Pass-through / convert from optical **to** USB

[Nicoff]

Yes, see #10

Note that only the Ultra has USB output, it's a full Host mode port.

Just the PEQ / room correction / HP-LP sub crossover bass management makes it good value!

I own the WiiM Pro (not the Ultra); I’m very happy with it.
You can buy the Ultra online and see if it works for you, if it doesn’t you can always return it.
Given all its features, it will be hard to find a cheaper option for what you want.

 

[john61ct]

I believe the Mutec 1.2+ will convert either direction.

From Christopher @Sweetwater

> As far as the MC1.2+ goes, the USB port on this is not a host port, it has to connect to a computer, so you can pass digital computer audio to another digital signal, and then back

 

[john61ct]

Yes I may well end up with the Ultra anyway, also seems best value for subwoofer integration / bass management, HP-LP filtering crossover, also PEQ and room correction to boot!

 

[Roland68]

Hi all, looking for a DAC that also supports digital pass-through, hopefully not too large or expensive.

USB output seems pretty rare? My most-often used input source is optical TOSlink, but S/PDIF Coax would be nice I guess

All three of these both input AND output would be ideal.

Next best would be digital-only conversion, no DAC function, but would prefer all in one.

HP amp, and/or Bluetooth transmit LDAP + aptX adaptive / LL

definitely not required - "would be nice" only

May I ask about the exact application and why it's so important to feed Toslink/SPDIF into a USB DAC?

Wouldn't it make more sense to buy an SU-1 or PO100 AK DAC that can process Toslink/SPDIF directly?

Converting Toslink/SPDIF to USB output is a bit more complex and not something that can be done easily. I know of two commercial projects on this topic, and if one of them goes on sale, the price for such a box will be well over €200.

 

[john61ct]

Again, not a very specific use case – not even about DACs really.

In my ignorance of the details of USB protocols, I had assumed any-to-any conversion was routinely possible, and in general, just wanted to be able to take a S/PDIF signal and feed it to devices that only accept USB.

A dongle from Sennheiser "BTD 700" (Auracast, aptX Adaptive) was my nominal spark, but of course many small DACs and other device types also match that criteria

 

[Roland68]

Again, not a very specific use case – not even about DACs really.

In my ignorance of the details of USB protocols, I had assumed any-to-any conversion was routinely possible, and in general, just wanted to be able to take a S/PDIF signal and feed it to devices that only accept USB.

A dongle from Sennheiser "BTD 700" (Auracast, aptX Adaptive) was my nominal spark, but of course many small DACs and other device types also match that criteria

It's generally not a good idea not to provide all the information. This way, you might miss out on solutions/approaches, as well as other perspectives that might lead to a completely different and possibly even better solution.
Mentioning the BTD 700 in this context only raises further questions.
But of course, it's up to you to keep it a secret.

 

[john61ct]

LOL I know what you mean. I've often gained the most knowledge on a tech topic by proposing stupid ideas, everyone jumping in to correct.

But my preference is to just be transparent unless there's a strong reason not to.

 

[bachatero]

The reason there are so few devices capable of this is because supporting USB devices would require supporting the USB Class Compliant standard for audio, in addition to individual drivers for individual devices if available. I'm not sure if any ASICs are available which support it. For microcontrollers, although many have built in USB communication hardware, that hardware isn't intelligent enough to speak Class Compliant on its own, and the processors are probably too weak to handle all that USB audio overhead. So, what you'd need is a full-fat OS like Linux which just has everything. But the problem is that most hardware makers are totally incompetent with things like Linux and so they don't make devices that use it in this way, except for Wiim which has a company behind it dedicated to doing this exact kind of thing. And the reason they're able to work with Linux so well despite the Wiim Pro not seeming like it's a full Linux device is because the hardware in all Wiim devices is essentially a stripped down Raspberry Pi. So if you want the Wiim-like experience without the Wiim cost, all you'd need is a commodity Raspberry Pi-like device to run that ALSA command I shared earlier. Such a setup is hardly a kludge and would be very close to what Wiim is already doing. You can get a real Raspberry Pi for just $10 or a clone for potentially less and then the SPDIF adapter for a similar amount and dedicate the whole thing to your SPDIF to USB need without any more fuss.

 

[john61ct]

I did not mean to disparage your suggestion, I apologise for (out of sheer ignorance) using the K-word. Fact is, if my need were great enough I now realise your idea would indeed be the most Elegant solution and certainly the cheapest.

It is however (if you don't mind me saying so) a bit of a Project, and beyond most ordinary folk technically, without step by step hand-holding.

Fortunately my need for this specific DDC functionality is not great.

And, as I stated it turns out the Wiim Ultra happens to be a great solution to other more important issues, just a matter of getting the funds together.

As an aside, I noticed that Wiim has been licensing their OS for low-end gadgets, which may just open up a lot more possibilities for our ever-evolving audio tech world...