Connectivity: USB DAC vs. network connection (wifi or ethernet)
- Thread starter Dolby2020
- Start date
Another option I hadn't considered was buying a inexpensive used laptop to use as an optical output. The Dell 502X is among the few that have optical output, I'm sure there are others. One of the receivers I'm looking at is a used Harmon Kardon 3490 that should have a pretty good DAC chip.
That's exactly what it means, You can pick a very nice used early receiver for cheap and connect it with a mini-Toslink cable directly to your Macbook, if it does in fact have the combo jack. No USB or network needed. That said, for kitchen and claimed material, unless you also need FM radio, I'd probably consider a new DAC/Class-D amp combo from SMSL or Topping with a USB input.
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E.Auer
Super Member
I have a Lenovo Y50 that has optical out as well but find the USB out to the Xmos chip in the Topping D30 to be a little bit more pleasant.
+1
Eric
Wow this is a revelation! If I understand this correctly, instead of buying a Dragonfly DAC I could use something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-...&qid=1519404957&sr=8-3&keywords=toslink+3.5mm
Receivers usually have DSP before the DAC chip that alleviates some of the optical jitter concerns, but it probably differs from model to model so hard to know unless you can find a definitive statement about a particular receiver somewhere.
You'd still need a receiver, right?
Most of them do. However instead of a receiver you can consider a class-D amp with a built-in USB DAC to save space and maybe even improve sound quality. There are several inexpensive options available from SMSL, Topping, and maybe used Teac/NAD that should sound pretty good. Or you can go separates, $250 should be enough for a Topping D30 DAC with a separate decent Class-D amp.
IMO receiver is justified only if you can find a very good one for cheap or you need FM. There has been a number of mediocre receivers made over the years that work ok for movies but really not meant for quality 2-channel playback. Instead of a mediocre receiver better pick a modern 2-channel Class -D amp with a built-in or external DAC, you will have a USB input, so it will be easy to re-purpose it if necessary.
Yeah, but no USB DAC.
judsonw
Super Member
Rather than buying a cheap laptop, you may also look into a raspberry pi. Yes, they do not come with keyboards or monitors, but there are a number of media player operating systems for them that you can control with a smart phone. There are a number of us here who do enjoy them and you can get hardware add-ons that put a DAC on it, or a better digital out, or even a small amp that you can connect to speakers (hifi-berry provides all of those products). The raspberry pi with hardware add on plus case is around $100, give or take depending on models and what you want.
That being said, sometimes the raspberry pi is a bit more than people want, and laptops do have their simplicity for set up and such.
That being said, sometimes the raspberry pi is a bit more than people want, and laptops do have their simplicity for set up and such.
cpt_paranoia
Addicted Member
It probably means that the audio output has an analogue output, capable of driving headphones (using an internal DAC & headphone amp), but that there is also an optical SPDIF driver in the 3.5mm socket, just like there is in a Chromecast Audio. Only it sounds like Apple have put the optical driver under OS control, so it can be turned off (and therefore not shine a red light out of the port all the time). They may also have opted to disable the internal DAC & amp if the optical SPDIF driver is enabled (and vice versa).
Am I right in assuming that you have tried feeding the headphone analogue audio output into an amp, and find the quality of the audio inadequate for your purposes? Or are you just assuming that because it is on a PC, it cannot possibly be good enough?
If you haven't actually tried the analogue audio output into an amp, I would recommend it as the first thing to try; you might just be pleasantly surprised. You can then try lossy and lossless sources, and see if you can hear the difference.
Essentially, you are trying to find and eliminate the weak link in the chain, which could be lossy source, onboard DAC, or not so great amp in the kitchen. So far, you haven't really said how you have determined that it's the onboard DAC that needs replacing.
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JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
A Syba adaptor will convert any USB output to optical. They cost less than $10. I have one and it works just fine driving an optical input on an Emotiva XDA-2.
https://www.amazon.com/External-Ada...ywords=syba+external+usb+stereo+sound+adapter
https://www.amazon.com/External-Ada...ywords=syba+external+usb+stereo+sound+adapter
