Is an i link 1394 to hdmi cable possible for a multichannel PCM signal?

[PRO-630HD]

Just curiuos if this type of cable would be possible to make? The idea is this, I have an i link receiver which works great for dvd audio, sacd, cd etc. I realize up to this point all hddvd and bluray players have been outputting lpcm from the HDMI port which is from the decoded DD+ or True HD signal in the player. So any i link receiver should be as capable as any HDMI 1.1 or 1.2 receiver for getting the full resolution from these formats.

[Krobar]

Would not be a cable but a convertor. Is possible but fairly complex, could also be AACS compliant so all that is needed is for someone to make one.

Me, I think I will wait for the Pioneer BDP-LX90.

[PRO-630HD]

Krobar define, I was thinking of the cable with a 1394 pin on one end and a 19 pin hdmi on the other. Realizing it would only carry the audio output from the hdmi end much like a hdmi to dvi cable only carries the video portion. So are you saying the hdmi cable would need to plug into a converter box so to speak and then the firewire cable carries the audio portion from there?

[Krobar]

Definitely would need a convertor. ILink uses different transport protocols, different encryption and different control protocol. I think you need to do a little reading up on HDMI and ILink (A&M Protocol).

[PRO-630HD]

Thanks for the feedback Krobar, your expertise is admittedly greater than mine. Okay so my question is is it possible to carry the decoded DD+, True HD, DTS-HD signal that is lpcm of course from the hi def player to a receiver. The funny thing is Dolby even lists 1394 firewire as an option along with HDMI 1.1 and 1.2 for carrying the decoded lpcm, but full resolution DD+ and True HD signals from players to receivers having the added benefit of DSP and bass management of course.

[Krobar]

Yes ILink can transfer multichannel PCM. AFAIK DVD-Audio is simply encrypted PCM using ILink and can offer stereo 24/192 or 5.1 24/96. Most ILink receivers can handle 5.1 24/192 in hardware but i'm not sure if the firmware can. Unfortunately I do not know of an ILink recevier wired for 7.1, this is not a lmitation of ILink only a limitation of current implementations.

There is no disadvantage in most cases in using full res PCM over native stream. For example my RDC-7.1 can handle 24/96 5.1 PCM with full resolution, DSP modes and BM over ILink.

[Endre]

Is it possible to use a HTPC for audio processor and output the audio via firewire?

[Krobar]

Is it possible to use a HTPC for audio processor and output the audio via firewire?

Yes, using a cheap $20 firewire card too. Trouble is no one has written the software to do this and there would likely be some big Encryption / Licensing issues to make any such software legal.