Question Optical / coaxial amp

[Edgie70]

Hi all , can someone please tell me if there is such a thing as an in line amp to boost the sound of a coaxial output or optical output , thanks and sorry if it's a daft question

 

[Deleted member 39241]

Curious question. You can get DAC's with volume controls. But, if you are using an AVR, you can set some inputs to be louder than others.

What's the set-up and what's your budget?

 

[Edgie70]

Hi , it's only basic , optical from the TV in to the soundbar or I could use coaxial from TV to soundbar , hence something that would go in line like a booster , thanks

 

[dante01]

S/PDIF optical or coax are digital so wouldn't be open to being amplified in the manner you suggest. You can get AV receivers that include a trim control for different sources including their S/PDIF inputs.

What is being conveyed via optical or digital coax is digital data and not an analogue sound signal so its volume cannot therefore be adjusted.

The only thing you'd be able to do is repeat the signal to facilitate conveying it over longer distances.

 

[Edgie70]

Thank you for your reply , you have just answered my question , thanks

 

[Deleted member 39241]

You shouldn't need a booster for that type of set-up. If you are finding the sound too quiet I wonder if there is a setting on your TV to output audio via the optical connection as 'fixed' rather than 'variable'.

 

[dante01]

Output from the TV via S/PDIF would be fixed anyway. The signal isn't effected by the TV's own volume control and is only adjustable via the device the signal is being sent to such as a soundbar or amplifier. Prior to the destination device the signal is digital and it isn't until after the destination has converted it to analogue that amplification is applied. It is unusual to have the option to set S/PDIF output as being variable on TVs.

If the volume isn't as loud as you'd like it then simply increase the soundbar's master volume while using the optical source.

S/PDIF signal levels are generally fixed and volume would only be adjustable by downstream equipment post DAC.

 

[Deleted member 39241]

@dante01 we don't know what equipment the OP has, so saying that it is fixed anyway, then it is unusual for it to be variable is a bit contradictory / confusing / pedantic. Perhaps better to ask what TV and soundbar do you have @Edgie70?

 

[dante01]

I can only go by my own experience of TVs with an S/PDIF digital output. I've owned several makes and non have ever included an option to have a variable S/PDIF output. I know that some source devices such as some Sonos devices had this option and that it is possible to adjust the digital signal so that it effects the amplitude of the audio at the destination end, but I cannot say that I've ever seen this option on a TV.

 

[Deleted member 39241]

Fair enough, so maybe not post definitives about something that you are not sure about? Such as:

Output from the TV via S/PDIF would be fixed anyway.

 

[dante01]

Fair enough, so maybe not post definitives about something that you are not sure about? Such as:

I'm sorry, but are you saying that you've actually encountered a TV that has a variable S/PDIF output?

If not then why is what you are posting any more informed that what I posted?

 

[Deleted member 39241]

I'm sorry, but are you saying that you've actually encountered a TV that has a variable S/PDIF output?

If not then why is what you are posting any more informed that what I posted?

Apology welcome.

The point is that I suggested to the OP that it was something they could check.

You posted that it would definitely be fixed then admitted that you don't actually know.

 

[Edgie70]

Hi guys , thank you so much for your replies , I've a 43inch Samsung 4k TV and a yas-306 Yamaha sound bar , it's connected from the TV via optical only , I just find that zero to 50 on the volume slider in the bar doesn't do a lot volume wise , after 50 it goes loud , I just tht if there was a way of boosting optical volume output then I wouldn't have to turn the bar up as much , thanks again

 

[Deleted member 39241]

Hi @Edgie70 The extra information is helpful. Let me just check, are you saying that the volume change from 0 to 50 on the volume dial is very slight, but there is a big jump in volume when you go from 49 to 50, or 50 to 51? If so, that sounds like a fault. The volume should increase evenly as you go through the steps to increase it, there shouldn't be a noticeable jump when you hit one spot.

Do you have anything else connected to the soundbar, does it behave in the same way?