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I'm using an Arcam FMJ DV29 for CD listening in a stereo system which includes an old Sony crt tv for the occasional movie. The Arcam is old. It's retired from DVD use because it developed problems reading discs. It's been a great cdp (and was a great dvdp for several years) for me but it's now having problems reading CDs,too. It might be time to retire the unit.
In its place, I'd like to use a Pioneer Elite DVD player that is no longer in use in the home theater system coupled with a DAC which can decode the audio from CDs and from film on dvd for output to my 2ch stereo. Of course the first question from this digital know-nothing is is there a DAC for such purpose. My limited research revealed that some external dacs advertise that they work with "TV and set top boxes", but the ad descriptions don't specifically address audio from a DVD movie.
What product info should I be looking for? Audio file-type compatibility? If so, which file type for audio from DVD movies? Also, can this be accomplished via a toslink connection between the dac and player? Originally, video was an afterthought in my 2ch system but I've become used to it. The Arcam's video menu for programming tracks from CDs is easy to use. I've come to rely on on-screen menus for programming CDs which is why I'm considering a DVD player-dac setup. (My underlying assumption here is that a modern external dac will best the old internal dac in the pioneer elite dvdp.)
Any dac for dummies info along these lines will be helpful.
Follow Ups:
I picked up a Topping E30 II to experiment with audio from dvd movies as well as cds. The goal is to retire and replace the Arcam FMJ DV29 with a dac setup that allows for movie and cd audio. In a nutshell, the experiment worked.
For a transport, I pulled the Pioneer Elite DV-C36 dvd changer from the bedroom system noticing that some of the connections were disconnected. Installed the unit in my main 2ch system and hooked up the Topping. I had forgotten that the changer had died several years ago - no power, no nothing. That's why it was sitting behind a closed door in the bedroom cabinet with some of the cables robbed for other purposes. It was pretty disheartening after bending, stooping, contorting, etc. to get everything in place.
So, what did I have that wasn't being used in its home system? A plasticky Toshiba A2 HDDVD player. After getting it hooked up, I began to listen starting with female vocals - at which the old Arcam excels and my Myryad dvdp falls flat. The Myryad is far better at presenting big, cinematic audio from dvds than it is with music from cds. The Myryad will not be performing double duty in my system like the Arcam did when it functioned like new. The E30 II nails female vocals (mostly Italian and Julie London). But, I was detecting a little harshness with high frequency strings and brass. It was subtle and I had to consciously disregard vocal presence. Then, moved onto male vocals particularly Sinatra and Dean Martin. During Summer Wind, the whole sonic picture seemed to relax and open up. I noticed my body relax in response. The Topping presented vocals as well as the Arcam.
Next up was some favorite film music and big band stuff. The harshness with high frequency strings and brass lessened over time but I can still hear a little distortion in certain passages. Overall, I'm impressed with the Topping and I do believe it deserves a chance with a better transport. The Toshiba instills no confidence for heavy use. Plus, the remote no longer works. To test for audio from movies on dvd, I had to use dvds that start up with "play" or that have big, cinematic trailers before the menu. The test worked. I was able to get big, cinematic sound from dvds.
Finally, for giggles I threw some Beastie Boys and Chemical Brothers at it. I was able to crank the Chemical Brothers' Dig Your Own Hole without stressing out.
Functions: First, I had to find a power supply because the E30II comes with only a usb cable for power. I had an old Samsung Tablet power supply known as "the cube". It works and doesn't get hot. Upon initial hookup, I left the E30II in its default mode which is as a "preamp" with the volume turned all the way up. The next day, I set the unit to dac mode. The procedure was as described in the manual. Interestingly, my longest listening session in which I kept feeding this setup cds was in "preamp" mode. I've only used the optical connection so far. The remote works just fine.
Conclusion: I'm going all-in with a dac/transport setup. My components are on order. I might keep the E30II in the main system, or I might pair it with my laptop. Not only was it a bargain for experimenting before dumping dollars to upgrade my digital frontend but it's a keeper.
dean_martin
I frequent the coast often, I would like to see your System.
We can make that work.
Another PM sent!
PM sent. Happy New Year!
I will send you a PM.
You have a few things to consider as there are different ways to approach what you want to do. You only mentioned Optical output so.....There should be at least one or two options to ensure that only 2-Channel audio gets fed to the outboard DAC.
#1) Check the menu system in the Pioneer DVD player for audio settings. Set the output audio to always be 2-channel.
#2) As I recall many DVD/Blu-Ray movie discs have a menu for choosing a stereo 2-channel audio track (instead of multichannel surround). Choose 2-channel audio.
No audiophile stereo DAC that I am aware of will accept and decode multichannel surround audio. So if you plan to use such a DAC you will want to pay attention to #1 and #2 above.
That being said, there are some cheap consumer DACs on the market ($20 - $100 or so) that will accept multichannel audio over HDMI and internally convert (transcode) everything down to 2-Channel stereo output. This feature is common for extracting and transcoding surround audio over HDMI to 2-Channel. Some of these devices also have Optical TOSLINK IN/OUT but I'm not sure if these devices will convert multichannel surround audio to 2-Channel stereo over Optical.
Another option might be an existing or cheap AV receiver.
Edits: 11/29/23 11/29/23
Once the Pioneer is set to two-channel, several good DACS should work. I use an SMSL Sanskrit 10th. Nice unit. Flexible. Good performance.
Thanks. Most dvd players can "down mix" multi-channel to stereo. I'm not sure whether an external dac would need to perform that function. I assumed that once the digital audio is sent to the dac, the player's "down mix" to stereo function would be by-passed requiring the external dac to perform that function. Of course my assumptions can change as I learn more. Dacs that advertise that they work with TV make me think they can handle multi-channel audio from a dvd, but I need to confirm.
I just thought of something. I have a Peachtree integrated with digital inputs. I'm going to experiment with it to see if I can get audio from the pioneer elite while playing a movie in hopes of learning more.
I think you're on the right track. In your DVD player choose 'down mix' multichannel to stereo. The Optical output will then be 2-Channel and hooking it up to an outboard DAC won't alter that. The outboard DAC should be able to handle it. [Similarly a DVD/Blu-ray disc will often give you the option of choosing a 2-channel stereo track vs multichannel 'surround sound'.
Great idea with the Peachtree integrated. I have the older Peachtree iDecco that has the obsolete iPod cradle up top. It also has an Optical input on the back panel.
Interesting. I assumed/guessed the opposite, i.e., that the digital audio would be sent to the dac before the player performs the stereo down mix. My chances of finding a working solution are a little better as you describe it.
My Peachtree is the decco65. It's in our home office with a Tascam cdp as transport and a pair of the earlier Wharfedale Dentons 80th Ann.
I think most film DVDs have an uncompressed stereo audio track. This is typically 24 bit / 96 kHz audio. If copy protection is enabled, then you'll only get a downsampled 24 bit / 48 kHz version.
Otherwise, the DVD player will decode the surround audio data (Dolby Digital or DTS) and perform the downmix to 2 channel. Most likely this will be a 24 bit / 48 kHz stereo PCM signal sent through the digital outputs.
If you want to interface an external DAC to your Pioneer player, you'll probably need to do the following in the setup menu:
- Switch Dolby Digital to PCM
- Switch DTS to off
- Set MPEG Out to PCM
- Set Digital Out to On
Will do some experimenting with gear on hand during the upcoming, rainy weekend.
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