Looking for DAC with Optical Input & Optical Output

[Grnphrog]

I'm looking to use my computer with a soundbar. From what i have read it seems Optical is better than RCA. I cant find a higher end DAC with both optical in AND optical out.
The Creative Sound Blaster X5 does have that but again, I would like to find a higher end component that has that feature.
Any suggestions?
TIA

 

[Rednaxela]

With optical in/out you keep everything digital and there is no D-A Conversion taking place. In that case, what do you expect from something that would be more high end than the X5?

 

[staticV3]

I cant find a higher end DAC with both optical in AND optical out

What's your use case specifically?

Optical output to the Soundbar and Line out to what?

 

[JustJones]

I guess you use the Soundblaster with headphones for gaming and you want to pass optical out to a soundbar? If you want optical in then out the DAC in the Soundblaster or any other DAC isn't doing anything the DAC chip in your soundbar is.

 

[Grnphrog]

With optical in/out you keep everything digital and there is no D-A Conversion taking place. In that case, what do you expect from something that would be more high end than the X5?

Now I just feel dumb, well played sir! LOL

 

[Grnphrog]

What's your use case specifically?

Optical output to the Soundbar and Line out to what?

I was thinking optical line out from computer to DAC then optical line out to soundbar.
But Redaxela pointed out that I may be using the DAC incorrectly. Which I appreciate

 

[staticV3]

I was thinking optical line out from computer to DAC then optical line out to soundbar.
But Redaxela pointed out that I may be using the DAC incorrectly. Which I appreciate

Yeah that's confusing.

Optical out is digital, Line out is analog.

"Optical Line out" is not a thing.

If all you want to do is connect your Soundbar to your PC, then you can do so using a Hifime UT23, Cubilux SPDIF Converter, or SMSL PO100, combined with a regular Optical cable.

Alternatively, if your PC has an optical port built-in, then you can use that, no external converter required.

 

[unpluggged]

OK, might not be what OP needs, but for anyone looking for this topic.

The cheapest DAC with both optical in and out I'm aware of is the Fiio BR13. It also has USB and BT inputs, coax in/out and also PEQ for the former two (sadly, applied only to analog out). It also has a nice metal casing, a display, and volume control (no IR remote, though). Got it last year on 11/11 sale for 42 bucks on Ali.

 

[bachatero]

Also check out the Motu UltraLite Mk5 which DOES have both optical in and out as well as chart topping performance!

 

[Grnphrog]

Yeah that's confusing.

Optical out is digital, Line out is analog.

"Optical Line out" is not a thing.

If all you want to do is connect your Soundbar to your PC, then you can do so using a Hifime UT23, Cubilux SPDIF Converter, or SMSL PO100, combined with a regular Optical cable.

Alternatively, if your PC has an optical port built-in, then you can use that, no external converter required

Makes sense now...
I was under the impression that SPDIF was better quality, and that using a DAC was going to improve the sound over what the Motherboard was providing.
So my new understanding is just run it from the Motherboard SPDIF straight to my soundboard and it should be as good as it will get with this specific set up.
Thank you to all who have chimed in and taught me some things.
Hopefully my ignorance was at least humorous =)

 

[Grnphrog]

So I need to ask, now that I'm a little more educated... is SPDIF better? or should i use the 3.5mm Line out and use a RCA splitter to connect to my sound bar?
OR use my SPDIF to a DAC then use RCA Line out?

 

[Multicore]

Makes sense now...
I was under the impression that SPDIF was better quality, and that using a DAC was going to improve the sound over what the Motherboard was providing.
So my new understanding is just run it from the Motherboard SPDIF straight to my soundboard and it should be as good as it will get with this specific set up.
Thank you to all who have chimed in and taught me some things.
Hopefully my ignorance was at least humorous =)

No worries. Welcome to ASR.

 

[staticV3]

So I need to ask, now that I'm a little more educated... is SPDIF better? or should i use the 3.5mm Line out and use a RCA splitter to connect to my sound bar?
OR use my SPDIF to a DAC then use RCA Line out?

SPDIF is almost certainly better.