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Home Stereo System Question; Someone Here Bound to Know More Than Customer Service at Panasonic
March 22, 2022, 02:53 PM
TMatsHome Stereo System Question; Someone Here Bound to Know More Than Customer Service at Panasonic
I just bought a new Panasonic DVD player for the express purpose of integrating it with my home stereo to play CDs. The DVD player only has an HDMI connection and the stereo only RCA type connectors. I thought, “no problem, I’ll order a HDMI -> RCA cable, just leave the yellow (video) cable unconnected and plug in the red and white audio connectors. No joy. Doesn’t play. Contacted Panasonic and got less than nothing for help. Any ideas here?
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despite them
March 22, 2022, 03:00 PM
smschulzI know you said "only" but no optical connection on each?
The problem is (if accurately described) HDMI is digital and RCA is analog.
No simple cable will work.
You need a HDMI to RCA "converter".
or
if each has an optical cable connection that will work too.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=d+t...2C106&ref=nb_sb_nossMarch 22, 2022, 03:14 PM
TMatsRight, only HDMI on the DVD player, no optical. Perhaps the converter you linked is the solution. Makes me wonder why a cable
like this is even sold.
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despite them
March 22, 2022, 03:24 PM
jhe888quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
Right, only HDMI on the DVD player, no optical. Perhaps the converter you linked is the solution. Makes me wonder why a cable
like this is even sold.
Because some devices have built-in convertors. The blurb notes this, and also tells you that you will need a convertor, either stand-alone or built-in at one end.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. March 22, 2022, 03:55 PM
TMatsOK, thanks
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despite them
March 22, 2022, 04:32 PM
smschulzquote:
Originally posted by TMats:
Right, only HDMI on the DVD player, no optical. Perhaps the converter you linked is the solution. Makes me wonder why a cable
like this is even sold.
If you read the description in your link it says it only passes a digital signal.
The RCA on you amp needs analog.
Hence a conversion needs to take place.
March 22, 2022, 04:49 PM
Lefty Sigquote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
Right, only HDMI on the DVD player, no optical. Perhaps the converter you linked is the solution. Makes me wonder why a cable
like this is even sold.
If you read the description in your link it says it only passes a digital signal.
The RCA on you amp needs analog.
Hence a conversion needs to take place.
That doesn't make much sense because outboard DAC's use optical or digital coax input and then output to analog RCA (or XLR). I have not seen a DAC with stereo RCA ins and outs. And I have not seen an RCA video to RCA video DAC either.
The issue is more likely HDCP copy protection in the HDMI signal which is the whole point of HDMI (pro broadcast equipment uses 75 ohm coax) OR the DVD player is outputting DD or DTS bitstream and the cable has a shitty DAC in it that can only handle linear PCM stereo. Try forcing the player to Linear PCM stereo out out and see if that works.
March 22, 2022, 05:33 PM
4MUL8RIf you pass the HDMI to your TV, and then take the RCA analog signal from the back of the TV to your stereo, it should work. HDMI carries audio. Most TVs from a few years ago had a wealth of RCA connections on the back. Some are input, some are output. Check yours.
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Trying to simplify my life...
March 22, 2022, 05:42 PM
TMatsquote:
Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
Right, only HDMI on the DVD player, no optical. Perhaps the converter you linked is the solution. Makes me wonder why a cable
like this is even sold.
If you read the description in your link it says it only passes a digital signal.
The RCA on you amp needs analog.
Hence a conversion needs to take place.
That doesn't make much sense because outboard DAC's use optical or digital coax input and then output to analog RCA (or XLR). I have not seen a DAC with stereo RCA ins and outs. And I have not seen an RCA video to RCA video DAC either.
The issue is more likely HDCP copy protection in the HDMI signal which is the whole point of HDMI (pro broadcast equipment uses 75 ohm coax) OR the DVD player is outputting DD or DTS bitstream and the cable has a shitty DAC in it that can only handle linear PCM stereo. Try forcing the player to Linear PCM stereo out out and see if that works.
No sabe
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despite them
March 22, 2022, 05:42 PM
TMatsquote:
Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
If you pass the HDMI to your TV, and then take the RCA analog signal from the back of the TV to your stereo, it should work. HDMI carries audio. Most TVs from a few years ago had a wealth of RCA connections on the back. Some are input, some are output. Check yours.
No tv involved at all.
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despite them
March 22, 2022, 06:42 PM
jigray3It may be water under the bridge, but why a DVD player to play CD's? A dedicated CD player would likely have a DAC built-in providing RCA analog outputs, and will in all likelihood sound better unless you spend some money on an outboard DAC.
"We have a system that increasingly taxes work, and increasingly subsidizes non-work" - Milton Friedman March 22, 2022, 08:23 PM
TMatsquote:
Originally posted by jigray3:
It may be water under the bridge, but why a DVD player to play CD's? A dedicated CD player would likely have a DAC built-in providing RCA analog outputs, and will in all likelihood sound better unless you spend some money on an outboard DAC.
