Anyone with experience with Toslink-to-HDMI audio embedders?

[edgarnavarro]

Ok, I understand there are very good reasons to not to use these devices but unfortunately my current audio setup is lacking of enough audio inputs (1 optical, 1 non-eARC HDMI). So far I have been using the optical input but it is limited to 96khz playback and I really want to get as much as possible from my Wiim Ultra. The idea is to use the optical output on the Wiim Ultra and the HDMI input in my soundbar (yes I know soundbars are not the best idea either but hey! my current budget does not allow me more)

Does anyone here have experience with Toslink-to-HDMI audio embedders that could make a recommendation?

I have done some research but there is very little information about their capabilities dealing with Hi-Res audio. I found some of that claim to handle these signals but I'm afraid they are are lying (they are all from Chinese manufacturers and I have some negative experience with them). Since these devices are not that cheap I would like to save some time and money if anyone has been successful using them.

P.S. Things would be much easier if Wiim Ultra's HDMI ARC input was truly a two-way connection.

Thanks in advance!

 

[d6jg]

I have never used one and I don’t think I ever would.

It is highly unlikely that you will be able to discern any difference between 24/96 via Optical and 24/192 even if the HDMI supports the higher resolution.

I would say use the Optical and save your money towards a proper amp and speakers.

 

[harkpabst]

I would say use the Optical and save your money towards a proper amp and speakers.

+1

 

[Mr Ee]

+2
For some reason my fiio k11 r2r, which is supposed to accept up to 96 on optical, only works at 48 max.
So I currently have my wiim set to 48 max in the app settings.
Still sounds great.

 

[edgarnavarro]

An update to this topic for those that may be interested on it.

I finally decided to buy this device from Amazon -> HDMI 18G Audio Embedder and give it a try. It is not a cheap one but I was ready to take advantage of Amazon's returns policy if it did not work and I'm happy to say that was not necessary at all.

The making of the device is robust and the packaging looked very professional. It definitely does not compare to other chinese devices I have tried before. The best of all, it worked!

The device comes with three different inputs (3.5mm, HDMI and Optical) and a single output (HDMI). As you can imagine the device works merging the video signal from the HDMI input with the audio signal from 3.5, optical or even the HDMI itself (it has an input selector). My intention was of course sending the high-res signal (24 bit 192khz "bit perfect") from my Wiim Ultra's optical output and "converting" it to a HDMI signal for my soundbar. I was expecting to see some type of downmixing or modification on the signal format (my soundbar shows audio input format) but that was not the case!


As you can see I can finally play 192khz music and I have not noticed any sound quality degradation. In fact I'm able to notice an improvement on it that I can only explain by any of these factors:

- The higher sampling on some of the songs (which I'm not sure because I hear an improvement even in the lower frequencies)
- The "bit perfect" sound (previously I was not able to "enable" bit perfect because I had to cap frequency to 96khz)
- Just my imagination (I know that "bit perfect" is as mystical as any human able to hear 192khz frequencies)

I would definitely recommend the device to anyone in the same situation as me.

Regards!

 

[bwaz]

Or as mystical any soundbar able to reproduce audio above 20kHz at any significant relative level! Not to mention that it it would be very directional at those frequencies if it could (true for nearly any speakers).