DAC and FIOS DVR

KrazyMofo24
KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
edited April 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I have the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic and wanted to connect it to my DVR, however I'm not getting any audio from it. I think it's because it's not outputting PCM through digital coax/optical.

It's not a big deal I can always just connect it analog to my preamp, or use digital through my receiver.

However the DAC made a huge difference in SQ from my PS3 would it do the same for the DVR versus using the analog output?
Setup:

2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

Post edited by KrazyMofo24 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2010
    KrazyMofo24 wrote: »
    I have the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic and wanted to connect it to my DVR, however I'm not getting any audio from it. I think it's because it's not outputting PCM through digital coax/optical.

    It's not a big deal I can always just connect it analog to my preamp, or use digital through my receiver.

    However the DAC made a huge difference in SQ from my PS3 would it do the same for the DVR versus using the analog output?

    Don't DVRs and other cable boxes put out audio at 48KHz (DTS and DD audio rates) - and that this is a different rate than Red Book CDs 44KHz?

    Maybe the DacMagic doesn't accept inputs other than strict 44KHz?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited April 2010
    It only accepts two channel PCM or it'll pass through everything using the digital out.

    I guess I'm just wondering if it'll even make a difference in SQ, to try to get PCM out of this DVR. So far it seems like it's not going to work.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2010
    KrazyMofo24 wrote: »
    It only accepts two channel PCM or it'll pass through everything using the digital out.

    I guess I'm just wondering if it'll even make a difference in SQ, to try to get PCM out of this DVR. So far it seems like it's not going to work.

    It should work...is there a config setting you have to change to get audio to come out of the coax jack on the DVR?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited April 2010
    There isn't any audio from the DAC, because it's not outputting PCM I already checked the audio settings in the DVR. I was just curious to know if going through the DAC would improve the sound versus just using the analog output to the preamp.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2010
    KrazyMofo24 wrote: »
    There isn't any audio from the DAC, because it's not outputting PCM I already checked the audio settings in the DVR. I was just curious to know if going through the DAC would improve the sound versus just using the analog output to the preamp.

    So you are trying to use the DACMagic to resample the DVR digital out to another digital sample rate and then pass the output as digital to your avr?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited April 2010
    No, I wanted to connect the DVR to the digital input on the DAC, and then RCA out from the DAC to my preamp.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2010
    KrazyMofo24 wrote: »
    No, I wanted to connect the DVR to the digital input on the DAC, and then RCA out from the DAC to my preamp.

    So, then I don't get the part where you say that the DAC is not outputting PCM??

    If you are connecting the DAC to your preamp, then it is outputting analog and accepting digital inputs from the DVR. So the question is, is your DVR's digital output compatible with the DACs inputs.

    You've tested your DAC with say a CD player to make sure the coax input is working? Are there any settings on the DAC for different input rates?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited April 2010
    If your DVR does not have an option to select between bitstream or PCM output ,then your SOL.Just use your AVR.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KrazyMofo24
    KrazyMofo24 Posts: 1,210
    edited April 2010
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    So, then I don't get the part where you say that the DAC is not outputting PCM??

    If you are connecting the DAC to your preamp, then it is outputting analog and accepting digital inputs from the DVR. So the question is, is your DVR's digital output compatible with the DACs inputs.

    You've tested your DAC with say a CD player to make sure the coax input is working? Are there any settings on the DAC for different input rates?

    Sorry meant to say the DVR not DAC. I know it works I mean I can get it work using the digital out to my receiver. I just wanted to know if there would be much of difference in SQ vs using the DAC or just running the DVR analog to the preamp.

    I can try to see if I can see if they have another model of DVR's or any way to change it to PCM but only if there is a difference in SQ.
    Setup:

    2 Channel: Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand, T+A P 1230R, Primare SPA21, Oppo BDP-105
    PC: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand, Cambridge Azure 650A v2 , Peachtree iDAC, Denon DVD-3800BDCI

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2010
    KrazyMofo24 wrote: »
    Sorry meant to say the DVR not DAC. I know it works I mean I can get it work using the digital out to my receiver. I just wanted to know if there would be much of difference in SQ vs using the DAC or just running the DVR analog to the preamp.

    I can try to see if I can see if they have another model of DVR's or any way to change it to PCM but only if there is a difference in SQ.

    Well - I'd say it is worth the try to see if you can get the DVR output working thru the DAC.

    I did my own comparison of my CDP DAC vs an external DAC to my Oppo 83.

    The external DAC makes the Oppo 83 sound better for 2-channel analog than by itself and a teeny bit 'better' than my CDP.

    But that's just my opinion....

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter