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Usb-c to spdif

JD1

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Dec 28, 2024
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Hello all, big thanks to amirm for the stunning amount of reviews and all the others members that contribute.

I was looking in the forum but couldn't seem to find what I want myself.

Question I want to send music using Tidal to DSP directly (using toslink), Douk audio U2 seems like a nice choice but then I noticed in the review that it was tested till 15khz response, does it not go to 20khz?

So my question is what would be good choices/options for usb-c to Spdif (toslink) for my purpose up to 100 $.

Considering:

- Douk audio u2
- Cubilux USB C to SPDIF Transmitter

I want the cleanest signal reaching the dsp possible and also small size and powered by usb-c only, thanks for any feedback and apologise if question has been asked.

If reviews are available for feedback given devices even better (responses etc...).

Best regards
 
Hi @JD1! Welcome to ASR.

Douk audio U2 seems like a nice choice but then I noticed in the review that it was tested till 15khz response, does it not go to 20khz?
It goes to 20kHz and beyond.

40Hz to 15kHz is merely the area of interest that the RMAA software analyzes.

So my question is what would be good choices/options for usb-c to Spdif (toslink) for my purpose up to 100 $.
SMSL PO100 2024 would be my choice.

It supports UAC2 Hardware volume control, which means that you can always control volume using the default OS control, even in macOS or when playing via ASIO in Windows.
 
Hi @JD1! Welcome to ASR.


It goes to 20kHz and beyond.

40Hz to 15kHz is merely the area of interest that the RMAA software analyzes.


SMSL PO100 2024 would be my choice.

It supports UAC2 Hardware volume control, which means that you can always control volume using the default OS control, even in macOS or when playing via ASIO in Windows.
Hello thanks for the stunning quick reply, the thing is dsp is in car and I will use its remote to switch between presets (headunit (rcas)/dsp using optical input) and volume, so in my case the volume control is already handled by dsp remote however is smsl PO100 2024 superior to douk audio u2?

It says MQA but I suppose it will play flac? since tidal switched to flac because of the origami in the MQA
 
It says MQA but I suppose it will play flac?
It will play both PCM and DSD.

FLAC is decoded by your player and sent to the DDC/DAC/DSP as PCM audio.

It says MQA but I suppose it will play flac? since tidal switched to flac because of the origami in the MQA
Tidal still sends tons of MQA, without telling their customers:
 
Thanks for the video, very informative, now I'm leaning to smsl even more given it will tell me if it's mqa or not
 
Hello all, big thanks to amirm for the stunning amount of reviews and all the others members that contribute.

I was looking in the forum but couldn't seem to find what I want myself.

Question I want to send music using Tidal to DSP directly (using toslink), Douk audio U2 seems like a nice choice but then I noticed in the review that it was tested till 15khz response, does it not go to 20khz?

So my question is what would be good choices/options for usb-c to Spdif (toslink) for my purpose up to 100 $.

Considering:

- Douk audio u2
- Cubilux USB C to SPDIF Transmitter

I want the cleanest signal reaching the dsp possible and also small size and powered by usb-c only, thanks for any feedback and apologise if question has been asked.

If reviews are available for feedback given devices even better (responses etc...).

Best regards
Do you want a powered unit or you want to be powered from the source?
 
Is this the sort of thing you are looking for?:

1735487954010.png


@VintageFlanker did some measurements and the PO100 Pro was excellent:

 
Thanks for the video, very informative, now I'm leaning to smsl even more given it will tell me if it's mqa or not
Mind you, it will only do so with a bit-perfect signal chain (e.g. Tidal playback via USB Audio Player Pro).

If instead the audio goes through the OS, then the MQA flag will be stripped off the audio data and the MQA LED won't light up.
 
I'm going to use s21 ultra (samsung) connected to SMSL po100 2024 rather than douk audio u2 using digital output to DSP
 
Mind you, it will only do so with a bit-perfect signal chain (e.g. Tidal playback via USB Audio Player Pro).

If instead the audio goes through the OS, then the MQA flag will be stripped off the audio data and the MQA LED won't light up.
Wait so using Tidal with s21 ultra won't work? I read Tidal bypassed the Samsung downsampling I mean Samsung s21 ultra itself can support 32bit/384khz
 
I'm going to use s21 ultra (samsung) connected to SMSL po100 2024 rather than douk audio u2 using digital output to DSP
You will need a usb hub to power this setup or the battery will run out quickly.
 
FWIW, the original PO100 consumes about 0.62W while playing music.

Could you dedicate the S21U's entire 19.4Wh battery capacity to powering the PO100, then you could play for 30+ hours.

Naturally, powering the S21U itself alongside the PO100 will reduce that number.
 
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FWIW, the original PO100 consumes about 0.62W while playing music.

Could you dedicate the S21U's entire 19.4Wh battery capacity to powering the PO100, then you could play for 30+ hours.

Naturally, powering the S21U itself alongside the PO100 will reduce that number.
5 hours is about the max it will be used and the head unit can fast charge the phone in like 30 min also power bank can charge it if I make a stop, so I'm not worried about the time it lasts as much as the clean signal and practicality I want from it.

Thanks for all the feedback. Really appreciated.
 
There is an automotive version of an adapter with Bluetooth just in case someone needs it:
 
I have these 3, all support up to 24/192 PCM

1. Matrix Audio X-SPDIF3 (The best building quality, with AES and I2S outputs, can go up to DSD512, I use for connecting the Wiim Ultra Streamer)
2. SMSL PO100 2024 (Handy, support MQA, dop64)
3. Cubilux USB C to SPDIF Transmitter (Do the job simply, with volume uncontrollable,locked when connecting Ipad (I prefer, volume is controlled at preamp), while the above 2 are controllable (Volume controls of X-SPDIF3 and PO100 on iOS are not linear, I don't understand why...),

any of them does the job and USB-powered

This one if you need external charging abilty:

but for car use, wireless is always the most convenient solution.
You may also consider Wiim Mini, which is USB powered and with Toslink output.
 
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