USB to SPDIF converter, or that combined with good DAC

[rick57]

Just getting a 2nd hand ThinkPad (sale in progress) to switch to audio off the notebook.

I want to bypass the 3.5 mm analog output, as that will have gone through the basic onboard DAC. (The music will be coming through "audiophile" 3 ways speakers I will make, with ribbon tweeters etc).

I need either a USB 1.1 to SPDIF converter, to hook to a good separate 96k DAC, or a combined unit. Preferably a 2nd hand off board sound card with USB in and a 96k DAC.

I thought I found some of the latter, eg
M-Audio Audiophile USB www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AudiophileUSB-focus.html
M -Audio Sonica Theater www.sudhian.com/index.php?/articles/show/465/2
but it looks like the USBs in these are just for output, ie for musicians or others recording

I want something better than the DAC inn the combined Hagerman $US 129 USB > SPDIF & DAC.
http://www.hagtech.com/hagusb.html

Anyone know of a cheaper USB 1.1 to SPDIF converter?

Better to draw off digital something inside the notebook, or spend about $US 80 (I'm otside the US) for the Hagerman & build it? The latter seems excessive just to get a digital out . . how easy is drawing off digital something inside the notebook?

Thanks

 

[Scott_fx]

have you considered just getting a usb dac instead of a s/pdif dac and a usb/spdif converter?

 

[rick57]

Yes, I was hoping for something between the Hagerman hagUSB and the Chime.

I’ve since been told offline that the USB on eg the M-Audio Audiophile USB *should accept input, so that’s the compromise I’m likely to use

On a premium system I’d go for the Hagerman Chime

Cheers

 

[Scott_fx]

the Dared MP-5 has me thinking about purchasing one of those for my house and moving my diy dac/amp to work

 

[kanguru]

I have had an M-Audio Audiophile USB connected via SPDIF to a Benchmark DAC1 and a pair of Sennheiser HD650s.

Fantastic sound, but there are simpler and cheaper ways to do it.

For example, a Sinovoice USB Audio Controller with optical SPDIF out goes for about $15 on eBay or you could get a (possibly higher quality and certainly more amenable to modding) USB to coax SPDIF from COEMAudio in Brisbane for $55 plus shipping

Kanguru
(p.s. just a satisfied customer of both eBay and COEMAudio.)

 

[danon]

Further possible stuff to investigate:
diy of course
http://www.ecp.cc/usb-spdif.html
other, assembled
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZpc4sl
http://www.aegophile.com/products/usbspdif.htm
maybe this fellow
http://cgi.ebay.com/ESI-Wavetermina...ryZ41784QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[rick57]

kanguru

What DAC do you use?

Thanks

 

[jeff mai]

I have had an M-Audio Audiophile USB connected via SPDIF to a Benchmark DAC1 and a pair of Sennheiser HD650s.

kanguru

What DAC do you use?

Thanks

 

[rick57]

What can I say?
I was watching a program on global warming, reading on PC audio, and my mind got over heated . .

 

[FastEddy]

rick57:

See: http://industrialcomponent.com/maudio/us99130.html = includes cable and they ship to Australia.

See: http://industrialcomponent.com/maudio/fwsolo.html = includes FW cable and they ship to Australia ... ( http://firewirestuff.com/pcmcia.html ... adds FireWire to your laptop )

Note: very few professional music recording studios use USB anymore for bi-directional audio, most have converted to FireWire in order to record multi-channel 24bit/96k or better ... like this: http://industrialcomponent.com/maudio/lightbridge.html ...

There are some very, very good USB DACs in out there, but for pro, bi-directional music record and playback, bit the bullett and get with FireWire.

(Mercinary announcement: Those are my web sites and pages)

 

[rick57]

kanguru

The USB Audio Controllers must be about the cheapest for SPDIF out, optical.
Though isn’t the M-Audio Audiophile USB’s SPDIF in ~ coax?

BTW, you bought from COEMAudio?

