general_gaspacho
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- Apr 19, 2026
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Hi everyone!
I'm looking for a DAC that can be externally controlled. That means: I want to be able to electronically control the DAC, e.g., select the input source or set the volume level. This is required for integration into a larger multimedia system.
I don't care how exactly the control works, i.e., it could be via Ethernet, via RS232, I2C, SPI, or something else.
Besides that, my other requirements for that DAC are pretty basic:
- Volume control
- Inputs: Toslink, Coax S/PDIF, USB, optionally: Ethernet
- The DAC should memorize its input source and volume level when power cycling
Unfortunately, I couldn't really find any DAC that meets these requirements.
I recently checked out the Gustard DR70, which has an Ethernet port and therefore I assumed would certainly provide an API to control the DAC. However, the DR70 cannot be controlled via Ethernet at all. It only provides some streaming software interfaces via Ethernet. They call this a "bridge", and it's basically just a very limited ARM system that connects to the DAC via USB internally. It doesn't offer more control than an externally connected Raspberry Pi would.
There's the Fiio K13 R2R, which comes with an Android app that can control the DAC via Bluetooth. So theoretically I could reverse engineer the app and send the right Bluetooth commands myself. Unfortunately that app Bluetooth connection seems to be very unreliable, so this is probably not the right way to go.
I also thought about emulating the infrared remote controls that come with many DACs. The issue with that is: Those infrared remotes only allow relative changes, e.g., "volume up", "volume down", "next input", instead of "set volume level 20" or "set input Toslink". So that's not really usable, because you cannot read out the current state of the DAC (current volume level/input). Plus it would be a very clunky setup, of course.
So: Which DACs can be controlled electronically?
I'm looking for a DAC that can be externally controlled. That means: I want to be able to electronically control the DAC, e.g., select the input source or set the volume level. This is required for integration into a larger multimedia system.
I don't care how exactly the control works, i.e., it could be via Ethernet, via RS232, I2C, SPI, or something else.
Besides that, my other requirements for that DAC are pretty basic:
- Volume control
- Inputs: Toslink, Coax S/PDIF, USB, optionally: Ethernet
- The DAC should memorize its input source and volume level when power cycling
Unfortunately, I couldn't really find any DAC that meets these requirements.
I recently checked out the Gustard DR70, which has an Ethernet port and therefore I assumed would certainly provide an API to control the DAC. However, the DR70 cannot be controlled via Ethernet at all. It only provides some streaming software interfaces via Ethernet. They call this a "bridge", and it's basically just a very limited ARM system that connects to the DAC via USB internally. It doesn't offer more control than an externally connected Raspberry Pi would.
There's the Fiio K13 R2R, which comes with an Android app that can control the DAC via Bluetooth. So theoretically I could reverse engineer the app and send the right Bluetooth commands myself. Unfortunately that app Bluetooth connection seems to be very unreliable, so this is probably not the right way to go.
I also thought about emulating the infrared remote controls that come with many DACs. The issue with that is: Those infrared remotes only allow relative changes, e.g., "volume up", "volume down", "next input", instead of "set volume level 20" or "set input Toslink". So that's not really usable, because you cannot read out the current state of the DAC (current volume level/input). Plus it would be a very clunky setup, of course.
So: Which DACs can be controlled electronically?
