greggyp Posted January 7, 2022 Posted January 7, 2022 Hi All, With short runs in a home, what is best way to go, split coax or toslink to multiple other devices ? I have seen a powered 8 way toslink splitter, but there is coax splitters too. Would prefer to use coax probably. Can you get away with something like the rca plug in splitters, they could be just put on back of each device.
Ittaku Posted January 7, 2022 Posted January 7, 2022 Either would work, but toslink definitely needs a powered splitter as the illumination down the optical cable may not be adequate once shared. The problem with optical is the connections are flimsy and the boosters are pretty low quality and support only low sample rates, so it depends on the quality you're aiming for as to whether this is a viable option. Coax is more robust but bear in mind at the high end quality level, multiple devices attached at the distant end will interact with each other, and interference, noise, reflections etc. may have an audible effect. This probably won't matter for the bulk of the time as coax has huge headroom to cope with the above.
greggyp Posted January 23, 2022 Author Posted January 23, 2022 Hi All, I sort of started to ask this elsewhere about coax/rca. But started to think about ramifications of electrical signal and the load it may produce. For spidif it may not be an issue ? can but multiple piggy back 1 rca to 2 rca. I do have switches already, but would like to get an output from a DAC and then branch this off to 2-8 other amplifiers so signal is just on. I have seen people do it with toslink, maybe toslink is used because you only have to have a powered splitter, no concerns with resistance or what may happen down the line like with rca, coax may also be impacted like this ? I do not know enough about the specs to be sure. Will xlr also have same issues if too many items daisy chained ? What do you say ?
BugPowderDust Posted January 24, 2022 Posted January 24, 2022 A MiniDSP 2x4 HD is a good option for this for up to 4 outputs, with something like a 4x10 HD for 10 outputs. Using the signal routing in the main configuration console, you can replicate an input to any of the various outputs.
greggyp Posted January 25, 2022 Author Posted January 25, 2022 Is this not more complex and probably costly compared to say TOSLINK and a toslink amp/splitter. I do not mind the signal always on to all devices. Was going to use SPIDIF but suspect it may suffer from issues you can get with RCA. I have one DAC that has a input and then either digital out choices, it just so happens to be the one connected ATM and is small. I will have to read more about the device and software you mention, it is always good to learn about all options !
greggyp Posted January 25, 2022 Author Posted January 25, 2022 Hi Con, i just realised I have doubled up.... Maybe a mod can post your response here and then delete this thread, or vice versa ?
greggyp Posted January 25, 2022 Author Posted January 25, 2022 Here is a link to a optical splitter, seems the specs mean it should reproduce same as what most DACs output https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/332813665035?epid=2268831567&hash=item4d7d3d830b:g:-yYAAOSwkmVhlUfX
Grizaudio Posted January 25, 2022 Posted January 25, 2022 You have described a multi room setup. I would use RAAT, uPNP or squeeze using rpi4’s as endpoints to feed your dacs. Either wired or wifi.
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