Douk Audio U2 Pro DDC - Poorman DDC for an affordable & clean digital signal

[jimbop54]

In addition to this, there are also barrel-to-barrel adapters, to make it compatible with the standard 2.1mm DC barrels. The smallest one from this $6 set on Amazon works:

FAMKIT Mintata2019 8-in-1 Universal DC Plugs 5.5mm x 2.1mm Female to Male Power Supply Adapter Jack Connector Tips for Laptop​

That’s perfect. I purchased a power supply for a Douk preamp, figuring that it would have the same connector, but it has a larger barrel.

 

[fettspeck]

I’m not trying to solve an issue, just looking for a power supply with the small barrel plug that fits this unit. I can’t determine if Douk sells one.
The question isn’t “what’s the best power supply?”
The question is where do I find a power supply that will work?

I use this one ordered from ebay: https://www.ebay.de/itm/36408541911...93CzLCaRFa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Power supply is Keces DC 116.
They sell also: https://www.ebay.de/itm/13437539071...93CzLCaRFa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Hope this helps.

 

[mekap]

Hi
I bought a Douk Audio U2(mini) on Aliexpress from the Douk Audio store, but when I received the package, there was no driver CD in the box and no instruction where the QR code is located, by which I could download the drivers for Windows 10.
Can you give me a link so I can download Douk Audio U2 drivers for Windows 10?

 

[sajunky]

I

Hi
I bought a Douk Audio U2(mini) on Aliexpress from the Douk Audio store, but when I received the package, there was no driver CD in the box and no instruction where the QR code is located, by which I could download the drivers for Windows 10.
Can you give me a link so I can download Douk Audio U2 drivers for Windows 10?

It is UAC 2.0 compliant device, since the Creators version (circa 4-5 years ago) it should be recognised by win10 built-in drivers. Can send a link later once coming home. U2 drivers are very old, there is no advantage, unless you need ASIO output.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I

It is UAC 2.0 compliant device, since the Creators version (circa 4-5 years ago) it should be recognised by win10 built-in drivers. Can send a link later once coming home. U2 drivers are very old, there is no advantage, unless you need ASIO output.

@sajunky I have often wondered about this "driver's" deal. Being primarily a MAC user I have never had any driver issues to my knowledge MAC was always USB audio compliant, but I thought Windows went to USB 2.0 Compliant and drivers were no longer needed. Yet in every thread I see Windows users looking for drivers?

Is there a quick and easy answer for "Windows Dummies" like me as to why this is?

Thanks in advance!!

Cheers!!

 

[sajunky]

Is there a quick and easy answer for "Windows Dummies" like me as to why this is?

I think it is because of past experience. Creators release brought support for UAC 2.0, but it was (1) very late and (2) brought instability and uncertainity. It was repeating in various forms in few successive versions for two years or more, till Microsoft decided to ask for help from the Thesycon. Current USB stack is written in cooperation with Thesycon engineers and problems disappeared. However something had been broken in Win11 again, but I didn't follow the story.

 

[ra990]

For windows, UAC 2 compliant devices will have built-in support for WASAPI interface drivers, but for ASIO (which some applications prefer or perform better with) the manufacturer needs to provide them. I suspect most Windows users are asking for ASIO drivers when they ask for drivers, because the devices work fine when plugged in otherwise through the Windows mixer. It's only when they want to bypass the Windows audio processing/mixer that they need manufacturer provided ASIO drivers.

I should note that since WASAPI also has an exclusive mode, the ASIO drivers are really not even needed anymore to bypass the mixer. Performance through both should be bitperfect, but again some applications might work better with one or the other type.

 

[sajunky]

I should note that since WASAPI also has an exclusive mode, the ASIO drivers are really not even needed anymore to bypass the mixer. Performance through both should be bitperfect, but again some applications might work better with one or the other type.

WASAPI UAC 2.0 has two Exclusive modes, theoretically both should give bit perfect (and jitter-free) transfers, however the old one should not be used with XMOS based devices. It takes more system resources and kernel time for servicing transfers, it is more likely to break data stream (generating random pop-ups). The one that should be used with XMOS devices is called "event" mode. There is no user selection in the system mixer app, but it must be chosen properly when using WASAPI Exclusive mode. It adds complication to the user, selecting the right option in your player which is frequently hidden deep.

The above note applies in both scenarios: when player is using system drivers or vendor supplied drivers using WASAPI Exclusive output. On the other side ASIO has no configuration burden. However it is a hook to the Windows kernel, it may break anytime with further Windows updates. I would recommend using WASAPI and verify for bit-perfect transfers.

