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USB to Optical?

post #1 of 28
12/7/10 at 9:57am
Thread Starter 

I have a laptop without optical (coax or s/pdif) output but recently i bought an amplifier (a Pioneer VSX-709RDS) with an optical input. My computer sound now does the following (if I understand correctly)

 

Sound --> DAC --> lossy cable --> ADC --> amplifier --> DAC --> speakers

 

But I would like it to go like this:

                            

Sound --> lossless cable --> amplifier --> DAC --> speakers

 

Which results in much less loss.

So I would like to create an optical out on my laptop. Is this possible? By USB or by PCMCIA? Or do you reckon the sound loss is negligible?

 

Or is there maybe another (better) way?

 

Thanx in advance!


Edited by edwinwijnja - 12/7/10 at 10:12am
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post #2 of 28
12/7/10 at 11:39am

Yes. You probably want to go USB to SPIDF. The real question is whether you'll be able to find a USB to SPIDF bridge for less than the price of a USB DAC (which might be better than the dac in your amp).

 

Firestone makes the Bravo at $167.

 

The Trends UD-10.1 starts at $119.

 

Blue Circle USB Thingy provides SPIDF staring at $169.

 

There are probably cheaper converters out there, but I'm not sure they would be worthwhile.

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post #3 of 28
12/7/10 at 12:08pm

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Advantage-Analog-Digital-Adapter/dp/B0036VO4X4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1291752468&sr=1-1

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post #4 of 28
12/7/10 at 12:29pm

I was wondering the exact same thing. Do you think that Turtle Beach one would have good sound quality? it is only $22. I just bought a DAC that only has optical, coax, and AES in, and would like to be able to hook it up to a computer.

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post #5 of 28
12/7/10 at 1:17pm

I think there are huge threads debating whether there is an audible difference between a cheap spidf adapter and a more expensive one. Don't think there is a definitive answer...not sure. I can't tell you which is better but I don't care, I'm in the group that says digital is digital, it all sounds the same.

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post #6 of 28
12/7/10 at 2:20pm

I am in the group that recognizes transmission differences between different cables, including digital ones. However, I also think the price to performance ratio gets rather poor after a while. One thing I am worried about concerning the Turtle Beach adapter is that there is a review on Amazon that says it will not work on Windows 7, but will work on XP. All my music is on 7, so that would be bad. I am going to e-mail Turtle beach and ask if the product works on Windows 7.

 

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post #7 of 28
12/7/10 at 2:27pm

I just checked Turtle Beach's website and read the manual for the Audio Advantage micro and it says it will work on Windows 7. It looks like you might have to set it as your main sound card to get it to work, but that is no biggie. 

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post #8 of 28
12/7/10 at 2:28pm

I checked another Amazon review out and it said it requires a driver from Turtle Beach's website. Again, that should be easy.

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post #9 of 28
12/7/10 at 2:30pm

I found another product that may be easier for a few bucks more, made by Behringer.

 

Here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J0IIEQ/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk

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post #10 of 28
12/7/10 at 7:10pm

Many PC headphone jacks have optical outputs in them, like on Macs. It's probably worth seeing if you get a red light when you plug-in a toslink/3.5mm adapter before you spend the money on a converter.

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post #11 of 28
12/7/10 at 11:22pm


There may also be a header on the motherboard which you can use. All that is needed is a spdif bracket which you can buy on ebay for around $15.

Quote:
Originally Posted by wilyodysseus View Post

Many PC headphone jacks have optical outputs in them, like on Macs. It's probably worth seeing if you get a red light when you plug-in a toslink/3.5mm adapter before you spend the money on a converter.

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post #12 of 28
12/9/10 at 1:32am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for all the reactions.

 

I am not really an audiophile. Of course I care about quality music, but as a student, my budget is not so big. The amp (€40,-) and the B&O speakers (€15,-) are both secondhand, though very good looking. Maybe I care a little bit more then my fellow students, since I spent €80 on my in-ears (Sennheiser CX 550 Style II)

An external DAC will still be a bit out of range, maybe when I finished my study an have a job ;-)

 

I found these two on the creative website: 

- http://us.store.creative.com/Sound-Blaster-XFi-Surround-5.1/M/B0017QQQAE.htm

- http://nl.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=207&product=15911 (in dutch, sorry, but specs should be readable, output=uitgang, input=ingang)

 

Will this do? Or has the last one a build-in DAC? That can't be good for €20,-..

 

The Behringer device looks like it's made for recording, not for playing. The USB therefore looks like an output, not an input, by looking at the schematics at Amazon.

 

Furthermore, if my headphone-output also has an optical output, won't I be able to see light emitting from it now as well?

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post #13 of 28
12/9/10 at 3:39am

The Creative Sound Blaster X-FI HD is USB to optical S/PDIF; plus, S/PDIF to USB, as well as analog to USB, which is useful for digitizing vinyl. The unit supports 24/96, and has a SNR of 114db.


Edited by sterling1 - 12/9/10 at 4:03am
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post #14 of 28
12/9/10 at 8:09am

If you're on a student budget, just go for the cheap adapter MrKazador linked. Run an optical cable from that into the optical port on your amp. It will probably be an improvement over the headphone jack in your laptop. Those SoundBlasters may not be any better than the DAC inside your Pioneer.

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post #15 of 28
12/9/10 at 8:15am

 

 

Quote:
Furthermore, if my headphone-output also has an optical output, won't I be able to see light emitting from it now as well?

 

No, not until you plug in an optical cable or optical adapter. The mini-toslink plug is a tiny bit longer than the 3.5mm headphone plug. The laser isn't turned-on until the mini-toslink connect hits the switch by penetrating the port.

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