IIRc, I tried email a few times about 14 months ago, but they didn’t reply.
When & what did you get? Happy?


danon

Though (Post #3) “I’ve since been told offline that the USB on eg the M-Audio Audiophile USB *should accept input, so that’s the compromise I’m likely to use“
the eBay gear is reasonable $, and
http://www.aegophile.com/products/usbspdif.htm is good value too


FastEddy

As you can see, I am not a songwriter/ guitarist, just an audiophile trying to do a lot with not enough knowledge and $.

> very few professional music recording studios use USB anymore for bi-directional audio, most have converted to FireWire in order to record multi-channel 24bit/96k or better

That’s probably why there are several on eBay; I got a M-Audio Audiophile USB for $75.

Cheers All (even that pesky guy!)

 

[hugz]

BTW, you bought from COEMAudio?

IIRc, I tried email a few times about 14 months ago, but they didn’t reply.
When & what did you get? Happy?

I have bought from COEM australia *many* times (i swear half of my setup is chinese now....). In fact, right now i'm listening to my DAC-AH through that very same USB->SPDIF converter

They're real good to do business with. If you emailed them 14 months ago then you must have bene emailing COEM audio Hong Kong or COEM audio Singapore, because COEM audio Australia has only been in business for 12 months. COEM audio australia is owned by different people, and you'll definately a reply to emails

If you have any questions about the USB thing then i may be able to help out.. but I'm on exams at the moment and I didn't buy it long ago so I've yet to find the time to do anything approaching "critical listening"

 

[rick57]

COEM have some groovy speakers

Cheers

 

[jeff mai]

USB to coax SPDIF from COEMAudio in Brisbane

I just bought one of these to try out. I use a HagUSB at the moment. This is a completely different solution. It uses a Philips chip instead of the HagUSB's TI chip.

 

[kanguru]

What DAC do you use?

I'm listening to 4 DACs: Benchmark DAC1, Zhalou D2.5, Audio Alchemy DAC-in-the-box and the Arcam Alpha 9 CD player internal ring DAC. I was using a 4-input headphone amp, Classic 10.0 (yes, bought recently from COEMAudio), balancing levels and listening for differences.

... isn’t the M-Audio Audiophile USB’s SPDIF in ~ coax?

Yes.

BTW, you bought from COEMAudio?
When & what did you get? Happy?

I've bought the Zhalou D2.5 DAC and a Classic 10.0 preamp, but the preamp stopped working after a few days so I've sent it back for repair or replacement. After sales service is a good test of a company so I'll let you know how well and how soon they resolve the problem.

I'm dealing with John Pham (0431582396 pham@coemaudio.com.au) and I've found him professional and courteous so far.

When I get the preamp back then I can get back to my listening tests, but as an asside, I'd appreciate advice on how to run several SPDIF in from a single SPDIF out without creating jitter issues, etc.

Kanguru

 

[anli]

I have had an M-Audio Audiophile USB connected via SPDIF to ...

kanguru,

Do you know which DAC (and other chips like controller and so on) is inside an M-Audio Audiophile USB?

 

[ptiJean]

I'm listening to 4 DACs: Benchmark DAC1, Zhalou D2.5, Audio Alchemy DAC-in-the-box and the Arcam Alpha 9 CD player internal ring DAC.

Hello Kanguru,

I just wish to know how does the Zhalou D2.5a sound compared to the Benchmark dac1 or Electrocompaniet ECD1 ?

Do you know ?
Thank you alot,
Regards

 

[ttan98]

see this site:


http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DIGITAL-PCLI...ihZ017QQcategoryZ3701QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Hag copy!!!

 

[FastEddy]

" Do you know which DAC (and other chips like controller and so on) is inside an M-Audio Audiophile USB? ..."

Same chips as are inside the M-Audio Audiophile / FireWire ... ... which can now be found used ala eBay, et al, as M-Audio is upgrading both designs for sale in the Apple stores.

 

[houseofhits]

Hi I'm new to this so this is actually a question not a reply. I have a Tascam DA 30 DAT player & a Mac Ibook. Wanna make cds of my DAT tapes by going digitally into Mac & burning cds there. I guess I need an SPDIF to USB converter. There seem to be a few that go the other way (USB to SPDIF), can I use them or do I need SPDIF-USB?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks