Its possible to overcome some of that issue, SPDIF can transmit data with audio, at least the current consumer standard, so its very possible to send volume and even channel controls in upload only.
When it comes to encoded audio, it does not count as PCM (instead imagine PCM inside a 7zip file), its passes thorough (hence passthrough aka bitstreaming).
The end receiver (lets say soundbar) is what decodes the audio as the end result, into essentially PCM, although it's possible before to LPCM.
If you imagine A PC connected to a TV, and also a soundbar to the TV, its possible for the TV to decode to PCM, change some things, and then continue as PCM (LPCM) to the soundbar.
If we used the data feature of SPDIF, it would be possible to tell the TV to tell the soundbar (HDMI-SPDIF) to change the volume | SPDIF > TV > SPDIF/HDMI > Soundbar.
Windows/apo's/drivers can control SPDIF PCM-LPCM volume, prior to output (pre DAC), I can change the volume of SPDIF which changes the volume with speakers (and watts used).
Note that essentially SPDIF-TOSLink can transmit (in upload) a variety of things, audio, data, video, to some extend internet, for bi-directional there is SMI.
Toshiba TODX2402 (rs-online.com) |
Molex SMI Optical Interconnects
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15 x 192k @ 24b = ~70mbps, well below TOSLink @ 125mbps (working to consumer standard), however too high for HDA @ ~37mbps, for HDMI-SPDIF to get that spec HDA needs updates.
However, 15 x 96k @ 24b is a doable 34.56mbps (consumer standard), its also below the 6 x 192k @ 32b bitrate @ ~37mbps which we see on HDA.
Even GPU's use HDA to output to HDMI. It's not SPDIF's fault.