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

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Worcestershire, UK

    Posts: 1,101
    I'm Rob.

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

    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?
    Rob.
    Powered by crossed fingers and clenched buttocks

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2020

    Location: South Yorkshire

    Posts: 2,683
    I'm Andre.

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    Dont yamaha do something with USB?

  3. #3
    Join Date: Nov 2008

    Location: North Down /Northern Ireland/ UK

    Posts: 19,484
    I'm Neil.

    Default

    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.
    Regards Neil

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Worcestershire, UK

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    I'm Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Made in 1968 View Post
    Dont yamaha do something with USB?
    I can't see one in their current range
    Rob.
    Powered by crossed fingers and clenched buttocks

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Worcestershire, UK

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    I'm Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral Morn View Post
    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.

    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral Morn View Post
    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.
    Rob.
    Powered by crossed fingers and clenched buttocks

  6. #6
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

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    I'm Lawrence.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ReggieB View Post
    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.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: west mids, UK

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    I'm Phil.

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    as far as i know my marantz sa8005 has usb

    https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/mobile/...oductid=sa8005
    ou might slip, you might slide, you might
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  8. #8
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

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    I'm Lawrence.

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    Quote Originally Posted by hifinutt View Post
    as far as i know my marantz sa8005 has usb

    https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/mobile/...oductid=sa8005
    Isn't that an input to use the internal dac though?

  9. #9
    Join Date: Nov 2008

    Location: North Down /Northern Ireland/ UK

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    I'm Neil.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ReggieB View Post
    I can't see one in their current range
    USB in, not out.
    Regards Neil

  10. #10
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

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    I'm Lawrence.

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

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