USB to digital output converter - use when iPhone

[SiW]

Looking for a usb to digital converter (prefer coax).

Have a Hifime Sabre 9018 which has optical output.

However, is the Topping D10 or something else a better unit to use?

Cheers!

Simon

 

[Deleted member 65]

I've got this one, quite versatile

 

[SiW]

Cheers

Also wondering if an Airplay or Bluetooth receiver with spdif output would be a better solution

Simon

 

[jtwrace]

Desktop or travel? I use an Audioquest Red with my iPhone when I travel with some custom IEM. Also have the camera adapter (large) so I can charge at the same time.

 

[SiW]

Travel / in car use

I’m assuming usb to digital is better quality than airplay / Bluetooth to digital - is this right?

I already have the camera connector and use that that for Hifime Sabre.

Simon

 

[Biblob]

Does someone know a good coax to spdif converter?

 

[Patrick1958]

Does someone know a good coax to spdif converter?

Depends on what you want/can spend

 

[Biblob]

Depends on what you want/can spend

<$50 seems reasonable. Does more money relate to better conversion?

 

[Patrick1958]

<$50 seems reasonable. Does more money relate to better conversion?

Topping D10 has a good usb/spdif converter, also scored pretty good in test here. A bit over your budget 89 €. IMO more money will get you in most cases better conversion.

 

[Biblob]

Topping D10 has a good usb/spdif converter, also scored pretty good in test here. A bit over your budget 89 €. IMO more money will get you in most cases better conversion.

Topping D10 has USB input, but I need coax input.

 

[josh3010]

this little device will output a digital signal up to 24bit-96khz, used to be a NoSound product but now its all over ebay and aliexpress - https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-to-SPD...h=item41a4c28679:g:2Y8AAOSw~p1bqhhC:rk:4:pf:0

there is also the Syba Sonic SD-DAC63057 that goes for about the same price, and the Fiio e10k for about $75

if you want a 24bit-192khz output signal though the D10 is the cheapest

 

[TimW]

Does someone know a good coax to spdif converter?

You could also look at getting a used Fostex COP-1. I got one recently for $15.

 

[Vincent Kars]

Does someone know a good coax to spdif converter?

Wonder what you are looking for as in general we do send SPDIF over coax.
Coax to Toslink (SPDIF over optical)?

 

[Vincent Kars]

I’m assuming usb to digital is better quality than airplay / Bluetooth to digital - is this right?

USB is a lossless transmission with bit depth 16 , 24, 32 and sample rates up to 384 kHz in modern implementations
Airplay: it is a bit unclear what its capabilities really are but is is capable of lossless transmission of 16/44 audio
Bluetooth is a lossy codec, comparable with high bit rate MP3

I have a bit dated list of USB to SPDIF converters: http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_SPDIF.htm

 

[SiW]

Cheers

Is the Hifime Sabre usb DAC - is this ‘good’ for digital output compared to the D10 or M2Tech HiFace2?

Is coax or optical the preferred digital transfer medium?

Simon

 

[Vincent Kars]

See this one: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...and-review-of-hifime-sabre-9018-usb-dac.2146/

I don't like blanket statements as 'coax is better than optical' as it of course depends on the implementation.
Modern toslink can be very good in the jitter department.
However, my feeling is that a well designed coax beats a optical in the jitter department at the expense of having a galvanic connection between the boxes.

 

[SiW]

Thanks Vincent - agree there are pros and cons of both.

Regarding usb to digital output converters, assume its the chip that makes the difference. Is the ES9023 in the Sabre as ‘good’ as the XMOS chip in the D10?

Simon

 

[Vincent Kars]

As far as I know, ES9023 is a DAC and XMOS is most of al famous for the USB interface so not a DAC but a UAC1/2 compliant receiver

 

[SiW]

Sorry meant SA9023 (assuming I have read the spec correctly!!) for the USB chip.

Which chip does the digital output - USB or DAC chip?

I used need a ‘good’ usb to digital output to connected into my miniDSP nanoDIGI but seems the Sabre isn’t great from the tests

Simon

 

[Vincent Kars]

Which chip does the digital output - USB or DAC chip?

Well a DAC is a Digital to Analog Converter hence the DAC won't do digital out, isn't it?

http://www.saviaudio.com/product.html
I'm not familiar with this company.
The specs looks a bit limited (24/96 kHz max) so probably UAC1 (USB Audio Class 1).
I have no clues about how stable this product is.
Developing a good UAC1/2 receiver is not trivial.
XMOS is a big name in this field.