Question re startech HDMI audio extractor

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Question re startech HDMI audio extractor

automaton

66 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#232026 26-Mar-2018 13:32

Hello to all!

I am hoping someone can help with this.

I want to extract the audio (only) from my Apple TV so I can stream it via HDMI to my DAC, without going through the TV (so I can turn the screen off and listen to music). My DAC onlly has Toslink in. So I need something to separate the digital audio signal from the HDMo out, and run it via Toslink to my DAC. I want to keep the chain all digital to my DAC. Hope that makes sense.

I have ordered this:

https://www.startech.com/nz/AV/Converters/Audio/hdmi-audio-extractor~HD2A

My question is: does this run the digital audio straight out the toslink cable, or does some Digital-->Analog--> digital conversion happen? I ask because there is no Toslink out, instead there is a 3.5mm audio out, and an enclosed "3.5mm to SPDIF adapter."

I am pretty sure this doesn't send pure digital signal out of the 3.5mm out, and some reconversion occurs, but interested in a second opinion.

Cheers!

wellygary

8813 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5294

#1983445 26-Mar-2018 13:56

Looking at the User guide I would say the optical is unaltered digital..

https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/media/sets/HD2A_Manual/HD2A_HDMI_Audio_Extractor_quick_guide.pdf

it talks about

"3.5mm analog and SPDIF output port"

I'm guessing its a combined port like the Apple Airports have, which has both Analog on the outer electrical connections, but unaltered optical in the centre, so a the adaptor cable will take the 3.5mm optical and give you a Toslink connection,

Or you could just buy a longer 3.5mm to Toslink cable and go straight from this to you optical input...

fe31nz

1294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 423

#1983479 26-Mar-2018 14:24

My laptop has a headphone jack that works that way. In the centre of the socket, there is a TOSLINK laser. Take a look at the provided adapter and it will have a clear window in the centre for the laser signal, and will connect to a normal TOSLINK optical cable. When you plug a normal 3.5" headphone jack into the socket, it will make metal-to-metal connections with the normal electical audio connectors along the side of the socket, and will be too short for the point of the jack to touch the optical transmitter at the end of the socket.

I have taken a couple of photos to show the headphone jack versus the TOSLINK adapter. They were too big to upload to Geekzone so I have put them on my web server:

http://www.jsw.gen.nz/toslink/20180326_140620.jpg

http://www.jsw.gen.nz/toslink/20180326_141025.jpg

trig42

5889 posts

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#1983485 26-Mar-2018 14:28

Doesn't the AppleTV have Toslink out?

I thought mine did...

wellygary

8813 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5294

#1983488 26-Mar-2018 14:31

trig42:

Doesn't the AppleTV have Toslink out?

I thought mine did...

Older models did. They dropped it as of version 4....

trig42

5889 posts

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#1983515 26-Mar-2018 14:53

wellygary:

trig42:

Doesn't the AppleTV have Toslink out?

I thought mine did...

Older models did. They dropped it as of version 4....

Ah, OK. I have a v4 (not the 4K one which is v5?). Connected via HDMI so I didn't notice on this model.

fearandloathing

537 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#1983520 26-Mar-2018 14:58

Why not use AirPlay, on a airport express for example.

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automaton

66 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#1983569 26-Mar-2018 15:45

Thanks all!

It looks promising that this device has a dial audio/toslink output. If the jack emits light, and the adaptor has a clear window, then that will be the case.

So it looks like I'm good.

In response to the other comments:

1. Yeah Apple dropped Toslink - very annoying.

2. I don't want to use another apple solution like airport - this is the cheapest way I can think of to split the signal to my DAC.

Cheers! (this forum always delivers the goods) :)

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#1983572 26-Mar-2018 15:49

I've got one of these, it passes the full original signal through. Main caveat is that some newer high-end formats (Atmos etc) are not compatible with TOSLink.

Regular Dolby/DTS audio works just fine.

@KnightNZ

automaton

66 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#1983579 26-Mar-2018 16:00

stevenz:

I've got one of these, it passes the full original signal through. Main caveat is that some newer high-end formats (Atmos etc) are not compatible with TOSLink.

Regular Dolby/DTS audio works just fine.

Great! Tanbks.

My DAC which I am happy with receives TosLink, so I'm good to go. The materials should be clearer on this point.