Need help finding usb to digital out converter

[aaron313]

I use a laptop that does not have a digital out, aside from usb. Therefore, in order to use a DAC that does not support usb, I need a converter. What would be a decent, inexpensive usb to digital out converter?

 

[Andrew_WOT]

M Audio Transit.

 

[slwiser]

See http://www.hagtech.com/hagusb.html and check out the HagUSB which can be had in either digital RCA or XLR out feeding a S/PDIF signal. The advantage of the XLR is that it ensures proper impedance match between devices.

 

[LostOne.TR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif See http://www.hagtech.com/hagusb.html and check out the HagUSB which can be had in either digital RCA or XLR out feeding a S/PDIF signal. The advantage of the XLR is that it ensures proper impedance match between devices.

Hi slwiser, would you happen to know if the COAX out on the "coax + xlr" version of the hagtech usb is of lesser quality than a stand alone unit with only "coax out"? Just asking from the stand point of more parts = more cost and lesser quality all around. Or is the implementation/design of the hagtech usb good enough that I shouldn't have to worry about this?

If I got one, for the time being I'd only need the COAX out, however in the future I might have a use for the xlr digital out.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostOne.TR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi slwiser, would you happen to know if the COAX out on the "coax + xlr" version of the hagtech usb is of lesser quality than a stand alone unit with only "coax out"? Just asking from the stand point of more parts = more cost and lesser quality all around. Or is the implementation/design of the hagtech usb good enough that I shouldn't have to worry about this? If I got one, for the time being I'd only need the COAX out, however in the future I might have a use for the xlr digital out.

The signal quality's are the same the issue is with the cable between the HagUSB and where ever you are sending it, reflections and such from possible impedance mis-matching for the RCA plugs. If you have a good receiver you really should not have to worry about it. The XLR thing is more an anal thing in my opinion, technically better but can one tell the difference? I picked the anal choice on this one since it was for me not much of a price difference. BTW, there has been several articles around the net on this unit from Wired mag to 6moons. It is known for it's quality sound as a feeder to an outboard DAC.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

I am just curious if anyone compared Transit with HagUSB? HagUSB is like 4 times the price of Transit, and from what I've read Transit is actually based on the better chip.
My experience is limited to Transit but I was very happy with it as a converter, it did have things done, had rock stable ASIO drivers, accepted up to 24/96, so I could use upsampling in foobar, and was dead silent without single hiccup for all the time I owned it.

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am just curious if anyone compared Transit with HagUSB? HagUSB is like 4 times the price of Transit, and from what I've read Transit is actually based on the better chip. My experience is limited to Transit but I was very happy with it as converter, it did have things done, had rock stable ASIO drivers, accepted up to 24/96 so I could use upsampling in foobar, was dead silent without single hiccup for all the time I owned it.

I have both the M-Audio USB Audiophile and the HagUSB. The M-Audio allows hi-rez at 96khz while the HagUSB only does a max of 48 kHz. The M-Audio has it's own drivers while the HagUSB uses default windows drivers. Another reason that I got the XLR for the HagUSB was to allow both to be in use into the Lavry's inputs. Just toggle the switch and I can go between them.

Sound wise not much difference that I can tell.

 

[LostOne.TR]

ah thanks for the info. I already have the m-audio transit, and was considering the hagUSB to try out the coax.

My transit at times (if I changed the output of foobar to 24 bit / higher than 44.1 kHz) ends up sending a signal of what sounds like static/noise to my DAC. Quite painful if I have headphones on. Have not had this issue at all leaving the settings at 16bit/44.1kHz on foobar.

I've also tried the Secret Rabbit Code resampler, same problems.