This is a review and detailed measurements of the Sonnect SoundWire USB-C to XLR cable adapter (DAC). It is on kind loan from a member and costs €148.84 or US $165.
This is basically a USB-C powered DAC dongle with XLR output. As a result, it is much lighter and smaller to carry. The braided cabling is difficult to wrap but otherwise, is thin and very light. The XLR connectors look and feel good.
Sonnect SoundWire Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard:
Two things are disappointing: high distortion products and low output. The latter is actually a hair better than spec (0 dBu) but still, I like to see 4 volt output. We have little headphone dongles with differential outputs that can do that. Back to distortion, it sets SINAD and compared to stand-alone DACs, performance is wanting:
Noise performance fortunately, is much better:
Despite very modest output, distortion rises in IMD tests well below max output (reason will become clear):
Multitone shows another clue as to the cause of distortion:
Linearity is lost below 17 dB which is fine for this class:
There is jitter of course but fortunately, it doesn't rise to level of audibility:
Filter response is good:
We have a non-documented high pass filtered output:
1 dB attenuation at 20 Hz should not be a bother though.
THD+N vs frequency finally answers the reason for distortion:
That kind of rise in low frequency is indication of a transformer in the output stage. Searching online, there are indeed little transformers embedded in the XLR connectors!
That makes the unit immune to 48 volt phantom power which is important in pro application.
Conclusions
Compared the last USB-C to XLR cable adapter I reviewed, the SoundWire has far cleaner performance. It is on equal footing as far as low output level. On the negative or positive side depending on your point of view, the output transformer loses linearity below 200 Hz and is likely responsible for low output voltage (as to keep its distortion from being worse yet).
Compared to our generic adapter cable, the price is much higher but in the context of professional applications. If you were on strict budget, you could use a headphone dongle with XLR adapter but that would be less robust physically.
I have very limited context here given the two devices of this type I have tested so far. Based on that comparison I can recommend the Sonnect SoundWire.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
This is basically a USB-C powered DAC dongle with XLR output. As a result, it is much lighter and smaller to carry. The braided cabling is difficult to wrap but otherwise, is thin and very light. The XLR connectors look and feel good.
Sonnect SoundWire Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard:
Two things are disappointing: high distortion products and low output. The latter is actually a hair better than spec (0 dBu) but still, I like to see 4 volt output. We have little headphone dongles with differential outputs that can do that. Back to distortion, it sets SINAD and compared to stand-alone DACs, performance is wanting:
Noise performance fortunately, is much better:
Despite very modest output, distortion rises in IMD tests well below max output (reason will become clear):
Multitone shows another clue as to the cause of distortion:
Linearity is lost below 17 dB which is fine for this class:
There is jitter of course but fortunately, it doesn't rise to level of audibility:
Filter response is good:
We have a non-documented high pass filtered output:
1 dB attenuation at 20 Hz should not be a bother though.
THD+N vs frequency finally answers the reason for distortion:
That kind of rise in low frequency is indication of a transformer in the output stage. Searching online, there are indeed little transformers embedded in the XLR connectors!
That makes the unit immune to 48 volt phantom power which is important in pro application.
Conclusions
Compared the last USB-C to XLR cable adapter I reviewed, the SoundWire has far cleaner performance. It is on equal footing as far as low output level. On the negative or positive side depending on your point of view, the output transformer loses linearity below 200 Hz and is likely responsible for low output voltage (as to keep its distortion from being worse yet).
Compared to our generic adapter cable, the price is much higher but in the context of professional applications. If you were on strict budget, you could use a headphone dongle with XLR adapter but that would be less robust physically.
I have very limited context here given the two devices of this type I have tested so far. Based on that comparison I can recommend the Sonnect SoundWire.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
