Why don't CD players/transports have USB out?

[ReggieB]

I've been looking at CD players and DACs recently. One thing has struck me. None of the players or transports I've looked at have USB out (except the Melco D100 which only has USB out). As a lot of CD players share a lot of parts with computer CD drives, I can't imagine that it would take much to include USB out. As there seems to be a drift towards USB being the primary DAC input, and/or there being a number of DACs and Streaming devices that only have USB inputs - adding a USB out would increase the flexibility of the transport.

For me it would mean I could use a CD player as the drive for ripping via my Melco N1A/2 as well as the CD source for my Hi-Fi.

So why doesn't it happen? Where are the CD players with USB out?

[Made in 1968]

Dont yamaha do something with USB?

[Spectral Morn]

As a digital out option USB isn't the best. BNC is first best, then AES, then CoAx RCA, then optical, same as inputs. USB is an option as a digital input because of the popularity of computer audio, PC, MAC, though I wonder is that still the case, with the rise of network/streamer products. I guess for most companies making CD players they don't see USB out as being a must have option, maybe because of potential driver issues and compatibility with DACs.

[ReggieB]

Dont yamaha do something with USB?

I can't see one in their current range (https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/index.html#d366091)

[ReggieB]

As a digital out option USB isn't the best. BNC is first best, then AES, then CoAx RCA, then optical, same as inputs.

I always thought AES was best. I can't see why BNC would be that much better than CoAx RCA as all that's difference is the connector. However, I think it also varies from implementation to implementation.


USB is an option as a digital input because of the popularity of computer audio, PC, MAC

I think that's my point. With computer audio driving so much, USB is becoming better and better. Is it the best interface for DSD for example? There are certainly plenty of devices with only a USB input. So why isn't it an output option on transports.

[Lawrence001]

I always thought AES was best. I can't see why BNC would be that much better than CoAx RCA as all that's difference is the connector. However, I think it also varies from implementation to implementation.



I think that's my point. With computer audio driving so much, USB is becoming better and better. Is it the best interface for DSD for example? There are certainly plenty of devices with only a USB input. So why isn't it an output option on transports.I'm not sure USB and S/PDIF use the same signal, that's why you get USB to S/PDIF convertors. Therefore you'd need an extra board in the CD player to convert the signal which would make them more expensive. Also the transmission method where it can be asynchronous/clocked by the dac is very different making it even more complicated with a "real time" CD player I would imagine, although the more recent use of computer drives and buffers might help with this.

[hifinutt]

as far as i know my marantz sa8005 has usb

https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/mobile/products/pages/productdetails.aspx?catid=hifi&subcatid=sacdcdplayer&productid=sa8005

[Lawrence001]

as far as i know my marantz sa8005 has usb

https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/mobile/products/pages/productdetails.aspx?catid=hifi&subcatid=sacdcdplayer&productid=sa8005Isn't that an input to use the internal dac though?

[Spectral Morn]

I can't see one in their current range (https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/index.html#d366091)

USB in, not out.

[Lawrence001]

Yes USB in getting more common but no USB out I've seen yet.

[serendipitydawg]

There's a bit of a clue in the name.

USB= Universal Serial Bus. The serial bus of a computer. As you have found, CD players tend not to have USB. Primarily that's because they don't have any computing power or operating system.

If you want to play a CD into a USB only DAC you need a computer of some sort,running playback software plus a USB DVD drive (20ish).

[Made in 1968]

Everything is geared around computers these days. Computer based stuff is not really intended for the serious Audio market, its just that Audiophiles are trying to make it so, i for one would be glad to see the back of CD! However USB was not intended for Audio, i personally cringe when i see USB ports on Hi-Fi Equipment.

The Recording industry is rife with USB on equipment as they are generally used instead of the old MIDI. which was a Digital interface that passed Data from one piece of equipment to others, triggering etc.. Nowadays gone are the need for big Analogue multi-tracking machine & giant soundboards, everything is done on DAW software, the vintage ways of connecting equipment by CV/Gate are becoming popular again, the recording side wont.

I use two system

1. In the living room which is totally vintage Turntable & Cassette Deck [That never gets used much]
2. In the spare room which is a Lossless files computer based system that is also part of a small home Synthesizer Studio im gradually building

I Don't like mixing & matching Vintage & Modern Hi-Fi equipment as i dont like Digital Vinyl records

[ReggieB]

USB= Universal Serial Bus. The serial bus of a computer. As you have found, CD players tend not to have USB.

I currently use an external DVD drive to connect into my Melco via USB without a computer between the two.

My understanding is that most modern CD drives mechanisms were originally created to fit into computers.

USB is just a communication protocol. It does not need a computer to send data over a bus.

I can't believe it is that difficult to take the data being generated by a CD drive, and send it out over a USB bus. If you can do it in a £15 external DVD drive, why not an audio CD player.

[Made in 1968]

Cos you need a driver. You just cant. I dont honestly see the logic in what you want!

[ReggieB]

I started this thread a couple of years ago. I find it interesting that there is a now a new product described as a CD transport with a USB output. Specifically the Hi-Fi Rose RSA-780 (https://eng.hifirose.com/RSA780-info).

I wonder if anyone has any experience with these drives and if they have tried connecting it to a non-Hifi Rose device (such as a USB DAC or a streamer). I'd really like to know if it would work well with my Melco.

https://cdn.imweb.me/upload/S201805035aeadb1e2290e/dee60603d7a0a.png