Split a USB data stream

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Hi ...

Hi guys, is it possible to split a usb signal? Eg have a usb cable with 2 output plugs in parallel?

Thinking about running parallel DAC's.....

Cheers

I reckon it would be possible to split the USB signal however the USB signal to my knowledge isn't necessarily synchronous with the music playback which requires very precise timing for each sample ... I would guess that running more DACs off of the same USB signal might lead to timing "challenges" (but I am not an expert here).

In most cases the USB signal is "translated" e.g. to an I2S standard signal via a USB "bridge" like e.g. the Amanero combo384. This I2S signal can be used in most DACs for the D/A conversion. And such a signal can be split/divided (master clock, bit clock, data) and be read by two or more DACs.

Don't know if this is a reply to your question - my two cents.

Cheers,

Jesper
 
It is to my best knowledge a two way communication line - this would mean that the sending end would have answers from 2 ends instead of one. I don't think it works.

It's not like USB is a speaker cable. It carries a communication protocol with requests and answers. But it is a BUS so you may have more than one DAC in a USB port but it must be made with the good mind of the host (sender) e.g. a computer. Then there is still the timing aspects that gentelvoice mention... this would be on layer 3-ish.

An s/pdif line is split-able. So is I2S. This is layer 1 (physical).

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It is to my best knowledge a two way communication line - this would mean that the sending end would have answers from 2 ends instead of one. I don't think it works.

It's not like USB is a speaker cable. It carries a communication protocol with requests and answers. But it is a BUS so you may have more than one DAC in a USB port but it must be made with the good mind of the host (sender) e.g. a computer. Then there is still the timing aspects that gentelvoice mention... this would be on layer 3-ish.

An s/pdif line is split-able. So is I2S. This is layer 1 (physical).

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Thanks guys, understand more now! Might have try at splitting the spdif signal and see what happens!

Cheers
 
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