Chromecast and SPDIF (DD+?)

[GeX]

I have an old AV receiver that predates HDMI. It accepts audio input via SPDIF. My TV has an SPDIF output and I have Chromecast connected to an HDMI input on the TV.

The TV will not pass DD/DD+ 5.1 from the HDMI input to the SPDIF output (thanks Samsung), only stereo.

I've seen various splitter/extractor boxes, some as cheap as £12.50 that look like they will allow me to plug the Chromecast into them and extract SPDIF before passing the HDMI signal on to the TV. However, I'm unclear if that also applies to DD+. I've read some reports that DD+ is too high bitrate to be carried over SPDIF, but then other reports saying that part of the DD+ spec is a lower bitrate stream that can be carried over SPDIF. I also worry about sync issues with such cheap devices.

I'm reluctant to replace my AV receiver as I love the sound it produces, but I also don't want to end up spending large sums of money on bodges to get 5.1 streams into when I could be putting that money toward replacing it.

Is there a lowcost solution that will actually work, does anyone here use similar - or am I best just replacing the AV receiver with some newer?

 

[mikelkite]

Honestly, I went down this road.

I had an Xbox & PS3 which couldn't give me 5.1 due to not having an HDMI amp so I ended up outputting the sound from SPDIF to my soundcard and back out to the amp. It ended up with a delay of a split second but began to get annoying.

In the end I bought a new Yamaha amp (the RVX 467 from the DSP-xxxx cant remember the model)

The price of a cheapish new amp is only about £150 to £200 these days for something that has multiple HDMI and everything you need, you can even plu a chrome cast straight into the amp no cable!

The modern sound will walk all over your old amp as well