[ls13coco]

Hey all, I'm wondering what would be the best/cheapest way to gain the ability to connect my DACs to my PC with optical, which has a motherboard lacking optical and s/pdif.

I'm happy with usb, I'd just like the option as I'm running low on open ports and would like to also compare for any audible difference.
Cheap sound card?
Usb- optical converter?

Anything that might degrade quality I will skip, as well as if I need to spend too much I'll also just wait til I change mobo's in the future.

Thanks

 

[PurpleAngel]

Asus Xonar DG or DGX sound card.
Asus Xonar U3 USB DAC (with optical output)

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Hey all, I'm wondering what would be the best/cheapest way to gain the ability to connect my DACs to my PC with optical, which has a motherboard lacking optical and s/pdif.

I'm happy with usb, I'd just like the option as I'm running low on open ports and would like to also compare for any audible difference.
Cheap sound card?
Usb- optical converter?

Uhhh...if you're running low on ports, wouldn't a USB to SPDIF converter or USB soundcard with optical output like the Xonar U3 not solve your problem at all? Because it still uses USB.

Anyways if you have a PCI-E slot open and you have a DAC with optical input then just get the cheapest internal soundcard with optical out. If you need virtual surround some that have that feature still retail for under $50.

 

[ls13coco]

Asus Xonar DG or DGX sound card.
Asus Xonar U3 USB DAC (with optical output)

Thanks, so I can just bypass the soundcard as a audio device in sound settings and use only the connectivity right?

 

[ls13coco]

Uhhh...if you're running low on ports, wouldn't a USB to SPDIF converter or USB soundcard with optical output like the Xonar U3 not solve your problem at all? Because it still uses USB.

Anyways if you have a PCI-E slot open and you have a DAC with optical input then just get the cheapest internal soundcard with optical out. If you need virtual surround some that have that feature still retail for under $50.

Yeah, but if that was the best option I could deal and simply unplug it when not actively using optical.

Nope I'd want to bypass everything, good to know any cheap soundcard with optical will be the solution. Second guessed how simple it was, I guess.

 

[GabiCRX]

Well, i have the same problem!
You can use InLine USB HD Audio Adapter or XMOS U8 Digital interface USB to SPDIF.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Thanks, so I can just bypass the soundcard as a audio device in sound settings and use only the connectivity right?

More like just set the U3 control panel to 2-channel and S/PDIF output.
So leave the U3 on basic settings.