Network player with USB digital output?

[mycroft holmes]

Hello forum,

I'm looking for a network player that should have:
1) ethernet connectivity (e.g. DLNA)
2) USB in
3) USB out

I already ruled out SMSL SD-9 (it does not seem very reliable). Topping M50 might do, but I would strongly prefer something different.
I liked the Aune X5s but it lacks USB out.

Any advice is appreciated,
MH

 

[staticV3]

USB in for plugging the player into a computer and using it like a DAC, or for plugging in thumbdrives and playing music stored on those?

 

[mycroft holmes]

sorry, I wrote it in the title, but I forgot to repeat in the message body

1) ethernet connectivity (e.g. DLNA)
2) USB AUDIO in
3) USB AUDIO out

 

[mycroft holmes]

For example, this device:

Silent Angel | Munich M1T

www.silent-angel-audio.com

has usb audio out, but I think it doesn't have usb audio IN.

 

[mycroft holmes]

my use case is: I want to plug it into a computer and use it like a DAC (forwarding audio to the real dac) OR stream audio files to it over ethernet (via DLNA).
the topping m50 would do for the USB part, but I know as a fact in my setup it doesn't work well as a network player.

maybe I can use a raspberry pi with some special software installed?

 

[direwolf08]

What is your source that is driving the need to use the thing like a DAC?

 

[phofman]

Vast majority of streamer run linux. Reasonable support for USB-audio UAC2 gadget (i.e. USB input) was added to linux kernel last year. Still it's not simple to integrate the gadget UAC2 support seamlessly, it takes software support in the player. AFAIK no open source streamer SW has done the integration yet.

Very likely there will be offerings on the streamer market with properly integrated UAC2 gadget support (most ARM SBCs which the streamer use can do USB OTG and latest linux kernels support most of the implementations - DWC2/3 Synopsys IP core in almost all cases) but it will take a while, IMO.

 

[mycroft holmes]

so, there is no such a device and I cannot make my own...

 

[BDWoody]

I'm not sure why you'd need usb audio in, but the Nvidia Shield can act as a streamer and has USB audio out.

 

[IAtaman]

Rock Pi S Single Board Computer - has USB In, USB Out and Ethernet. You can get it with WiFi and BT as well. Costs $20 on AliExpress

RockpiS - Radxa Wiki

wiki.radxa.com

 

[mycroft holmes]

thanks for the replies, I think I found one:

the instructions are not totally explicit, but the rear of the unit clearly shows a usb-b port labeled "usb input" and a usb-a port labeled "dac".

https://www.musicalfidelity.com/uploads/catalogerfiles/mx-stream/5_MF-MXStream-Flyer.pdf

 

[phofman]

I am afraid it's just a bypass:

https://www.musicalfidelity.com/uploads/catalogerfiles/mx-stream/5_MF-MXStream-Flyer.pdf

USB INPUT: connect PC, laptop, phone etc. to bypass those devices to the DAC connected to the MX Stream

It's what the manufacturer calls "PC detox" in that flyer - just USB-in -> some internal USB filter (maybe just the power lines) -> USB-out

 

[Berwhale]

Eversolo DMP-A6​

Eversolo DMP-A6 Streamer Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Eversolo DMP-A6 Streamer and balanced DAC. It was sent to me by the company. I don't have the price but see it on sale for US $850. The DMP-A6 design is absolutely gorgeous. A large, high contrast LCD allows it to show realistic visualizations...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[phofman]

Yeah, if just USB-input bypassing the streamer software is OK, then it's technically quite simple. I was talking about capturing the USB input and e.g. applying the same DSP as to streamed content. But maybe that's not what the OP required.