I want to connect my SMSL PL200T cd transport to my Weiliang DA10PRO dac through I2S. The first image labeled "normal" is the cd's output and the second one is the dac's input. What do you suggest using other than the obvious custom HDMI cable.
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I2S to I2S
- Thread starter Marius13
- Start date
Welcome to ASR! Isn't the pin-out the same on these diagrams? I think you can use a straight cable, but you should check with manufacturers.
Mirroring the first diagram horizontally makes the comparison easier...
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Both of your links are broken.
After looking both products up, I would ignore the I2S connection and just use TOSLINK. The sound will be the same, but you have the advantages of not worrying about pinouts or ground loops.
After looking both products up, I would ignore the I2S connection and just use TOSLINK. The sound will be the same, but you have the advantages of not worrying about pinouts or ground loops.
DVDdoug
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Yeah... If you are doing this because somebody says it will sound better that's just the usual audiophile nonsense. In general, digital data, audio or otherwise, gets from "point A" to "point B' perfectly.
Most audio & audiophile information on the Internet and in publications is full of nonsense... This one of the few rational-scientific resources.
There are a couple of red-flags for audiophile nonsense... They usually use meaningless words of things that can't be measured like, "the sound was more open", instead of something defined and understandable like "more bass" or "a buzz in the left speaker".
They usually don't do measurements or they aren't doing controlled blind listening tests. Proper blind listening tests are time consuming so they are rare, but you can fool yourself with sighed listening tests and I'd trust what someone else says even less.
Most audio & audiophile information on the Internet and in publications is full of nonsense... This one of the few rational-scientific resources.
There are a couple of red-flags for audiophile nonsense... They usually use meaningless words of things that can't be measured like, "the sound was more open", instead of something defined and understandable like "more bass" or "a buzz in the left speaker".
They usually don't do measurements or they aren't doing controlled blind listening tests. Proper blind listening tests are time consuming so they are rare, but you can fool yourself with sighed listening tests and I'd trust what someone else says even less.
- Thread Starter
- #5
Sorry about the broken links.
PL200 T https://share.google/QJ9g36pq4AlwseqhL
I just found this on AliExpress:
AED2,394.89 | Weiliang DA10PRO HIEND flagship dual-core AK4499EX full-balanced decoder HIFI fever
The idea was to use the I2S connection as there is one on both devices. Thank you for your reply
- Thread Starter
- #6
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately the pinout is not the same.
Yes, I now see some of the higher numbered pins are different. You are going to need a custom cable.
There's a thread discussing I2S of HDMI here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/i2s-via-hdmi-pinout-wiring.26092/
There's a Google sheet linked to in that thread that has lots of technical details and shows the 'standard' pin out for various manufacturers. I counted 9 'standard' pin outs....
i2s
Personally, I don't think it's worth the faff.
musicservertips
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I used to connect my Gustard X20U via I²S to a Singxer SU-1 USB DDC. Any difference I thought I heard was probably down to the SU-1’s isolation and jitter performance rather than the I²S link itself. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend using I²S between external devices: the standard was never intended for that, and incorrect wiring can easily introduce issues. Coaxial or Toslink are well-defined, measure transparently, and are much less error-prone. From my perspective, I²S in consumer gear is mostly a marketing feature rather than a technical necessity.
