Laptop to DAC interface

Charles Wasserf · 22nd August 2010, 10:23 AM

Hi,

I own a dac which will accept either optical or coaxial inputs and after a search on this forum and google I am more confused than ever.

I wish to send audio from my aging Toshiba laptop with windows XP, to my
external dac ( as mentioned optical or coax inputs only ) The laptop provides usb out and I thought that all I needed was a usb to digital coaxial cable. It appears though that this ' cable ' does not exist.

So can I diy something that will work ?

Rodeodave · 22nd August 2010, 11:10 AM

Search for USB to SPDIF, you'll find plenty. USB to optical might be better because of electrical isolation (ground loops and such...).

tassosk · 22nd August 2010, 08:30 PM

M2Tech Highface is a very nice USB transport as well. I own it for more than six months and I'm very happy with it.

Charles Wasserf · 23rd August 2010, 06:11 PM

OK, so I need some sort of interface. The M2tech is pricey but I found this at about one third the price.

Monitor 01 USD-??? MUSILAND -

Is this what I need and does anybody have any opinion on its sound

Pjotr · 23rd August 2010, 08:57 PM

Yes, it is a great product and does the job pretty well. Drivers work flawless but only under MSWin. Does not work for Linux.

It uses a-synchronous data transfer which is the only proper way to have low jitter.

Charles Wasserf · 27th August 2010, 03:07 PM

Hi,

I have stumbled across a demo model Bel Canto USB Link at a good price locally. This would be cheaper than importing the Musiland, but which one sounds better.

Perhaps someone has compared them and could comment

paulb · 27th August 2010, 03:12 PM

Don't spend too much. Here's one that has also received favorable reviews, and it's a one-chip solution:
Hagerman Technology LLC: HagUsb USB to SPDIF Audiophile Converter

Pjotr · 28th August 2010, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulb

Don't spend too much. Here's one that has also received favorable reviews, and it's a one-chip solution:
Hagerman Technology LLC: HagUsb USB to SPDIF Audiophile Converter

Duh??? $129 is way, way too much for a simple PCM2704 (costing barely $3) implementation the Hagerman provides. For much less many others are around.

danb1974 · 09:58 AM

You can get several pcm 270x/290x based variations on ebay for like 30-something bucks, shipping included. Or if you settle with optical output another one at a fair price could be Behringer UCA-202 (pcm 2906 based plus some opamp, IIRC).

As Pjotr said, don't waste more money on it.

22nd August 2010, 10:23 AM	#1
Charles Wasserf diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: durban	Laptop to DAC interface Hi, I own a dac which will accept either optical or coaxial inputs and after a search on this forum and google I am more confused than ever. I wish to send audio from my aging Toshiba laptop with windows XP, to my external dac ( as mentioned optical or coax inputs only ) The laptop provides usb out and I thought that all I needed was a usb to digital coaxial cable. It appears though that this ' cable ' does not exist. So can I diy something that will work ?

22nd August 2010, 11:10 AM	#2
Rodeodave diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: in the alps Blog Entries: 1	Search for USB to SPDIF, you'll find plenty. USB to optical might be better because of electrical isolation (ground loops and such...). __________________ Gravity - Making the G since 13.7 billion B.C.

29th August 2010, 09:56 AM	#9
danb1974 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Timisoara	You can get several pcm 270x/290x based variations on ebay for like 30-something bucks, shipping included. Or if you settle with optical output another one at a fair price could be Behringer UCA-202 (pcm 2906 based plus some opamp, IIRC). As Pjotr said, don't waste more money on it. Last edited by danb1974; 29th August 2010 at 09:58 AM.

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22nd August 2010, 08:30 PM	#3
tassosk diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008	M2Tech Highface is a very nice USB transport as well. I own it for more than six months and I'm very happy with it.

23rd August 2010, 06:11 PM	#4
Charles Wasserf diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: durban	OK, so I need some sort of interface. The M2tech is pricey but I found this at about one third the price. Monitor 01 USD-??? MUSILAND - Is this what I need and does anybody have any opinion on its sound

23rd August 2010, 08:57 PM	#5
Pjotr diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Netherlands	Yes, it is a great product and does the job pretty well. Drivers work flawless but only under MSWin. Does not work for Linux. It uses a-synchronous data transfer which is the only proper way to have low jitter.

27th August 2010, 03:07 PM	#6
Charles Wasserf diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: durban	Hi, I have stumbled across a demo model Bel Canto USB Link at a good price locally. This would be cheaper than importing the Musiland, but which one sounds better. Perhaps someone has compared them and could comment

27th August 2010, 03:12 PM	#7
paulb diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Calgary	Don't spend too much. Here's one that has also received favorable reviews, and it's a one-chip solution: Hagerman Technology LLC: HagUsb USB to SPDIF Audiophile Converter

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