multichannel dac via i2s

[wischem]

Hi all,

I enjoy listening to my stereo music via raspPi and an stereo dac connected through i2s. I really love that way and I think the quality of music delivered is great. I hate USB connection. So I am happy with this.

But now my actual question. Is there a way to listen to surround music from SACD or DVDs already ripped to my server also over the nice I2S route? So maybe there is a way of connecting more DACs to I2S path? Maybe one can split the multichannel into different streams and send it different RaspPi DACs?

Don't throw stones at me 🙂 I am more a music listener and not the super tech guy.
So if this a super stupid question just ignore.


Thanks.

 

[Dr_EM]

You can achieve multi-channel performance over I2S for sure. A single I2S Data line carries 2 channels of audio. So, by adding a second data line you can have 4 chanels of audio, and provided you are using the same sample rate across the board, these can share the same clock domains (LR, System and Master clocks). This is how the MiniSharc (which I'm implementing) delivers 8 channels of audio output:

miniSHARC Kit | MiniDSP

As for how to actually generate these additional I2S data lines out of the Pi, I really have no input I'm afraid. I wasn't aware the Pi could output I2S at all, very neat that it can though! You need to find a way to implement currently unused output pins as additional Data lines I suppose.

 

[wischem]

Thanks for sharing this Dr_EM.

So my problem seems to move to the "part" which is able to deliver the I2S multichannel.
Have to do some investigations on this.