Feeding External DAC via Laptop's USB port

[boozcool]

From my computer via USB, I use a Trends UD-10.1 to convert to optical which in turn feeds my Constantine DAC. Considering the Constantine uses an old CM chip (CM101s) for USB implementation, I personally, along with others in the same boat, noticed a significant improvement when using the Trends

 

[ascherjim]

My Headroom DAC has ports for USB, optical and coax, and you choose which by throwing a toggle switch. I have tried feeding music from my laptop's USB port into the Headroom, with the toggle switched to USB "reception" but no music seems to emit from the laptop USB port. Is there some setting I should make in my laptop controls? And if I use one of my loaded media players that can accommodate flac, can I expect that by itself to feed a signal through the USB port? I know my terminology is not very precise, but I trust you get the sense of my query and concern. Thanks.

 

[paara]

If you use VisTa:
control panel --> Hardware and sound --> Sound ---> (look at picture)

Select the device you want to use, and then press "set default" and "ok"

 

[paara]

One question regarding computer usb / spdif / toslink (hopefully it's not completely off topic)

Is there any loss of information converting USB "audio/output" to spdif of toslink?? I only have usb out, but am thinking of getting a DAC which has no USB input. (so its not a USB DAC

) I was under the persumption that a digital signal was a digital signal and that there would be no loss as long as it stay digital, and is not up or down sampeled.

So: Is there any signal alteration/change/loss (except it being in a new format) going from USB to SPDF/TOSLINK?

and what is the best way to feed the DAC if you only have USB output?


I see the UD-10.1 USB Audio Converter (mentioned earlier) has all kinds of output, seems very suitable.

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paara /img/forum/go_quote.gif One question regarding computer usb / spdif / toslink (hopefully it's not completely off topic) Is there any loss of information converting USB "audio/output" to spdif of toslink?? I only have usb out, but am thinking of getting a DAC which has no USB input. (so its not a USB DAC ) I was under the persumptoin that a digital signal was a digital signal and that there would be no loss as long as it stay digital, and is not up or down sampeled.

the theory goes - all digital to digital links 'dont matter' until you get to the VERY final stage where you convert digital to analog. only there does clocking and timing matter.

you will never lose bits on a usb cable if the cable is even remotely in spec. and the same for opto/spdif and coax/spdif. in all my life I've never lost a bit with any kind of digital audio cabling. you'd have to have some MAJOR noise nearby the wires to really get data loss and then, it would not be subtle at all - total spdif 'lock' would be lost, then.

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paara /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you use Visa:

my visa's at its max. is it ok if I use mastercard?

sorry..

 

[ascherjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paara /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you use Visa: control panel --> Hardware and sound --> Sound ---> (look at picture) Select the device you want to use, and then press "set default" and "ok"

While I'm still using XP, I think I found a screen comparable to the one you show. However, I don't want to select a "speaker" type but a music communication feed through my USB port. Am I making any sense at all?

 

[paara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ascherjim /img/forum/go_quote.gif While I'm still using XP, I think I found a screen comparable to the one you show. However, I don't want to select a "speaker" type but a music communication feed through my USB port. Am I making any sense at all?

It is for that.
I can toggel between the internal DAC and my external DAC with a PCM2702 chip (as seen on the picture)

Try it and see if it works

Microsoft type "speaker" because few would undestand f.ex "Please choose between Texas Instrument PCM1794 DAC or Cirius C43348 DAC "

When you choose the external DAC chip, you will not be able to get sound from your PC speakers or analog output HP jack until you change back.

 

[paara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif my visa's at its max. is it ok if I use mastercard? sorry..

hehe, My typing is like my digital transfer skills

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif the theory goes - all digital to digital links 'dont matter' until you get to the VERY final stage where you convert digital to analog. only there does clocking and timing matter. you will never lose bits on a usb cable if the cable is even remotely in spec. and the same for opto/spdif and coax/spdif. in all my life I've never lost a bit with any kind of digital audio cabling. you'd have to have some MAJOR noise nearby the wires to really get data loss and then, it would not be subtle at all - total spdif 'lock' would be lost, then.

Thank you for the reply. Then I can go nuts with my visTa card

and get the DAC that I wanted.

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paara /img/forum/go_quote.gif hehe, My typing is like my digital transfer skills

I'm noticing more and more, a LOT of people are dropping a letter here and there. myself included! I think its a conspirac.

(LOL).

Quote:

Thank you for the reply. Then I can go nuts with my visTa card and get the DAC that I wanted.

+1. good one! maybe +2, not sure.

 

[paara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm noticing more and more, a LOT of people are dropping a letter here and there. myself included! I think its a conspirac. (LOL). +1. good one! maybe +2, not sure.

Totaly off topic:
One thing I have noticed here on Head-Fi is the amount of "snake oil" going around. People spending huge amounts on products that to me and my limited electronic knowledge seems foolish.

I have started reading up on some basic electronic knowledge. And the more I learn the more unlikely it seem that some products can improve sound quality.

Sorry for the digression.

 

[linuxworks]

paara: you are on the right track. 'nuff said.

 

[ascherjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paara /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is for that. I can toggel between the internal DAC and my external DAC with a PCM2702 chip (as seen on the picture) Try it and see if it works Microsoft type "speaker" because few would undestand f.ex "Please choose between Texas Instrument PCM1794 DAC or Cirius C43348 DAC " When you choose the external DAC chip, you will not be able to get sound from your PC speakers or analog output HP jack until you change back.

When I reported that I found a similar screen on my XP, it does not offer me the actual names of "speakers" as on your screen. It just gives me a list of types of speakers, all under the heading of Desktop Stereo Speakers. No specifics. I'm lost.

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ascherjim /img/forum/go_quote.gif When I reported that I found a similar screen on my XP, it does not offer me the actual names of "speakers" as on your screen. It just gives me a list of types of speakers, all under the heading of Desktop Stereo Speakers. No specifics. I'm lost.

hang on. don't get confused.

'pc speakers' is the sound card saying that ascii text string! it does not mean the same thing as 'playback quality' that the xp audio panel often talks about ('desktop speakers' is a magic string they use).

the TI burr brown 'speakers' entry is just the name of a sound card. the sound card on YOUR system may say some other text string name.

 

[ascherjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif hang on. don't get confused. 'pc speakers' is the sound card saying that ascii text string! it does not mean the same thing as 'playback quality' that the xp audio panel often talks about ('desktop speakers' is a magic string they use). the TI burr brown 'speakers' entry is just the name of a sound card. the sound card on YOUR system may say some other text string name.

The "sound card" on my system seems to be Conexant AMC Audio. Has this any relevance?