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Audiophiliac
Avid Contributor I
January 13, 2007

Digital ouput and volume.....

I have been away from the forum for a while, but am still looking forward to getting a SONOS. :)

I have a question about the digital output and the SONOS volume control. HOw do they interact? I plan for an outboard DAC, and I would like to connect it straight to an amplifer without any kind of preamp if I can get away with it.....is this recommended? Or does the volume control effect the digital signal adversely?
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    buzz
    buzz
    Grand Maestro
    January 31, 2007
    Pch,

    If you manipulate the Dolby Digital or DTS track so that it becomes a lossless 44.1Khz audio track, the ZP80 will pass it through the digital outputs (at fixed or full volume).

    Since the Dolby Digital and DTS streams are already compressed, there is very little advantage in wrapping the file in a lossless compression format.

    You will probably enjoy these clips.
    Pch
    Contributor III
    January 31, 2007
    Pch,

    If you manipulate the Dolby Digital or DTS track so that it becomes a lossless 44.1Khz audio track, the ZP80 will pass it through the digital outputs (at fixed or full volume).

    Since the Dolby Digital and DTS streams are already compressed, there is very little advantage in wrapping the file in a lossless compression format.

    You will probably enjoy these clips.

    Buzz, wait a minute...
    I thought I could really play a DTS/DD-stream with the Sonos, and that my Classé would recognize it as a DTS/DD-stream and would process it so I would get real 5.1-surround sound.
    But what I understand now is that you 1st "manipulate" it? Is that the same I did with "DVD AudioRipper"? But then you get a 44.1 khz audiotrack like you said which is definitely NOT DTS/DD anymore, right?
    Or am I missing something here?

    Gr. Paul.
    buzz
    buzz
    Grand Maestro
    January 31, 2007
    Pch,

    Maybe I could have worded that better.

    You can't stuff a complete DVD into the ZP80, only the audio track and this "audio" must be at 44.1KHz.

    ---

    I haven't tried this, but I suppose that anything that looks like a valid audio file will be passed, but if the bitrate is not supported by SONOS, the results will not be happy.

    I've been able to pass DTS streams to a surround decoder.

    You may experience a few clicks and pops while the DAC switches formats.
    Pch
    Contributor III
    January 31, 2007

    You can't stuff a complete DVD into the ZP80, only the audio track and this "audio" must be at 44.1KHz.

    But is this "audio" DTS/DD 5.1 or just PCM 2.0?



    I've been able to pass DTS streams to a surround decoder.

    You may experience a few clicks and pops while the DAC switches formats.
    Buzz, exactly how did you do that?
    (you may answer this by p.m. if it is not allowed to name programs on the forum.)

    Gr. Paul.
    Pch
    Contributor III
    January 31, 2007

    You will probably enjoy these clips.

    Buzz, I downloaded a file and it works:
    the sound is AMAZING!!!:D
    I would like to have this with all my music-dvd's, can that be done with special software?
    Please p.m. me.

    Gr. Paul.
    buzz
    buzz
    Grand Maestro
    January 31, 2007
    Pch,

    Searching for "DVD sound track extraction" will turn up a long list of interesting websites.
    Pch
    Contributor III
    February 1, 2007
    Pch,

    Searching for "DVD sound track extraction" will turn up a long list of interesting websites.

    I did a search on Google and downloaded:
    -DVD Audio extractor
    -DVD Smartripper
    -DVD2AVI
    -DVD Audio Ripper (new one)
    -DG Index
    -DVD to WAV converter
    I tried for almost 5 (!) hours, but with no results...
    Buzz, can you please help me and tell me what program you use and what the steps are you follow...Once I heard 5.1 thrue Sonos ZP-80 I want all my dvd's om my NAS so I can stream them with the Sonos!:D

    Gr. Paul.
    buzz
    buzz
    Grand Maestro
    February 1, 2007
    Pch,

    I tried a few of the tracks that I pointed you to, but I haven't ripped any of my own.

    You'll want to split the AC3 track from the DVD.

    Basically you are on your own, and since part of this process involves bypassing the DVD's encryption, We won't discuss the exact process here.
    Pch
    Contributor III
    February 1, 2007
    Pch,

    I tried a few of the tracks that I pointed you to, but I haven't ripped any of my own.

    You'll want to split the AC3 track from the DVD.

    Basically you are on your own, and since part of this process involves bypassing the DVD's encryption, We won't discuss the exact process here.

    OK, so you can't help me?
    And Buzz, I understand that we could not discuss the entire method overhere because of the DVD copy protection! That's why I wanted it via pm...
    And I know that I need the AC3 track from the DVD, the question is how, with which program?
    Pity you won't/can't help me, because I really would like to stream the 5.1 DTS/DD-tracks of my own (highly paid for!!!) DVD's with the Sonos when this is possible.

    Gr. Paul.
    RickInHouston
    Avid Contributor I
    February 1, 2007
    To wrap up the first part of this thread:

    If you have high impedence speakers that need a high current to drive them effectively, your choices for high-end audio are:

    1. Zp80 digitally / external or use internal DAC / PreAmp / Amp and lose the inconvenience of the Zp's volume control.

    2. Zp80 line out fixed / preamp / amp. Lose convenience of volume control on controller.

    3. Zp80 line out straight to amp and use convenient volume control.

    I'd like to go the #3 route, if available.
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