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 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.
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.
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-F...#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-F...#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.