It's very easy to add things to a wish list, and I get the need to consider only the most worthwhile possibilities. There are lots an lots of digital audio interfaces used in studios, where you find many of the best 8 channel DAC / audio interfaces, but there are just too many standards.

I've been an audio nut for decades, and looked into multi-channel digital audio [url=https://www.avforums.com/threads/av-processors-with-a-digital-output.2326976/page-3]very closely here[/url]. It seems to me that the way forwards is likely to be with an ethernet connection using Audio over Internet Protocol (AoIP) in one form or another.

One way is Audio Video Bridge ( AVB ) which hasn't really caught on. Ravenna is another. Dante has caught on, but the licensing is expensive. The Audio Engineering Society are trying to establish AES67 as an industry-standard interface with cross-format compatibility, and this may be a good way forwards.

Watching brief time, perhaps.

The way the market is going, I think some sort of AoIP card would be a shrewd investment.

Best, Nick

Hi Nick,
Many thanks for your post. It was really interesting to look at your conversation at Avforums. I would tend to agree that some sort of IP Audio is the way forward as it addresses most of the audio signal distribution challenges. We might have the option to add a very potent IP Audio codec to the VanityPRO to turn it into a swiss knife of HDMI Audio conversion and processing and we might consider it in not too distant future. Thanks again for your suggestions!
Best Regards,
Pavel

Cheers Pavel
On reflection I think AES67 might not be the best AoIP option, despite my support of open standards.
I hear too many people reporting problems getting it to work, so Dante, expensive as it is, might be better.
Regards,
Nick

Hi Nick,
You are right, most manufacturers include AES67 only as a fall-back option for basic interoperability. Stay tuned for the updates!
Regards,
Pavel