Fair question. It seemed that all dedicated CD players were 3 or 4 times more expensive, and typically, the enclosure for the unit was “dressier.” I thought that since a DVD player can play CDs, why not? We haven’t had a functioning DVD/CD player in the house for quite a few years, and have about 100 CDs, including quite a few albums that are important to me. I’ll get it squared away, although I may need to buy a new home theater receiver, whether the recommended connection works or not. I had a 5-channel Yamaha home theater receiver that quit playing out of one channel and it left a big hole in the music. The one I’m working with now is a nice Marantz 2-channel receiver, but frankly I miss the Yamaha.
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despite them
March 22, 2022, 08:29 PM
BeanheadGo to the local thrift store…tons of high end CD players on the cheap.
March 22, 2022, 10:46 PM
smschulzquote:
Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
If you read the description in your link it says it only passes a digital signal.
The RCA on you amp needs analog.
Hence a conversion needs to take place.
That doesn't make much sense because outboard DAC's use optical or digital coax input and then output to analog RCA (or XLR). I have not seen a DAC with stereo RCA ins and outs. And I have not seen an RCA video to RCA video DAC either.
The issue is more likely HDCP copy protection in the HDMI signal which is the whole point of HDMI (pro broadcast equipment uses 75 ohm coax) OR the DVD player is outputting DD or DTS bitstream and the cable has a shitty DAC in it that can only handle linear PCM stereo. Try forcing the player to Linear PCM stereo out out and see if that works.
Lefty I believe you are incorrect - it's definitely not HDCP.
There is NO DAC in the cable, read the description details in his link.
He has a DVD player with just an HDMI out ~ that means no DAC in the unit either.
The best or simplest solution is to just get an older CD Player (those would have a DAC built in and RCA out) and connect it up.
He can try other actual adaptors that do have a converter but those can have varying levels of success.
Or just get a AV receiver that can accept a digital signal and let it do the conversion.
There are a lot of ways to skin this cat - it's just a matter of what he want's to do.
March 23, 2022, 01:24 AM
Lefty Sig^^^ HDMI is Digital only and RCA is analog only. If there is no DAC in the cable then something doesn't add up unless this is a scam product that will never work. The reviews pretty much indicate that it doesn't work so maybe it is a scam.
Look for a used Oppo DV-980H. Region Free DVD, CD, SACD, DVD-A with analog and digital outs. Pretty much an anything player for everything below Blu-ray. I have one for odds and ends in my main system.
Also have Sony UHP-H1's on the bedroom systems - they play anything from Blu-ray down with analog and digital outs.
March 23, 2022, 02:36 AM
honestlouThis cable works; I’ve used it in many applications. $45
https://www.amazon.com/iSimple...a-440417130189&psc=1March 23, 2022, 10:08 AM
jhe888quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
quote:
Originally posted by jigray3:
It may be water under the bridge, but why a DVD player to play CD's? A dedicated CD player would likely have a DAC built-in providing RCA analog outputs, and will in all likelihood sound better unless you spend some money on an outboard DAC.
Fair question. It seemed that all dedicated CD players were 3 or 4 times more expensive, and typically, the enclosure for the unit was “dressier.” I thought that since a DVD player can play CDs, why not? We haven’t had a functioning DVD/CD player in the house for quite a few years, and have about 100 CDs, including quite a few albums that are important to me. I’ll get it squared away, although I may need to buy a new home theater receiver, whether the recommended connection works or not. I had a 5-channel Yamaha home theater receiver that quit playing out of one channel and it left a big hole in the music. The one I’m working with now is a nice Marantz 2-channel receiver, but frankly I miss the Yamaha.
Rip the CDs to a lossless digital format like FLAC, and keep digital copies in several places. I use the free program Exact Audio Copy for this purpose. The program is a little intimidating at first, but be assured if an old boomer like me can use it, it isn't that complicated.
The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. March 23, 2022, 11:08 AM
smschulzquote:
Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
^^^ HDMI is Digital only and RCA is analog only. If there is no DAC in the cable then something doesn't add up unless this is a scam product that will never work. The reviews pretty much indicate that it doesn't work so maybe it is a scam.
Wouldn't say it is a scam but definitely worthless for most normal applications like what the OP needs.
March 23, 2022, 11:50 AM
TMatsI’ll try the converter recommended by smschultz today. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, I’ll send back the DVD player. I just spent about 15 minutes looking on ebay, there’s a ton of used cd players, and many of them look like just what I want—-and with RCA connection. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that to begin with.
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despite them
March 23, 2022, 02:51 PM
ftttuThis is neither here nor there, but some DVD and CD “players” are not players but transports. Their output(s) is digital only so the signal needs to be fed into a DAC or piece of equipment containing a DAC.
So again, DVD and CD players have analog and digital outputs while transports only have digital.
I currently use a CD player as a transport which feeds the digital music signal to my receiver which has a DAC in it. I’ve never seen an HDMI only in/out, so that’s news to me.
Retired Texas Lawman