USB to SPDIF converter

[BlueMax]

Looking for a USB to SPDIF converter.
Or an Ethernet to SPDIF converter; if there is such a thing!

Know of any? Thanks.

[Dev]

You mean something like this (http://www.hagtech.com/hagusb.html) or this? (http://www.djsuperstore.co.uk/=froogle/item/computer-hardware-software/643754-esi-gigaport-ag-8-chan-usb-sound-card-%C2%A3119.00)

[BlueMax]

phew! that was fast! Thanks Dev :)

HagUsb looks like the type of thing. USD125
Also found one at eBay for USD29.90 by www.diykits.com.hk

Same item sold by someone in the US for USD43
Description and photos at
http://www.cryo-parts.com/pclink.html
Is it any good?

[Dev]

Not tried them I'm afraid, so can't say how good they are. I just knew they existed. Hopefully someone here has tried them or something similar.

[owl37400]

I use one of these:

http://www.behringer.com/UCA202/index.cfm?lang=ENG

and it seems to work fine.

Gives you the option of phono out/in as well as SPDIF out.

I use the spdif out connected to a DAC.

was about £20/30 if I remember correctly.

[anubisgrau]

TC Konnekt products are pricey but work wonders

[Bob McC]

I've got a Sony CAV-U5 USB digital converter available if interested.

[BlueMax]

UCA202 from Behringer is on my short list. Behringer is a big name in the pro audio world and a music shop in Brighton, few miles from me, has got this for £22. So I was wondering what it is like.

I also plan to use SPDIF out connected to a DAC. Glad to know that you are happy with it that way.

Saw a USB to optical converter at Maplin's. A56AK. Only £16 but didn't like the look of it.

Read about TC Konnekt products, but they are much more than a simple USB to SPDIF converter.

[BlueMax]

I've got a Sony CAV-U5 USB digital converter available if interested.Haven't come across this before. Is it something like this at eBay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220086270613

[Bob McC]

That's the one.

[owl37400]

Saw a USB to optical converter at Maplin's. A56AK. Only £16 but didn't like the look of it. [/COLOR]

I considered this one too but ruled it out as I'm on a mac and it isn't compatible. Also it doesn't have the phono in/out option.

[nixon_fiend]

another option..

http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Product/USB_Audio_desc.htm

^ there's a chap selling these on UK ebay.. for about £70

[BlueMax]

Trend Audio product looks good. Haven't found the eBay seller as yet but worth investigating.

Was reading the online manual of Behringer U-Control UCA202.
They call it a "2 In/2 Out USB/Audio Interface with Digital Output"
Designed for the music industry to connect instruments, mixer, etc to the PC for recording and playback, it has a pair of RCA connectors as 'Line In' with input impedance 27 kOhms; max input level 2dBV.

Does this mean that you can record from your turntable and CDP into the PC ?

[owl37400]

Was reading the online manual of Behringer U-Control UCA202.
They call it a "2 In/2 Out USB/Audio Interface with Digital Output"
Designed for the music industry to connect instruments, mixer, etc to the PC for recording and playback, it has a pair of RCA connectors as 'Line In' with input impedance 27 kOhms; max input level 2dBV.

Does this mean that you can record from your turntable and CDP into the PC ?

Yes. I've used it to record into the computer from a tape deck. Worked fine.

It also means you can output straight to an amp without need for a seperate DAC if you so desire.

[BlueMax]

'phono out' mean that it must have a DAC of some sort. But at only £22 and I wonder about its quality. And is the current from a USB port good enough for a DAC?

Being able to record through it is a major attraction. Unfortunately, Brighton shop is out of stock and coudn't tell when they will get more in.

In the meantime Bob from Sunny Cheshire offered me a Sony CAV-U5 USB digital to converter for beer money :)
I will try that till I can get hold of a Behringer.

Cheers everyone for your input.

[BlueMax]

Sony CAV-U5 USB to Digital (Optical) Converter

Got this gizmo today, that Bob sent me.

Found the User Guide on the net. Not that it needed any with Windows XP. Was asked to insert XP installation CD and after that it worked fine.

Too early to make any conclusions but FLAC files on the hard drives certainly sounds better though it, than through line out from the PC.

[eisenach]

Just bought the cheap one from Maplin (£15). Optical output. Only using it to listen to Internet radio, but it seems to work fine, and seems to keep laptop noise out of the HiFi. It even comes with basic USB and optical cables.

[BlueMax]

Just bought the cheap one from Maplin (£15). Optical output. Only using it to listen to Internet radio, but it seems to work fine, and seems to keep laptop noise out of the Hi-Fi. It even comes with basic USB and optical cables. Laptop noise?! Noise when the fan cuts in or some other interference? Thanks.

Another question/questions!
For the journey from laptop to DAC, there are two cables used.
1. USB cable from the laptop to the converter;
2. Fibre optical cable from the converter to DAC.

For extension, is it better to get a longer USB cable or an optical cable?
Which one is more susceptible? Any maximum lengths specified for either type?

Thanks.

[eisenach]

Laptop noise?! Noise when the fan cuts in or some other interference? Thanks.

Another question/questions!
For the journey from laptop to DAC, there are two cables used.
1. USB cable from the laptop to the converter;
2. Fibre optical cable from the converter to DAC.

For extension, is it better to get a longer USB cable or an optical cable?
Which one is more susceptible? Any maximum lengths specified for either type?

Thanks.

If I use the analogue out directly from the laptop to the HiFi, there are all sorts of background whines, crackles and hums. Via the USB - SPDIF, nothing of the sort. As for which cable should be longer, tha's a very good question, and one I'd like to sort myself. I've been told that I'd be better off with a long USB cable. Any other offers?

[owl37400]

For extension, is it better to get a longer USB cable or an optical cable?
Which one is more susceptible? Any maximum lengths specified for either type?

Thanks.

I came up against the same question and did some research and came to the conclusion that I would extend the optical cable. I can't remember why now though. I think a bit of googling will tell you what the max. lengths are for either.

[BlueMax]

'wychuah' made an interesting post at at M-Audio SuperDAC Group about Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX and Trends Audio UD-10

"It is so far, the only USB audio device that uses an asynchronous USB interface, meaning that the computer is slaved to the Audigy 2 NX's clock like a conventional transport connected via wordclock would be. As for how good this is as a transport... a Chinese forum has compared it against the Squeezebox and it came out on top; but on the other hand they think the UD-10 is ultimately a better transport."

http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=205&product=9103

ZD Net Review at
http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/audio/0,1000000949,39146641,00.htm

It has an external PSU and a remote control.

SB Audigy 2 NX was recently discontinued in Europe. Price was nearly 100 Pounds in the UK. They are still for sale in Asia at around the same price.

If you are looking for a bargain, some refurbished units with 30-day warranty are being sold for under 30 Pounds plus P&P.
I just won for £35 all in :)

Seller is pauliansales-ltd
or do a search for "Audigy 2 NX" at
http://www.ebay.co.uk

[BlueMax]

Some months ago, based on strong recommendation, I bought a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX. Was about £100 new but can be picked up at eBay for around £30. Spec and details at
http://in.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=205&product=9103

It is mains powered and needs to be installed using drivers supplied. Also has various utilities thrown in buy I use foobar2000 and CDex.

I also feel that streaming ripped CDs sound better than the original CD. The error correction programs such as 'paranoia' combined with the processing power of the PC is way ahead of what is possible inside a CDP.

For streaming my current setup is:
NAS (hard drive for networking) > wireless router > wireless notebook > Creative Labs Audigy 2NX > DAC > Amp.