A HDMI DAC might be coming down the pike, but I know of none currently.
The 1.3A HDMI interface allows for both HD video & AUDIO. Getting components which have the HDMI 1.3 interface will provide a single wire connection and some very good degree of audio quality reproduction. In a few of the owner manuals which I have gone through lately, ALL have said, "...the use of analog connections for multi ch audio is preffered."
I believe this note depends on the level of the interconnects being used, more so than analog over HDMI interfaces in general. I also know from exp. you gotta move up more than a fair bit to out run HDMI by using analog ICs. The source unit you choose, will determine which path is requred, HDMI or analog for HD audio... or both.
AS I understand HDMI levels, initially, it was only video, (1.0), next came SD audio (PCM) accompnaying the video, (1.2), now there is the 1.3a series which allows (depending upon the two devices being used, source & proc) to transmit HD video and audio, including DSD audio. Some processors still however choose the analog route for DSD output.
Make sure to see who's doing what and where in that respect, prior to.
I always see a lot of buzz about Theta products when multi ch processing is involved. Meridian too posts some lofty price tags and accolades.
With $15K worth of ammo on hand, I'd spend a little bit of it to go hear/see that which I could of those better product lines... Of course if you keep digging you'll likely come up with some other brands that might suit.
Check out the AV mags and you should be able to develop some sort of a short list of items to investigate.
Enjoy
The 1.3A HDMI interface allows for both HD video & AUDIO. Getting components which have the HDMI 1.3 interface will provide a single wire connection and some very good degree of audio quality reproduction. In a few of the owner manuals which I have gone through lately, ALL have said, "...the use of analog connections for multi ch audio is preffered."
I believe this note depends on the level of the interconnects being used, more so than analog over HDMI interfaces in general. I also know from exp. you gotta move up more than a fair bit to out run HDMI by using analog ICs. The source unit you choose, will determine which path is requred, HDMI or analog for HD audio... or both.
AS I understand HDMI levels, initially, it was only video, (1.0), next came SD audio (PCM) accompnaying the video, (1.2), now there is the 1.3a series which allows (depending upon the two devices being used, source & proc) to transmit HD video and audio, including DSD audio. Some processors still however choose the analog route for DSD output.
Make sure to see who's doing what and where in that respect, prior to.
I always see a lot of buzz about Theta products when multi ch processing is involved. Meridian too posts some lofty price tags and accolades.
With $15K worth of ammo on hand, I'd spend a little bit of it to go hear/see that which I could of those better product lines... Of course if you keep digging you'll likely come up with some other brands that might suit.
Check out the AV mags and you should be able to develop some sort of a short list of items to investigate.
Enjoy