Have a look at the new Apple TV, a wonderful small device that has LAN input (Ethernet or WiFi) and HDMI and Optical Digital Audio output, and you will see a connectivity need.
Sure you have the simplicity to connect your flat screen TV with its HDMI input direct to the Apple TV and get HD video and audio. But if you want to be a HiFi buff and connect your giant loudspeakers to the Apple TV you need an amplifier with Optical input. These do exists but are expensive.
So what I propose as a new product is a medium cost, high spec audio amplifier to fill this niche:
- Tower design matching the same width and depth as the Apple TV
- Optical TOSLINK input at up to 24bit/96kHz (its not clear if the Apple TV will stream 24bit/96kHz but it may in the future, for now iTunes probably down-samples everything to 16/44.1
- Balanced audio analog input
- Superior DAC based on the world leading Wolfson chips
- Two class D audio amplifiers, possibly the Hypex modules, giving > 100W per channel.
As an alternative solution a completely digital amplifier could be built using a digital audio receiver (e.g. STA120, WM8804...) plus an integrated digital amplifier like the STA328, giving 40-60W per channel.
Contact me if you have any interest to commercialise these ideas.
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