Recommendations for KODI Box with electrical digital out (as in NOT optical)

jonathonsunshine on 11/10/2015 - 01:42

Hey yall, I'm in the market for a slightly upgraded RPi…

Got a RPi2 atm, it works fine and all but I really want coax digital out. And whilst I'm getting a new toy, also must have 5ghz wifi and h265 decoding. COAX digital is the main thing though, I got at Logitech z5500 speaker system and about three different things fighting for the single optical input already.

Don't really care if its Android or not, but

  • fanless,
  • h265/HEVC HW decoding
  • DTS/DD out via COAX
  • 5ghz wifi

Any suggestions? I was thinking about getting a HIFIBerry but stopped when I realised they were quoting USD and realised I was most of my way to $100 anyway…

Thanks for any help or food for thoughts

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • chesser on 11/10/2015 - 02:39
    +1

    You can buy a converter from optical to coax or vice versa.

    It uses no chips or circuits and should be cheap.

    My last 4 pc sound cards all have then and I bought my last one (as A replacement part)from Jaycar.

    I turn all my optical to coax this way.
    because coax less likely to break.

    • jonathonsunshine on 11/10/2015 - 02:56

      ture, but raspberry pi doesn't have optical out either. And TV can't handle that DTS out goodness…

      • [Deactivated] on 11/10/2015 - 13:51

        I'm not quite sure about your reply, above, given your main post.

        I also have a set of Z5500's, and like you faced a similar problem - at least as far as the main post refers.

        DON'T do as I did and pay through the nose for one from Jaycar, but DO buy an optical switchbox. Search 'toslink' or 'optical switcher' on eBay and I'm sure that you'll find something.

        Said can be used to switch multiple optical outputs into the control pod, OR multiple optical outputs into a toslink-to-coax converter box for an electrical output, as alluded to, above. (Also search eBay - under $20, from memory.)

        Then, if better specs for a KODI box that doesn't have a coax-out, beckon, you can go for that AND also end up with some bonus input options for your speakers, one way or t'other.

  • jonathonsunshine on 11/10/2015 - 17:03

    Meh… Thinking to just buy a j1900 itx mobo and use my Asus xonar soundcards analogue out.

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