Generic Budget USB to AES Converter Review

[KSTR]

Where did you find this information?

Directly on the various websites where this adapter is offered, like the AliExpess link from post #1. And from the price stated in post #1 one might infer that it was the 16bit only model.

 

[darth]

The link from post #1 says 16-24bit though

Directly on the various websites where this adapter is offered, like the AliExpess link from post #1. And from the price stated in post #1 one might infer that it was the 16bit only model.

 

[KSTR]

The link from post #1 says 16-24bit though

OK, looks I misread on that one, but I definitely saw the 16bit-only statement on some other website/ebay for (apparantly) the same range of adapters.
EDIT: Here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256073194523

 

[phofman]

IMO only checking the actual device capability (either usb configuration dump or the linux UAC driver debug info) can be trusted. Descriptions on Aliexpress are notoriously incorrect.

 

[darth]

Here is the info from the version I got (BT/USB-C one). That default startup volume of -21dB is definitely annoying.

 

[jk42]

IMO only checking the actual device capability (either usb configuration dump or the linux UAC driver debug info) can be trusted. Descriptions on Aliexpress are notoriously incorrect.

In this manufacturer's case the specs do seem to match. There's a bunch of different models, all within the same price range, both class audio compliant and specced as requiring drivers for x - which I'm not interested in. Add a distributor or two and a reseller or two and whoooeee yes they might get them mixed up.

 

[mdsimon2]

OK, looks I misread on that one, but I definitely saw the 16bit-only statement on some other website/ebay for (apparantly) the same range of adapters.
EDIT: Here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256073194523

he link from post #1 says 16-24bit though

There is conflicting info in the AliExpress listing.

Michael

 

[phofman]

Here is the info from the version I got (BT/USB-C one).

Thanks. What rates does the Format select offer? Very likely also 16bits are supported by the soundcard. Would OSX list all the card params somewhere?

 

[antcollinet]

IMO only checking the actual device capability (either usb configuration dump or the linux UAC driver debug info) can be trusted. Descriptions on Aliexpress are notoriously incorrect.

Was just about to make the same point. In fact the headline description says 16 to 32 bit, which is not possible for AES.

They are just as likely to be saying - will you can put 24 bits IN to it.

 

[darth]

Thanks. What rates does the Format select offer? Very likely also 16bits are supported by the soundcard. Would OSX list all the card params somewhere?

See the image in the prior post, which has the rates also.
I could not find any more information other than that and below. Maybe I need to find another command.

$ system_profiler SPUSBDataType

B2+:
              Product ID: 0x4007
              Vendor ID: 0x0a12  (Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd.)
              Version: 19.70
              Serial Number: ABCDEF0123456789
              Speed: Up to 12 Mb/s
              Manufacturer: QTIL
              Location ID: 0x01110000 / 2
              Current Available (mA): 500
              Current Required (mA): 0
              Extra Operating Current (mA): 0

Lol @ the serial number. And definitely not registered as USB2. So the Type C is working off USB1.

In contrast, here is what the quloos USB bridge shows. It just arrived for me so haven't plugged it into the speakers yet. Sound level was at 0dB by default, which is nice.

Quloos QU02:

          Product ID: 0x0a23
          Vendor ID: 0x16d0
          Version: 1.9b
          Serial Number: <removed>
          Speed: Up to 480 Mb/s
          Manufacturer: Quloos
          Location ID: 0x02100000 / 1
          Current Available (mA): 500
          Current Required (mA): 0
          Extra Operating Current (mA): 0

 

[phofman]

See the image in the prior post, which has the rates also.

Those values do not look like real samplerates, more like an OSX list for UAC1/USB1 rates. E.g. it's rather unlikely that the device would natively support 8/16kHz.

Also the rates listed for the QU02 bridge - the vendor claims rates 44.1 to 384kHz in all its materials. Its user guide says on page 4: Device name: Quloos QU02 or Amanero ASIO Combo384. That strongly suggests the same USB chip and firmware is used as in Amanero which also goes up to 384kHz only. Again the list looks more like a fixed rates list for UAC2/USB2.

In both cases linux would tell the native rates reliably.

 

[darth]

Welp, the QU02 bridge seems not useful for my use case. Audibly works just fine, all the way to 24bit/192 khz music off Apple music. Didn't hear any cracking/popping/dropouts from my brief testing. But no volume control of any kind from the USB host/source. Seems fixed volume. Tried it connected to my streamer, to my mac or to an iPad directly. No volume changes. The only way I could get volume to change was to change it directly on the Genelecs via GLM. Which is a deal killer for me. My intention was to use it with my streamer (bluesound node icon connected to TV over HDMI) and use it's volume control capabilities. Back to analog XLRs for me.

 

[phofman]

The USB-host source (streamer, mac, iPad) has no volume control?

 

[patoulol]

you shouldn't change the volume with PC, ipad iMac... it breaks everything

 

[darth]

The USB-host source (streamer, mac, iPad) has no volume control?

They have it, just no effect on the output...not even when muted.

you shouldn't change the volume with PC, ipad iMac... it breaks everything

No workaround, need everything controlled via Apple TV / Google TV remote using HDMI-CEC. So just reverting back to analog inputs for the genelecs.

 

[phofman]

Why? If the stream is PCM (i.e. audio, not AC3/DTS etc.), what difference does it make if the volume operation - dividing each sample value by a fixed number - is performed before or after sending the samples over USB?

 

[darth]

Why? If the stream is PCM (i.e. audio, not AC3/DTS etc.), what difference does it make if the volume operation - dividing each sample value by a fixed number - is performed before or after sending the samples over USB?

Because I am 10+ feet away and there is no reliable wireless way to control volume over GLM (their wireless remote sucks, nor can it work without direct line of sight) + needs to be accessible via the same 1 remote that is used for TV/Device control.

 

[phofman]

They have it, just no effect on the output...not even when muted.

Well, then maybe the device correctly reports its output terminal type as SPDIF (https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/termt10.pdf table 2-6), and your sources have a "clever" rule that no volume is applied for SPDIF outputs. It may be configurable, e.g. for OSX google suggests to adjust application volume instead https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-optical.2368768/?post=31704765#post-31704765

This is one of the reasons I do not use closed systems - their authors know better than me what I want

 

[phofman]

Because I am 10+ feet away and there is no reliable wireless way to control volume over GLM (their wireless remote sucks, nor can it work without direct line of sight) + needs to be accessible via the same 1 remote that is used for TV/Device control.

Sorry for not quoting, was replying to @patoulol

 

[patoulol]

Sorry for not quoting, was replying to @patoulol

@jk42 can explain it better than me, I go through a translator, I am French and do not speak English But in summary, you don't have to adjust the volume because it starts at -20dB