DIY 6 channel USB DAC

hurtz · 12:02 PM

Hi folks!

As the title suggests, I'm looking for a 6-channel USB DAC i.e. USB input and 6 channel analog output (5.1 surround to be exact).
I've been looking around for this but it seems there are only stereo solutions widely available. But since you can buy such an adapter for around 30$ the technology obviously exists.

Why USB? Because its supposed to connect to a laptop!

One solution I found to this would be to use multiple 2-channel DACs on a usb hub perhaps, but this seems kinda ugly.

USB to spdif also falls flat because of the limitd bandwidth/encryption.

As I see it, I would need to find a chip that can do USB --> 3 x I2S and then there should be plenty chips that can do I2S to analog.

I would be grateful for any hints in the right direction!

cheers!

MatM · 30th November 2011, 12:12 PM

I don't know of any single-chip solution, but have a look at the Wolfson WM8766 DAC. It accepts 6 channel digital audio input through it's single "I2S-on-steroids" input ( they refer to it as DSP-mode input), or 3x I2S inputs. A suitably cheap micro on the front of this with USB input should work.

Good luck

Mat

hurtz · 30th November 2011, 12:49 PM

Great! Thanks!

this was exactly what I was looking for, equipped with new search-words I also stumbled over the PCM 1681 from TI which does 8 channels, in a quite similar way.

Now I only need to find myself the usb to I2S/DSP conversion thingy!

cheers!

gruni · 30th November 2011, 01:20 PM

the VIA VT1728 chip seems to be a perfect match for what you need but I doubt it's easy to get as a private person, especially in germany...

hurtz · 30th November 2011, 01:33 PM

Indeed I can't even find a datasheet :-D

Possible typo? Even the VIA homepage turned nothing up.

cheers!

gruni · 3rd December 2011, 10:44 AM

here you go:

VIA Vinyl EnvyUSB 2.0 8-Channel Audio Controller - VT1728A - VIA Technologies, Inc.

30th November 2011, 11:56 AM	#1
hurtz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2010	DIY 6 channel USB DAC Hi folks! As the title suggests, I'm looking for a 6-channel USB DAC i.e. USB input and 6 channel analog output (5.1 surround to be exact). I've been looking around for this but it seems there are only stereo solutions widely available. But since you can buy such an adapter for around 30$ the technology obviously exists. Why USB? Because its supposed to connect to a laptop! One solution I found to this would be to use multiple 2-channel DACs on a usb hub perhaps, but this seems kinda ugly. USB to spdif also falls flat because of the limitd bandwidth/encryption. As I see it, I would need to find a chip that can do USB --> 3 x I2S and then there should be plenty chips that can do I2S to analog. I would be grateful for any hints in the right direction! cheers! Last edited by hurtz; 30th November 2011 at 12:02 PM.

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30th November 2011, 12:12 PM	#2
MatM diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK	I don't know of any single-chip solution, but have a look at the Wolfson WM8766 DAC. It accepts 6 channel digital audio input through it's single "I2S-on-steroids" input ( they refer to it as DSP-mode input), or 3x I2S inputs. A suitably cheap micro on the front of this with USB input should work. Good luck Mat

30th November 2011, 12:49 PM	#3
hurtz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2010	Great! Thanks! this was exactly what I was looking for, equipped with new search-words I also stumbled over the PCM 1681 from TI which does 8 channels, in a quite similar way. Now I only need to find myself the usb to I2S/DSP conversion thingy! cheers!

30th November 2011, 01:20 PM	#4
gruni diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	the VIA VT1728 chip seems to be a perfect match for what you need but I doubt it's easy to get as a private person, especially in germany...

30th November 2011, 01:33 PM	#5
hurtz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2010	Indeed I can't even find a datasheet :-D Possible typo? Even the VIA homepage turned nothing up. cheers!

3rd December 2011, 10:44 AM	#6
gruni diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	here you go: VIA Vinyl EnvyUSB 2.0 8-Channel Audio Controller - VT1728A - VIA Technologies, Inc.

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