CommentStreams:9000c0df194b5953fa1c08b843f648a0

I actually purchased the X6000 and look forward to using it. I will exercise caution here on describing the capabilities because I have not received it yet and have not done experiments with it. I will give my summary first and my reasoning.

Summary: At worst, the analogue outputs from the four 3.5mm analogue outputs are decoded LPCM rather than Dolby-HD and DTS-MA signals. This is because the ES9023 DACs input (see datasheet) decodes PCM. So if you are using the RPi's HDMI or feeding a signal from your blu-ray player into the X6000's blu-ray, either the RPi or blu-ray player must convert Dolby-HD or DTS-MA into LPCM. I will discuss the signal from the EP91A6SX's audio processor later.

Nevertheless, if using the X6000's analogue outputs, it outperforms other audio extractors such as the Cypress CLUX-11SA with the X6000's SNR at 112dB using the as against 105dB for the CLUX-11SA which the CS4344 DAC. Even the SNR on the X6000's DAC is superior at 94dB (0.002% typical) than 90dB for the CS4344.

In addition, if you are looking for an 8-channel LPCM audio extractor for 8 channel LPCM decoding, provided you shop around, the X6000 may well be lower in price compared to the CLUX-11SA and its equivalent clones including the A3080. IN FACT, the X6000 is lower in cost to other devices utilising the EP91A6SX HDMI input/output audio extractor.

This provided that the output of your RPi or blu-ray player is set to LPCM. The latter may be a problem since not all blu-ray players output 8 channel LPCM. For example the LG BP420 will only output 2 channel LPCM.

Nevertheless, the X6000 should be the best value for money and quality if used as an 8 channel LPCM audio extractor.

Now, the issue is whether the X6000 will reproduce bitstream signals of the type 8 channel lossless formats such as Dolby-HD, DTS-MA. There are 5.1 channel blu-ray discs in Dolby-HD and DTS-MA. This is not the same as the 5.1 channel Dolby and DTS signals at the SPDIF LED (above the hdmi output connector) which is lossy.

Since the information says "No HDMI output connection is required to receive audio at the analog and optical outputs", we focus on whether the analogue outputs at the four 3.5mm sockets are decoded from the Dolby-HD or DTS-MA bitstreams.

Given that the X6000's ES9023 DACs require a PCM input signal (reference datasheet block diagram), then the question is whether the X6000's EP91A6SX processor process bitstream signals and convert them to LPCM ready to be converted to analogue by the four ES9023 DACs?

To simplify the operation, the EP91A6SX receives a signal from an HDMI (section 2.1 page 5 block diagram). After determining whether the signal comes from an HDCP-compliant source such as a blu-ray player, the hdmi signal is sent to two paths; the video/audio packet processor and the audio processor. The former is 'processed' and sent to the HDMI output, while the latter processes the audio signal to a form for processing by the "IIS/SPDIF/DSD/HBR" section. After the "IIS/SPDIF/DSD/HBR" section the system follows two paths, one for the SPDIF. The other path consists of a master clock and IIS signals to be sent to the four DACs.

Recall that the signals to the DACs must be in LPCM form and the datasheet is rather vague on whether the EP91A6SX converts the bitstream Dolby-HD and DTS-MA into PCM ready for digital-to-analogue conversion.

Referring to the block diagram and the "IIS/SPDIF/DSD/HBR" section, the relevant signals are the IIS_SD signals. These refer to the IIS_SD0, IIS_SD1, IIS_SD2 and IIS_SD3 (table 2-4, p8). Now the Dolby-HD and the DTS-MA signals HBR – High bit rate audio Output Format (figure 2.6 page 16), coming from the IIS pins IIS_SD0 to IIS_SD3 can carry the HD audio like Dolby-HD, DTS-MA and even Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, (datasheet figure 2.6 page 16. The figure shows the timing diagram for each IIS_SDx, comprising of 16-bits per half cycle of the IIS_WS clock signal (table 2-4,9).

The IIS_SDx (x=0to3) goto the X6000's to pin 3 of each ES9023 DAC. HOWEVER, there is little information of whether those 16-bits per half cycle of the IIS_WS clock are a form of PCM.

That is there is little information on whether the LPCM signals leaving the IIS_SDx is LPCM from the HDMI only OR it is the Dolby-HD or DTS-MA signals converted to a form of LPCM.

If the X6000's EP91A6SX IC does convert the Dolby-HD and DTS-MA to PCM, then this is a bonus. Otherwise you have a high-quality multi-channel LPCM decoder.

Overall summary: If the X6000 provides ONLY for decoded LPCM sourced from the HDMI with multi-channel LPCM at the analogue 3.5mm output, then this is the best audio extractor for audio quality and value for money.

In this situation, the RPi and blu-ray player must be have its audio set for multichannel LPCM. Here the RPi and blu-ray convert the Dolby-HD and DTS-MA into LPCM before being fed into the RPI's or blu-ray player's HDMI output. But not all blu-ray players such as LG's BP420 only have 2 channel LPCM.

However, what is unknown is if the RPi and blu-ray HDMI audio output when set for bitstream of Dolby-HD and DTS-MA the issue becomes whether the X6000's EP91A6SX processor will convert the audio to a form of LPCM ready for conversion to analogue to the 3.5mm audio connections by the X6000's ES9023 DACs.

This will answer the question of whether Dolby-HD and DTS-MA "No HDMI output connection is required to receive audio at the analog ....outputs"

Otherwise, as an HDMI repeater and LPCM extractor, this is the best value for quality and if you shop around, for money.

Thank you Anthony of Sydney