2. home-theater
  3. 192580-16750

is there an (AV receiver) type device that doesn't have amplifier/preamplifiers?

Hi, first post in 20 years.

 

I have an old, fairly low end AV receiver in my system(marantz NR1403) but I have an outboard integrated stereo amplifier(plinius 9200) which I obviously prefer to handle all the sound amplification. main source is my cable box with HDMI outputs, and my main content is movies.

however I only use two speakers and don’t want or need more, so I have no requirement for surround sound, subs, etc.

therefore the AV receiver still needs to be in the chain to handle the audio decoding and DA functions. as there are no separate video or audio outputs on the back of a tv cable box to be able to go straight to my amp, and projector.

 

however as I’m presently coming from the L & R preamp outs on the back of the receiver to the processor/power amp inputs of my integrated amplifier, I’m still forced to go through the preamp of the low end receiver instead of the full capacity of my plinius amp.

 

is anyone aware of a newer more specific unit that allows you to take the signal from a hdmi video/audio source (my cable box) transmit it to my JVC projector and my integrated amplifier without having all the extras of an av receiver that i dont require, like multi channel surround sound and speaker outputs. etc.? also I assume a unit from the past 5 years would have better DA converters than one from 20 years ago?

mainlymusicman
reubent
7,035 posts
 

If you are only using your two front main speakers you don't need the AV receiver. An optical cable connected to a DAC, then to the Plinius will work just fine. I've done it many times over the years. You may need to go into the setup menu on your cable box and choose your optical output and/or 2 channel audio. But somewhere in your current chain it is downmixing any multi-channel audio to 2-channel stereo, or else your missing a lot of content (such as discrete center channel dialog and/our surround effects). But it's probable set up correctly now and down-converting to 2-channel audio somewhere in your current chain.

You can get a decent DAC for $150 or less. Buy it through a source with easy returns, such as Amazon. Return it if you can't get it to work for you. I'm confident it will work.

mainlymusicman OP
16 posts
 

thanks a lot, man. you provided the info i was looking for.

It’ll be great if it ends up being this simple. I'd much rather go that route than dropping a couple grand on a half-decent receiver.

in my current receiver, Marantz  NR1403, i have it set on Stereo PCM. everything sounds about right.

 

i found this link of a Cambridge Audio DAC and in the product highlights it mentions this;

  • "If connecting to a TV, please make sure you can select "PCM" output in its audio menu. This DAC Cannot decode multi-channel Dolby Digital signals"

so as long as i make sure all my settings in my cable box are correct, hopefully all will be good!

 

 

https://www.crutchfield.ca/S-DmkCsrfQPJI/p_779DM200M/Cambridge-Audio-DacMagic-200M-Silver.html?XVINQ=CY1&XVVer=1BI3&awcr=718828065797&awdv=c&awnw=g&awug=9194029&awkw=pla-1153375833108&awmt=&awat=pla&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7NO7BhDsARIsADg_hIbm7U_Zq2SJ3QV4oV8yjaLZAVykrtL-jn5GFKxpa_KMgu3338I2EX0aAju9EALw_wcB

 

 

 

mainlymusicman OP
16 posts
 

btw, from your experience can the HDMI output and optical output of a cable box be used at the same time ?

 

on DACs, do you recommend one?

 

i found these two, do you think either of these would be fine for my purpose?

https://www.amazon.ca/S-M-S-L-ES9039Q2M-Decoder-Support-Control/dp/B0DFCFHQ2W/ref=sr_1_37?crid=389I9MYBYNZ6T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Plsl9MeC6WMHBdKFJj-ZWE0EoK_FyO4jfbrEtuYe2kZMvF-BUjxH4zuxTNMuNsy5BtDwANzRVjV_rpijXd0mWoHYYA9onwvLsr5aZ4fLz6X1vfHmcZ4dfyqDISLpXjJjMHD0dM795vYR8us97iLm6J06KD9o6jE5LaET3rju3wbPsT_O_-hbGJToYJCP9T1_hm4xnVB58BMHODXyESwTgKP3wCG_BiAuCjW-HqXjIRXMYJv5elChvSv9OXD2uIEziGArdn8w0qAEc9uEJsOpdIdmfvtuZB2tqssesfg-uro4lTj6sAJSqaxNIIPqaut6ExyuEFd4n2oiEo-8xKCvTna0WjYgCt1DPKcDKd2rYNp8nK8wsXoYh3aJJIf2V_ClJIbSqR4ucu6XWE5jCu2AY6bLFWPA125qNoUWpj7If1a9gjwKFxZvzTNRHp1birvo.5mxKl1VsD84znZKy16Pj1PQ1OD4MjDNjGFcvRqGMMTI&dib_tag=se&keywords=dac&qid=1735797842&refinements=p_36%3A12500-44000&rnid=12035759011&sprefix=dac%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-37

 

and..

 

https://www.amazon.ca/Topping-E50-ES9068AS-PCM768kHz-Black/dp/B09F2BWQV2/ref=sr_1_39?crid=389I9MYBYNZ6T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Plsl9MeC6WMHBdKFJj-ZWE0EoK_FyO4jfbrEtuYe2kZMvF-BUjxH4zuxTNMuNsy5BtDwANzRVjV_rpijXd0mWoHYYA9onwvLsr5aZ4fLz6X1vfHmcZ4dfyqDISLpXjJjMHD0dM795vYR8us97iLm6J06KD9o6jE5LaET3rju3wbPsT_O_-hbGJToYJCP9T1_hm4xnVB58BMHODXyESwTgKP3wCG_BiAuCjW-HqXjIRXMYJv5elChvSv9OXD2uIEziGArdn8w0qAEc9uEJsOpdIdmfvtuZB2tqssesfg-uro4lTj6sAJSqaxNIIPqaut6ExyuEFd4n2oiEo-8xKCvTna0WjYgCt1DPKcDKd2rYNp8nK8wsXoYh3aJJIf2V_ClJIbSqR4ucu6XWE5jCu2AY6bLFWPA125qNoUWpj7If1a9gjwKFxZvzTNRHp1birvo.5mxKl1VsD84znZKy16Pj1PQ1OD4MjDNjGFcvRqGMMTI&dib_tag=se&keywords=dac&qid=1735797842&refinements=p_36%3A12500-44000&rnid=12035759011&sprefix=dac%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-39

 

 

 

 

reubent
7,035 posts
 

Yes, from my experience, the HDMI and optical outputs should be active at the same time. Any DAC that has an optical input should work. Both of the ones you listed should be good. For less money, the Schiit Audio Modi  is only $129 and is very good and from a very good company.

The only potential issue I can imagine is audio out of sync. Used to be an issue many years ago. Have not heard/seen mention of it in many years.

erik_squires
16,212 posts
 

I think your easiest route is to use your TV’s S/PDIF digital outputs (usually optical?)  to a basic 2 channel DAC (see Topping). Just have to tell your TV to only send 2 channel sound. Use that as the input to your integrated and you are done.

More to discover