Minimal HDMI setup feasible?

[delete000]

I'm wondering whether a laptop setup that uses HDMI audio might be feasible. I've seen those HDMI audio splitters that output SPDIF / optical, which one could run to a DAC. Since audio goes out the laptop digital, I suppose sound quality should be ok if the DAC is decent? If all I ever need to come out of my laptop is stereo for monitoring (and supposing I do have a DAC handy), could this be a way to forgo the outboard soundcard? Has anyone tried?

[bluzee]

Can't say I've ever done it but should have at least 6 if not 8 playback channels. No capture channels.

Most Intel chips should be able to reassign the headphone and microphone jacks to SPDIF.

Edit: Maybe not. It seems only the analogue can be retasked to alternate jacks.

[milkii]

If you've got money, something like the now discontinued miniDSP NanoAVR, if you've not, something like this.

[Linuxmusician01]

Hmmmm. Interesting question. Wonder if something like this €17 Aliexpress HDMI to s/pdif, coaxial & RCA conector thingy would deliver good audio quality? Link

[delete000]

I should point out I already have a decent DAC, so that part is solved. My question is more on the OS side: Should I expect reasonable latency? How about stability? Potential sound quality issues?

[bluzee]

I can't see any reason to expect latency to be a problem. Sound quality should be better than coming out of the analog jacks as onboard converters tend to be noisy.