Hi, just curious for now,
based on software for channel separation and the LYNX AES16e or alike:

Q1) Do I need the next modules to make an 8ch-IN-AES / 8ch-OUT-XLR dac+preamp?

1x Buffalow III (ES9018-8ch) + regulators @ $ 379
1x Level Converter (4x AES-IN on Buf III) @ $ 46
4x IVY III @ $ 89 /stereo = $ 356 /8ch
1x PS (1 for 4 IVYs) @ $ 60

Please correct me if I am wrong or add extra components when necessary.

Q2) What is a good way for 1x8ch or 2x4ch or 8x1ch volume control?

- 100% digital using the ES9018? How?
- Or is analog still preferred? How/what?

Thanks in advance for help and recommendations! --Rene--

Thanks Leon,

1) In fact this setup is not for multi-channel (7.1) but instead stereo with active 4-way speakers. Nevertheless your remark about the S/PDIF is still valid in that case. Anyway, don't I need the Level Converter to feed the 8ch-BIII with 2x2 AES-IN (2x4ch)?

- Of course the BIII PSU should be added, thanks, Placid HD Power Supply Kit @ $ 60
- plus 9V+9V (30VA) Power Transformer @ $ 23

- Think I made a mistake on the $ 60 PSU for 4 IVYs, should be Placid HD Bipolar Power Supply Kit @ 90
- plus 15V+15V (50VA) Power Transformer @ $ 27

2) Assume individual speaker volume differences are measured in room and adjustments set in the HTPC software as standard. Furthermore assume indeed a real multi-channel setup (5.1 or 7.1) using for that purpose several 8ch-IN/8-ch-OUT configurations as discussed above, how to do a master volume controle for these multi-BIII units all at once?

I don't think that is correct. The purpose of the 4 channel level converter is to convert the AES/EBU signal into I2s isn't it? If he was not using the level converter he would only be allowed to use one channel of SPDIF. But since the level converter converts the signal to I2s he will be able to use 8 channels. That is how I understood the documentation anyway. I joined the thread because I am also looking to use this thing for an AES16 sound card .....

Who do you think wrote that documentation?

If you don't need the ESS9018, I would suggest using a cheaper board like the Opus.

The way I read it, Semaphore wants to use 8 channels of his Lynx card. For that he doesn't need S/PDIF to I2S converters, but he does need a DAC with 4 S/PDIF inputs. One way to achieve that is by using multiple boards, and the Opus is much cheaper than the BIII (and Wolfson is still very good SQ-wise).

The Opus only accepts I2S, so you would need four of them, plus four S/PDIF Transceiver modules.

It adds up quickly when you need a 16 channel DAC to utilize all of the outputs of an AES16e card. The AES16e card has 16 channels of AES/EBU out (8 AES/EBU cables with 2 channels each) and 16 channels of input plus a clock in and clock out. The Aurora 16 they sell with it costs ~$2600 brand new so I am trying to budget for less than that. Keep in mind that all of the features of a Buffalo III cost more than just $379.

Buffalo:
$379 Buffalo III DAC
$50 for transformers
$169 for IVY III and power supply
$60 for power supply
$22 for SPDIF input
= $680 for just two channels

For 16 channels it would be $5440 which is way out of budget. If I only needed two Buffalo then it would just be a little more than $1812 + cost of a DSD converter which might be within budget. The trick is converting 8 channels of AES/EBU to DSD which I don't know of a way to do. Any help would be appreciated.

Opus is just $175 + transformer?
Do I need an IVY I/V for this thing?
Metronome? Can I just use the clock output from or to the AES16e?

The Opus option is ~$1576 + change for sixteen channels which is closer to realistic.

Any other ideas or suggestions are welcome.

Sean

Yes, that was what I meant to post in a followup, but dropped the ball (weekend).

You can only use one master SPDIF transceiver (which is stereo) at a time with the B3.

You could possibly do it by running 1 transceiver as a master and 3 as slaves. I have never tried.