I stream most of my audio from NAS via network, but sometimes I'm watching some catch up TV or You Tube on office PC
Would you connect using
1/ Optical out from Xonar Essence STX Audio Card
2/ Coax out from Xonar Essence STX Audio Card
3/ Analogue Stereo from Xonar Essence Audio Card
4/ Use USB Dac (Muse Mini Dac) to optical or coax ?
Posted on: 30 June 2016 by Innocent Bystander
Alternatively, if software allows (like Audirvana does on the Mac Mini), bypassing the Computer's soundcard entirely and using ideally a dedicated USB output, allows best sound quality, though needing isolation and rf filtering if the DAC doesn't have galvanic isolation and effective RF filtering - e.g the Gustard U12 usb-spdif isolator/converter.
Posted on: 03 July 2016 by David Weller
Ok so using USB out how do I convert it to coax or Optical in on Naim Unitiqute ? Surely I would need to add a USB to optical or USB to coaxial converter in the loop therefore converting source again ?
If I use on board card it can convert to optical and therefore gain separation as first reply suggests
However my motherboard does not have onboard optical so I'm thinking separate card or external dac ?
Posted on: 03 July 2016 by Innocent Bystander
As previously noted, something like the Gustard U12 will convert (and isolate) from usb to spdif (optical or electrical. Also has aes/ebu. Richard Dane has been testing it as an interface to nDAC, reported on another thread (search Gustard), though playing with the aes/ebu out to make comparable to another device also being tested.
Posted on: 03 July 2016 by Eloise
If you already have the Asus Xonar card, then I would use that.
But if you are looking to buy something, then get an external USB to SPDIF converter such as the Gustard U12.