ASIO as mentioned before has only one important advantage and only for playing DSD audio. It has support for a native DSD transfer. With older devices a native DSD transfer may give better sound quality, but for UAC 2.0 compliant devices like XMOS should not make a difference. One undisputed feature is a faster maximum data rate. If by example a standard supported by Windows (DoP) transfer give a maximum DSD128, it should play well DSD256 in a native mode. The later figure you can find in the specs without specifying a transfer mode, users frequently ask "why I cannot play DSD256, only DSD128?".

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I think it is because of past experience. Creators release brought support for UAC 2.0, but it was (1) very late and (2) brought instability and uncertainity. It was repeating in various forms in few successive versions for two years or more, till Microsoft decided to ask for help from the Thesycon. Current USB stack is written in cooperation with Thesycon engineers and problems disappeared. However something had been broken in Win11 again, but I didn't follow the story.

For windows, UAC 2 compliant devices will have built-in support for WASAPI interface drivers, but for ASIO (which some applications prefer or perform better with) the manufacturer needs to provide them. I suspect most Windows users are asking for ASIO drivers when they ask for drivers, because the devices work fine when plugged in otherwise through the Windows mixer. It's only when they want to bypass the Windows audio processing/mixer that they need manufacturer provided ASIO drivers.

I should note that since WASAPI also has an exclusive mode, the ASIO drivers are really not even needed anymore to bypass the mixer. Performance through both should be bitperfect, but again some applications might work better with one or the other type.

Thanks to both of you for your understandable answers!

I appreciate it as it may help me answer questions in the future.

Cheers!!

 

[kopczas]

Can someone confirm (or not) that using U2 as USB to I2C where USB source is a streamer may improve overall SQ over USB and other digital outputs? (coax and toslink are way better in this case).

And another question: how this is different then SMSL PO100Pro?

Price is nearly the same, PO100Pro seams to besome kind of newer design.

​

 

[quicklytoo4]

Can someone confirm (or not) that using U2 as USB to I2C where USB source is a streamer may improve overall SQ over USB and other digital outputs? (coax and toslink are way better in this case).

And another question: how this is different then SMSL PO100Pro?

Price is nearly the same, PO100Pro seams to besome kind of newer design.

​

cheapest U2pro vs PO100 I found that the PO100 had slightly wider soundstage and just had less issues in general

 

[]eep]

That depends on what streamer you mean and what the input of your dac uses. The xmos xo316 in the smsl is newer and can do things that the 208 can not. But if MQA will make your day?

A streamer should put less noise on the usb than a pc. So I don't see the need to use this as far as the streamer is concerned.
On the dac side, it depends how good your dacs usb input is.

I'm curious but I don't think I'll get a lot out of using a DDC between my Rose rs250 and Denafrips Ares II which has an FPGA usb input.

 

[sajunky]

XMOS 316 from the jitter point of view is the same as 216 and 216 is the same as 208, just allowing parallel processing of both halves of the chip.

On the beginning 208 chip had a high inherited jitter, due to a shared left/right channel processing, till developers have learnt they had to reclock its outputs. 216 chip hadn't had such problem from the beginning. Now a difference is in a lower maximum sampling rates.

 

[kopczas]

That depends on what streamer you mean and what the input of your dac uses. The xmos xo316 in the smsl is newer and can do things that the 208 can not. But if MQA will make your day?

It`s EverSolo DMP-A6.

A streamer should put less noise on the usb than a pc. So I don't see the need to use this as far as the streamer is concerned.
On the dac side, it depends how good your dacs usb input is.

Well, this is interesting cause my previous source was Daphile based miniItx pc. Comparing PC usb out to Eversolo`s I found that there is a difference in favor to Eversolo, but not that much as I expected. In both cases putting Topping H-1 isolator between source and DAC improvemt was obvoius but still Eversolo was slightly better.
There`s another BUt thou:
coax and optical are noticably better from sub output (even with isolator). Tosling being better then coax.
At the moment i`m using optical out.

I would live it that way but there is some issue with DoP with both SPIDF outputs. I have to way to check if it`s source or DAC but 192/24 playback is flawless, DSD64 on the other hand is not.

The DAC I`m using is Gustard X-16.

I'm curious but I don't think I'll get a lot out of using a DDC between my Rose rs250 and Denafrips Ares II which has an FPGA usb input.

I`ve bought SMSL just moment ago because it fits Gustard I2S standard and there was crazy discount AND I`ll have it on Wednesday cause it was available on Polish amazon.

So, my plan is to make simple connection from A6`s usb out to SMSL to Gustards I2S.
Then I`ll try to put isolator between A6 and SMSL.

 

[]eep]

I'm curious what you will think of it.