Fresh From the Bench: KanexPro HAECOAX HDMI Audio De-Embedder

This review explains the merits of the KanexPro HAECOAX, an HDMI audio de-embedder, which extracts the PCM datastream from your players HDMI output and feeds the datastream to an S/PDIF output at the disc’s full resolution. Gary Galo discovered the device some time ago, enabling him to extract digital high-resolution audio sources from HDMI signals. This article was originally published in audioXpress, July 2016.

audioXpress February 2017 is one of those issues to read and keep on hand. Learn about Bluetooth 5 and how the new specification promises to positively change wireless audio applications, how to extract multichannel audio from the latest-generation Apple TV, and how to use an oscilloscope to troubleshoot tube circuits. Read reviews of the Vienna Suite Pro processing audio plug-ins and the Primacoustic London 12 acoustic panels kit. Learn how Tom Perazella built its subwoofer with an Ultimax 18” driver from Dayton Audio and how Addie and Whisker built a preamp for high-impedance sources from vintage components, and much more.

Kanex announced an optical audio solution for the new Apple TV, allowing to keep using existing hardware and have high quality audio support. The Digital Audio Adapter provides an optical audio port to connect a surround sound system to the 4th generation Apple TV via HDMI. The adapter supports 5.1 surround sound via standard optical audio, or 2.0 surround sound via 3.5mm audio port.