonathan_Gullman

At home I use the toslink output of my Samsung TV and it’s been 100% for years.

Hi Jonathan,

Did you mean the toslink connection between your TV and DAC is totally satisfactory?

If yes, then I will hold up the plan for an Apple Music compatible streamer, and wait for the upcoming Apple TV, which might support hi-res Apple Music.

(Would you please also let me know the brand of your toslink cable?)

Thanks!

[Bones13]

In my old house, I had a Sony TV that worked perfectly with the TOSLink input to the MSB Premier, before, and after Digital Director.

New House, new Samsung TV, had issues with TOSLink. TV replaced with new, different model, Samsung TV. Works fine now. There are usually 2 short hiccups when I start a new stream, then the content flows fine. I attribute that to switching between different audio formats.

AppleTV + Oppo (via HDMI) → TV → MSB (via TOSLink)

[Jonathan_Gullman]

To be clear, the Toslink is totally satisfactory for tv/movie watching. I don’t play music through it. It won’t be native even if connected to the Apple TV via HDMI.

The important thing is the output is stable, doesn’t have dropouts, or a wandering lip-sync error. Many of the HDMI to Toslink digital output adapters had dropouts, wandering lip-sync error, and general instability all at the same time.

[Raphael]

@Jonathan_Gullman

I don’t play music through it. It won’t be native even if connected to the Apple TV via HDMI.

Thanks Jonathan. This is the main concern.

I will stick to the original plan for a streamer.