"David Looser" wrote in
message
Does anyone know of a "black-box" DD decoder that is
commercially available?
I've been looking for a "black box" that will take a DD
5.1 coded SPDIF input and convert to 6 line-level
analogue outputs, and have failed to find one. Plenty of
"Surround-Sound Amplifiers" (complete with power-amps,
etc.) around, but that's not what I want.

(1) There are a number of Surround Sound processors at ridiculously high
prices, but you already knew that.

(2) The Technics SHAC-500 might still be available as used equipment.

(3) You could always take one of the relatively cheap smaller surround
receivers, and pad down its speaker outputs so that they were suitable for
driving line-level inputs.