Comments on Profile Post by sphinxvc

Generally HDMI is a shitshow for digital audio, it makes a certain sort of engineer cry. Unless your extractor has a good quality VxO clocker in it or something, it will probably be worse than the PS4 optical (which is probably using derived clocks from a divider or something, making it sound pretty bad).

Probably the way to fix it is to get a good quality studio-style format converter with decent clocking, and run the optical through that. Sadly, I can't recommend a small/cheap one, the last I used was the RME ADI 192DD, which is pretty big and pricey (but good) :(

I tried a KanexPro HDMI de-embedder from my Oppo BDP-105D and couldn't get it to work with Yggdrasil. See: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sacd-players.1267/#post-40200 and a post or two above.

That experience was part of the reason I sold the 105D and upgraded to a 103D with an upgraded digital output that replaced the Oppo's stock analog board.

I'd just stick with optical. I have to do HDMI ARC with my WiiU (WiiU --> HDMI --> TV --> HDMI ARC to Oppo --> coax --> Yggdrasil). Maybe upgrade to a Lifatec cable if you like: http://www.lifatec.com/toslink2.html. I liked mine with my PS3.

I had to use one because the TV I used only had audio inputs for the internal speakers. Why?!!?

Anyway, obviously better then going through internal speakers but can't comment much otherwise.

Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but "Gefen" supposedly makes very high quality products for HDMI bypassing/splitting w/ conversion to S/PDIF Optical (as well as: HDMI/DP to Coax/Optical Outs) but not sure on its total processing latency nor audio related output chip/re-clocker quality.

I never used one myself but heard a couple of uber-rich & super geeky Twitch streamers swear by that brand's quality...

Something like this maybe:
https://www.gefen.com/product/4k-ultra-hd-600-mhz-12-scaler-w-edid-detective-and-audio-de-embedder-EXT-UHD600A-12-DS
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1373909-REG (btw it's cheaper on Newegg atm)
or

https://www.gefen.com/product/audiovideo-multi-format-processor-EXT-MFP
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1122920-REG (this is probably way overkill)

All specs are on the Gefen site.

Or perhaps something like this:
https://www.gefen.com/product/hdmi-hdmi-plus-audio-converter-GTV-HDMI-2-HDMIAUD
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1353753-REG

Just make sure whatever you buy has a proper unadulterated HDMI-to-HDMI bypass and/or a 1:2 built-in splitter.
And like others mentioned: its difficult finding proper audio-side S/PDIF de-embedders... w/out some latency issues or horrid re-clocking chips.

There's also a bunch of much cheaper Chinese HDMI to SPDIF splitters w/ de-embedders on Amazon; though they do tend to have lots of fake/sponsored reviews; as I usually check-up on: https://www.fakespot.com/ before shopping on Amazon/Newegg/Yelp.

@sphinxvc When you eventually acquire one, that works properly... please do tell us! As I'm quite interested in getting one of this newer 4K 60Hz HDR 4:4:4 Gadgets myself.