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Devonboy

22 posts

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#280362 10-Dec-2020 14:28
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I have just purchased a second hand NAD M51 digital to Analogue converter. It has had good reviews so I expected it to sound excellent.

 

I want to use the HDMI input for use with a new Samsung TV that has both optical and HDMI outputs. The optical connection works well but is meant to be inferior to HDMI. However the M51 does not appear to support ARC (Audio return channel) and therefore the TV doesn't detect that it is connected to the M51.

 

The M51 was released in 2012 or earlier while the HDMI standard v1.4 was introduced in 2009 and supports ARC.

 

My questions are:

 

       Is ARC a software or hardware only feature?

 

       Will an update of the M51 software to V1.5 enable ARC to be used?


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networkn
Networkn
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  #2619495 10-Dec-2020 14:34
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Not a lot of harm in just updating. Either it will or it won't (release notes may indicate), but not a lot to lose.

 

 




Devonboy

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  #2619566 10-Dec-2020 17:52
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Thanks for the suggestion to upgrade anyway. I had come to the same conclusion myself but wandered if the ARC protocol was just software controlled or was hardware dependent. 

 

M.


Dunnersfella
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  #2619956 11-Dec-2020 10:36
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ARC is part of the HDMI spec.

 

It was introduced in 2009, so while NAD are often behind the ball by a year or two, their 2012 products 'could' have ARC on-board.

 

Will you get better sound with ARC.

 

Nah.




Devonboy

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  #2620249 11-Dec-2020 18:00
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Hi

 

The specifications never refer to ARC so I assume it isn't included. I searched on line for more information but nothing suggests ARC is installed. That's why I wondered if it was a hardware function and why I will do a software upgrade to see if it is part of the V1.5.

 

I don't expect ARC to give better sound as that is not the purpose of the feature but feedback on the software upgrade suggests V1.5 does give some improvement. 

 

I want to use the M51 in my hifi system but initially need to set it up with a new Samsung TV that has ARC HDMI and of course both sender and receiver needs to have the capability for it to work.

 

Meanwhile I've purchased an optic cable for the ToshLink and that's is working.


  #2620352 11-Dec-2020 23:33
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I doubt very much it has ARC.

 

Here is a thread about the newer firmware some like it some don't. (you may have already seen it)

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/23896-nad-m51-firmware-upgrade-benefits/





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Devonboy

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  #2620643 12-Dec-2020 19:26
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Hi and thanks for your thoughts. 

 

I have seen that thread which didn't answer my question in any way, except that there was no reference to ARC, something I'd hoped to see.

 

I decided that the responses, both positive and negative, suggest the interest lay in performance of the digital to analogue throughput. No one referred to ARC so it didn't prove one way or the other that it was included in the software update.

 

So, in the absence of any more in-depth knowledge I'll go for the update and see what happens. I don't think there is anything to loose as long as I follow the instructions to the letter.


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