USB to Optical converter

[Jonboy]

For those of you who have a dac with a optical in but no usb i bought one of these (http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-external-sound-box-34128) the other day to get a mates system up and running from his laptop so he can use Spotify and the like, cheap and does the trick and it is powered from the usb port so no power supply issues either, not the last thing in build quility but cheaper than a new dac

[StanleyB]

If he has an Express card slot on the laptop, get one of THESE (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Creative-X-Fi-Xtreme-Audio-Notebook-Laptop-Sound-Card-/310222798807?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_So undCards&hash=item483ab83fd7).
They have a PCMCIA version as well, but those are hard to find. I got three of my laptops kitted out with those X-FI cards so that I can use the optical output instead of USB. It also gives me the chance to A/B test between USB and optical using the same hardware and software and audio file at the same time. The things I have discovered...

[Canetoad]

If he has an Express card slot on the laptop, get one of THESE (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Creative-X-Fi-Xtreme-Audio-Notebook-Laptop-Sound-Card-/310222798807?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_So undCards&hash=item483ab83fd7).
They have a PCMCIA version as well, but those are hard to find. I got three of my laptops kitted out with those X-FI cards so that I can use the optical output instead of USB. It also gives me the chance to A/B test between USB and optical using the same hardware and software and audio file at the same time. The things I have discovered...

Hey Stan, Will it fit any laptop?

[Alex_UK]

I've ordered the USB to Coax SPDIF converter John recommended and Mark (Reid Malenfant) also raved about - £14.99 delivered, but you'll need a coax cable on top of that. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FANMUSIC-FM-6011-COAX-USB-SPDIF-COAX-Converter-NEW-/120723650645?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_So undCards&hash=item1c1bb0b855#ht_2992wt_905

[Reid Malenfant]

I've ordered the USB to Coax SPDIF converter John recommended and Mark (Reid Malenfant) also raved about - £14.99 delivered, but you'll need a coax cable on top of that. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FANMUSIC-FM-6011-COAX-USB-SPDIF-COAX-Converter-NEW-/120723650645?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_So undCards&hash=item1c1bb0b855#ht_2992wt_905
Aye, it's a bargain at that price & it uses an output transformer (just a small ferrite) so it also galvanically isolates the PC from the DAC :)

[John]

Yes the item works well for those who have older type DACS. Be interesting to hear how you get on with it Alex

[StanleyB]

Hey Stan, Will it fit any laptop?
Only if your laptop has an expresscard slot. The Expresscard slot replaces the old PCMCIA slot.

Look in the laptop's features list on the manufacturer's website for information on what kind of slot you got. The X-FI card is well worth the money. The headphone output on it is also very usable.

[Alex_UK]

Thanks John - I'll post my thoughts - hoping it will improve the sound going from USB direct into the Caiman - not guaranteed, of course, but for fifteen quid worth a gamble. :)

[John]

I used for older type dacs I would of thought with the Caiman it would be better to use its own USB connector but its not a lot of money so worth a try

[StanleyB]

The USB chip in the Caiman is already connected via a SPDIF link to the receiver chip inside the DAC ;). i.e. The Caiman USB PCB can be used as a stand alone USB to SPDIF adapter if you solder a RCA plug to the red and white wires on the USB PCB, and put the adapter and plug in a little enclosure.

[Themis]

For those of you who have a dac with a optical in but no usb i bought one of these (http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-external-sound-box-34128) the other day to get a mates system up and running from his laptop so he can use Spotify and the like, cheap and does the trick and it is powered from the usb port so no power supply issues either, not the last thing in build quility but cheaper than a new dac
It's more than enough for most people and for most lossy stuff. ;)

[Jonboy]

It's more than enough for most people and for most lossy stuff. ;)


Thats what i thought Dimitri, i did see the other one that Alex has bought but the dac in question is one of Duncans (tubehunter) and is set up for optical out, it is a lot of faffing about to reset the jumpers inside on the circuit board so this was a easy way out

Oh yes, Welcome back

[colinB]

I run spotify premium through a usb 16/44 dac, with one of these gizmos i could run the notebook into a better optical DAC. Probably wont hear the difference but it wont break the bank.

[Themis]

I run spotify premium through a usb 16/44 dac, with one of these gizmos i could run the notebook into a better optical DAC. Probably wont hear the difference but it wont break the bank.
Well, some of these "gismos" do modify the signal, for the better or the worse !! I say that, because it's hard to say when a lossy format is modified what the output will sound like. Sometimes it might sound smother, sometimes artefacts are amplified to a disturbing level.

My advice, for lossy, is to get a converter as simple as possible : so that the signal will keep its original artefacts unchanged (as much as possible, at least). ;)

[John]

I find the one I use to be quite smooth I recently tried it out on a Hilly and sounded better via the converter spdif connection than the usb connection in the dac

[Canetoad]

Only if your laptop has an expresscard slot. The Expresscard slot replaces the old PCMCIA slot.

Look in the laptop's features list on the manufacturer's website for information on what kind of slot you got. The X-FI card is well worth the money. The headphone output on it is also very usable.

I just checked and it has an expresscard slot. Thanks Stan, I might invest in one of these. :)

[StanleyB]

Well worth doing. I play my 24/96 files through that card and the sound quality is just amazing.