USB DAC with optical output and RCA output

[audiojack]

Hello, do you guys have any suggestions for an USB DAC that has an optical output and RCA output which output audio simultaneously?
The idea is to play audio via USB (from laptop or Sony TV) to active speakers via optical output and the 2x RCA for a stereo subwoofer setup. 2-XLR outputs would be a bonus (though not required) as I might upgrade my active speakers in the future. A plug and play device would be welcome as it's then also likely working on my Sony TV.

Or should I go for another setup, USB to optical > optical splitter > 1 output to active speakers, 1 output to optical to RCA DAC to subwoofers, or will this give delay? Would prefer an all in one device for simplicity.

Currently I'm using an usb M-Audio Micro DAC 24/192 which is actually a great little device. It has a mini optical output and jack output with volume control, I connected small active speakers to the mini optical output and on the jack output a RCA splitter which feeds a pair of stereo subwoofers. It outputs audio to both the optical and jack simultaneously and the volume of the woofers can be controlled with the jack volume control. I works really well and the audio quality is good to my ears, the only thing is that when I'm streaming from Qobuz or Sony TV I sometimes get a short snap sound in the tweeter (mainly left tweeter for whatever reason) when pressing play pauze or forwarding within a track. I don't think this is caused by the optical cable (since it's new) but likely it's caused by the usb M-Audio Micro DAC, or could it be something else? I tested other active speakers with this setup and that gave the same tweeter snap sound occasionally.
Looking for a device that wont have this issue as I'm kinda scared it might damage my active speakers.
Thanks a lot.

Amazon.com

 

[Dunring]

I use a Syba Sonic for testing DAC inputs, the amplifier is useless (weak, high noise floor) but it will output to RCA and optical and performance is pretty normal as a DAC only. Used for $24 it's got RCA, Optical, and Coax out.

Amazon.com

 

[V.b.]

Topping D10s USB DAC and Bridge Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping D10s USB DAC and S/PDIF plus Toslink bridge. It was kindly sent to me by the company for testing. The D10s has a retail cost of US $99. Let me start by confessing that the original D10 was one of my favorites with its cute orange...

www.audiosciencereview.com

There is also a balanced version. No volume control.

 

[staticV3]

Hello, do you guys have any suggestions for an USB DAC that has an optical output and RCA output which output audio simultaneously?

Topping D10s, D10 Balanced, or SMSL PO100AK.

 

[audiojack]

I use a Syba Sonic for testing DAC inputs, the amplifier is useless (weak, high noise floor) but it will output to RCA and optical and performance is pretty normal as a DAC only. Used for $24 it's got RCA, Optical, and Coax out.

Amazon.com

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[audiojack]

Topping D10s, D10 Balanced, or SMSL PO100AK.

Thanks. Maybe a noob question but will the optical output signal volume and rca/balanced output volume change simultaneously?

 

[Jimbob54]

Thanks. Maybe a noob question but will the optical output signal volume and rca/balanced output volume change simultaneously?

Optical out will likely be a pass through of the input so no.

Edit actually I'm not sure quite what you're asking. If you take the d10 as an example, it has no volume setting to alter (many other dacs do). If there was a volume control on the dac then the rca output would be affected by it but not the optical output. But in the d10 you would either change volume at source (Eg on the pc etc) which would reduce optical and rca out levels together OR in whatever components are downstream.

 

[staticV3]

Thanks. Maybe a noob question but will the optical output signal volume and rca/balanced output volume change simultaneously?

I'm not sure.

@VintageFlanker can probably tell you how the SMSL behaves WRT volume.

For the two Topping models, try asking in their respective review threads:

Topping D10s USB DAC and Bridge Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping D10s USB DAC and S/PDIF plus Toslink bridge. It was kindly sent to me by the company for testing. The D10s has a retail cost of US $99. Let me start by confessing that the original D10 was one of my favorites with its cute orange...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Topping D10 Balanced Review (USB DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping D10 Balanced. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $139. The D10 Balanced as the name implies, comes in my favorite USB DAC package with the same cute orange display: Back panel is where the difference is: Balanced...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Although none of them have physical volume controls, they very likely still have hardware volume control via UAC2 commands sent from your USB Host.

If you use software volume control, so the volume sliders built into Spotify, YouTube, VLC, foobar200, etc, then optical and analog output volume will always be affected in sync.