Help with Apple TV and AMP connections

[audi321]

Hi all. I have just got an ATV2 and at the moment have it connected to the TV with HDMI then the sound coming out of the TVs headphone socket into my amp.

I'm guessing this isn't the best option!

TV and ATV have optical audio out, but amp has no optical in!

So I think I need a DAC to run before the amp (any recommendations for a reasonable priced one?), but will it make any difference (quality wise) running the optical lead from the TV or direct from the ATV?

[surfymark]

audi321 said:

Hi all. I have just got an ATV2 and at the moment have it connected to the TV with HDMI then the sound coming out of the TVs headphone socket into my amp.

I'm guessing this isn't the best option!

TV and ATV have optical audio out, but amp has no optical in!

So I think I need a DAC to run before the amp (any recommendations for a reasonable priced one?), but will it make any difference (quality wise) running the optical lead from the TV or direct from the ATV?

Quite unusual for an amp to not have optical in. Does it have co-ax in? If so you can convert optical to co-ax very easily.

If not, there are not a huge amount of options really. I guess you could get a DAC but you may find it a better option to upgrade your amp. A good amp is not really that expensive.

I would run the optical from the ATV but if you use multiple inputs to your TV, running the optical from the TV will give you all of them through the amp for a slight loss of quality I think.

HTH
M

[audi321]

surfymark said:

Quite unusual for an amp to not have optical in. Does it have co-ax in? If so you can convert optical to co-ax very easily.

If not, there are not a huge amount of options really. I guess you could get a DAC but you may find it a better option to upgrade your amp. A good amp is not really that expensive.

I would run the optical from the ATV but if you use multiple inputs to your TV, running the optical from the TV will give you all of them through the amp for a slight loss of quality I think.

HTH
M

Cheers, amp is not that old so don't want to replace it really. It's a Hifi amp rather than an AV amp and I was told hifi amps often don't have optical in, whereas the AV amps do? I'll check about the co-ax (i presume you mean a digital co-ax in?).

[Bungleaio]

I've tried using the optical out with my ATV running XBMC and I didn't have much luck. I got no sound through my AV amp but it is around 10 years old so maybe they changed the codec or something.

I didn't actually try it for audio in the apple software though.

[cjs]

There is a cheap optical to line level convertor at CPC, about £25.00?? Do a search. The lack of line out on an ATV has put me off getting one, my HiFi amp does not have optical.

[audi321]

cjs said:

There is a cheap optical to line level convertor at CPC, about £25.00?? Do a search. The lack of line out on an ATV has put me off getting one, my HiFi amp does not have optical.

Have you a link to this? CPC website down until tonight and now I can't find it.

[Driller]

Here you go:

http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/psg03497/audio-c...

[Dracoro]

I have one of these: FiiO DA/Convertor

It goes from my ATV to my amp and works fine.

[audi321]

Dracoro said:

I have one of these: FiiO DA/Convertor

It goes from my ATV to my amp and works fine.

Cheers...just ordered one!