USB / SPDIF Converter Recommendations

Posted by: Gavin B on 21 December 2016

I'm just about to have a move around of our kitchen and dining room systems. I want to know the best way to connect my Windows desktop PC to my Qute.

I currently have a Cambridge Audio DAC100 feeding the analogue inputs of a Denon unit, and I could just carry on with this method, but what are my alternatives if I wanted to take a digital signal into the Qute?

It shouldn't be an expensive option - less than £100 - but I'm happy to go second-hand if necessary.

I've previously bought a Hiface 1 to connect my son's laptop to his Qute, and I suppose something like this would be an option.  Would this kind of solution be better than the CA DAC?  The Hiface type of thing does seem a little vulnerable hanging from a USB port (and not resting on a table like it might from a laptop).

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by james n

Gavin - are you playing music stored on the PC. If so could you run a UPnP server on it and connect to the Qute this way (wired Ethernet or wireless) ?

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Gavin B

Hi James

I have an Asset-based server elsewhere on the network for more serious playback, but sometimes it's handy to have the sound from the nearby PC too.

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by james n

Ah got it - If you've not got an optical output from the PC in any form then a USB>S/PDIF/Toslink adapter would do the job. Plenty around, depending on max sample rates and ultimate quality you want to achieve. 

James

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Gavin B

Don't think there's an optical out - it's just a fairly standard Dell desktop. So something like the Hiface would do. £50 for a used Hiface1 or £140 for a new Hiface2?

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Ardbeg10y

Why not add a ChromeCast Audio next to the UQ (ChromeCast Audio >> optical cable (mini-toslink to toslink) >> UQ)? Using the Google Chrome browser, you can stream e.g. websites, soundfiles etc ... to the ChromeCast Audio.

Depends a bit what kind of things you like to stream to the UQ to see if it is useful. Games etc, I won't see that working using the ChromeCast Audio, but for normal music files, no issues.

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by james n

The Hiface 2 is better but for what you want to do i'd pick up the original version which should do the job nicely. 

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Mr Underhill

Hi Gavin, There is a user, rb2013 online who has done a LOT of work in this area over a long period of time. His rankings are: 

Ultra USB chain (details to long to list)          370
BURL B2B DAC with DANTE Brooklyn II/ modded w/LPS power          285
REDNET 3/Cerious Graphene/Mutec 3+ USB (SPDIF)/Antelope OCX (RN wClock)      270
REDNET 3/Cerious/Mutec 3+ USB/Audience au24 se digital cable                              250
REDNET 3/Cerious/Mutec 3+ USB (SPDIF reclocker)/AS Sliver Statement dig cable   240
REDNET 3/Cerious Power Cord          220
Singxer F-1 DC30W/Cerious/Recovery/DCiPur/ iPur2/Startech GB LAN Iso USB         170
Mutec 3+ Smart Clock USB/Cerious Power Cord          155
Singxer F-1 DC30W/Cerious/Recovery/DCiPur/ iPur2          145
PUC2 Lite TeraDak DC30W/Cerious/Regen          135
Singxer F-1 DC30W/Cerious          135
DXIO Silver/TeraDak DC-30W/Cerious                                                            130
Singxer X-1 DC30W/Cerious/Recovery/DCiPur/iPur2          125
PUC2 Lite - USB power          110
Singxer F-1  Stock feed             110
Breeze/Cerious Graph/WBT RCA Nexgen          109
Breeze DU-U8 with Cerious Graphene            108
Breeze DU-U8 (Talema version)                        100
Breeze DU-U8 (BingZi version)                95
Hydra Z with LPS                                          92
Melodious MX-U8 (upgraded caps)           85
Melodious MX-U8 (stock)             81
Gustard U12 (upgraded caps)                76
Gustard U12 stock               72
iDAC DAC2 (used as a DDC)                    65
Musiland USB3.0 US Dragon          65
M2Tech EVO with LPS          60
Audiophileo 2  USB Power           50
M2Tech Hiface                    40

 

I have personally owned the Gustard U12, Audio Breeze DU-U8 and Mutec3+USB; the letter two of which I currently use. I find his work to be reliable. Bob currently uses the Singxer F1 in his 'uber-chain', having sold on his Mutec, although he uses it with an external 5Vdc LPSU supply. M

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Gavin B

Mr Underhill - Thanks for posting that list. I've found Bob's original postings on head-fi. Most of these things are way more complex than I need or want. I suspect I'd never go much higher up the list than the Gustard. Many of the terms / technology lose me very quickly!

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Richard Dane

Having used the Gustard U12 myself I can recommend it - it's relatively fuss-free, handles DSD, seems well built and reliable, performs well, looks the part with the Naim boxes, and has a handy display to show you the sampling frequency being delivered to your DAC.  Oh, and at less than £150 it's pretty inexpensive too, which is nice.

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Gavin B

Thanks, Richard. £160 at Amazon. Can you point me to a cheaper source? (I promise not to tell that heavy-handed admin guy we've been talking about commercial stuff :-) ). 

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Richard Dane

Gavin, I'm afraid forum rules prohibit me from pointing you towards any hifi items for sale, however, having just run a very quick search online, it should take all of a minute or two to find alternative sources for the Gustard, including UK based...

Posted on: 21 December 2016 by Gavin B

Richard - would you mind sharing your search terms? I must be dim because I only get Amazon or ebay.com in the US