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Do USB Bridges work?

nostromo

nostromo

pfm Member
Hello,
I'm looking for advice/opinions and experiences with using a USB-Bridge which are sometimes known as DDC (Digital to Digial Converter). I have an urge to try one of these to rescue a purchase blunder and perhaps even to improve what I already have that works well.

The blunder purchase was a Dell Optiplex 7090 mini computer running Jriver MC30 and now Audirivarna Origin. The problem is this sounds rather awful compared to my old (8years) ASUS Xenbook laptop.

I have a theory: the USB on the Dell computer is very noisy and my DAC can't deal with it. The sound comparitively very flat and lifeless and hence fatiguing an un-involving. I presume it's the noise from the computer.

I want to see if a USB-Bridge might fix this by removing/ioslating this noise/effect. I only want to try one, but which one to try is my quandry.

I want to put USB in and get 'clean' USB out, but it seams this may not be possible, I have no idea why these devices don't output to USB.

But I guess I could use I2S or Optical input to the DAC. I find these devices difficult to comprehend, i.e. what they do how and why....I only want a 'clean' digital out (preferrably USB).

Any comments/suggestions will be very useful and much appreciated. Thank you.

Some examples of these devices:

https://hifigo.com/blogs/news/topping-u90-flagship-level-usb-audio-bridge

https://darko.audio/2020/06/allos-usbridge-signature-review/

https://goldensound.audio/2021/08/01/singxer-su6-measurements/

I'm getting a weird feeling while writing this, that I may have asked this before...my apologies if that is the case, I'm getting old.
 
A good DDC will help, but even this will be effected by a noisy source IMO. If I was in your shoes I would try a used Auralic Aries mini before anything else. These can be had cheaply and sold for what you paid if not to taste.
 
I'm likely the wrong person to ask, but I'm currently using a Denafrips GAIA between my Roon Nucleus + and Qutest. Enormous improvement.

I started with the base DDC (IRIS), which was itself an obvious improvement.
 
tuga said:
You could try a cheap usb hub, they seem to deal with USB noise effectively:

http://archimago.blogspot.com/2015/05/measurements-usb-hubs-and-8khz-phy.html


And you can also try a USB Y-splitter with an external dedicated PS to isolate the 5V leg from the computer and feed the DAC with clean power or handshake:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/dc-p...e-for-external-usb-a-power-supply-p-8389.html
Click to expand...


Thanks tuga. USB hubs are a pain and I can't see how they might help, I do have one somewhere and my memory of using it has put me off those things with a passion, but I might give that a go, but I feel its a forlorn hope. The Y-cable is a worth a try and I reckon I should have one those in my drawer anyway, so I tried ordering it and the site is not easy to use and I'm having trouble completing the purchase...I've contacted them to help place the order.
 
andrewd said:
A good DDC will help, but even this will be effected by a noisy source IMO. If I was in your shoes I would try a used Auralic Aries mini before anything else. These can be had cheaply and sold for what you paid if not to taste.
Click to expand...
A good friend has an Auralic G1 but as far as I recall it uses LMS software and network cabling, I want to avoid putting more software into the mix, it doesn't bode well for an easy life. It's bad enough battling Audirivarna (and JRiver previously). I may take your advice and ask my friend to bring the Auralic over and let him loose hooking it up as an experiment...I'll sit back and have a dram.
 
Billsie said:
There’s the Intona USB Super Speed Isolators . They’re USB in and out.
Good review in Stereophile several moons ago. Keith sells them and I’m sure will give you an honest opinion as to whether any use in your case.
There’s also the Ideon 3R Renaissance https://ideonaudio.com/3r-usb-renaissance-mk2-black-star/. Again USB in and out.
Click to expand...
Thanks Billsie, these looks ideal, just a straight in-line device, no power or extra cables, seems too good to be true. The Intona looks easier to purcahse. I'm looking at this with keen interest. I'll try and PM Keith about it first, maybe he'll respond here.
 
sq225917 said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08GYWTY4Y/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

Cheap, works, use optical to break the gnd loop if you have a dac with decent reclocking
Click to expand...

My DAC is the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE and I believe it does something like this on it's USB input. The laptop sounds great, it's the Dell 7090 that causes the issue. While I've been in this rabbit hole, I've read that I2S can be the best way to get digital data into a DAC so I'm conflicted between the Intona USB isolator and a Topping U90 which provides I2S. I just wonder if my DAC will reclock the I2S, which I hope it does, I just want the Topping to isolate the USB noise from the Dell 7090.

PS: in your use case, did this elimate the PC derived effect of flattening the sound from the DAC?
 
This site contains affiliate links for which pink fish media may be compensated.
Can you get a Topping D10 and convert to SPDIF. Inexpensive option and well worth looking into. I’ve recently played with usb and spdif into Qutest and can’t see me ever using usb from laptop straight into a dac.
 
i2s is the serial protocol that runs across the board from (for example) the USB receiver or S/PDIF receiver to the DAC chip itself. With electronic magic it can be distributed more widely. But where will you find it from your Dell? sounds a bit specialist and expensive.

Assuming your Dell is configured correctly and isn't processing the digital output stream I would find a cheap USB-S/PDIF interface on eBay and see it that changes anything for the better.
 
I2s is only for short distances, but i2s over hdmi is a different fish in terms of how 'stable' it is and suitability for longer cable runs. Its not the same thing, it's far more robust.

Nostromo, I'm amazed your dell gives your Holo dac issues, the Holo has one of the very best usb implementations you can buy. Can you get Toslink out of the Dell?
 
I have been using a Windows laptop as a transport for quite a few years now and thanks to USB Bridges, I have only a passing interest in getting a dedicated audio streamer.

Used to have an M2Tech Hiface Two and didn't think much to it, but I now use a SingXer SU-2 (and an F-1 in my second system) and it was a real game changer for me.

Some say you don't need one if your DAC has a decent USB interface, but let me put it this way; I use the SU-2 into my Chord DAVE.

For me, it resolves exactly the issue you mention i.e it makes the sound more natural and less 'digital'.

I am generally pretty cynical of potential snake oil in hi-fi (still very much a cable etc sceptic) and only go for things if my ears tell me otherwise. The benefits of the SingXer USB Bridges in my system, are clear as day.
 
Just to add though.

Just pondering why your Dell is much worse than your laptop into the same DAC connection and although I'm sure you have this sorted, but are you certain you have the correct output drivers from your Dell? If not, it could be something as simple as not using bit perfect audio output using an ASIO or WASAPI driver?

Just a thought that I figured was worth mentioning.
 
I bought a Stack Audio Link 2 that I believe is a network bridge, complete with infamous John Westlake detox. It doesn’t seem to do anything bad from a MacBook Pro. (Or anything good to be perfectly honest). I run Audirvana out of the laptop.
 
karlsushi said:
I have been using a Windows laptop as a transport for quite a few years now and thanks to USB Bridges, I have only a passing interest in getting a dedicated audio streamer.

Used to have an M2Tech Hiface Two and didn't think much to it, but I now use a SingXer SU-2 (and an F-1 in my second system) and it was a real game changer for me.

Some say you don't need one if your DAC has a decent USB interface, but let me put it this way; I use the SU-2 into my Chord DAVE.

For me, it resolves exactly the issue you mention i.e it makes the sound more natural and less 'digital'.

I am generally pretty cynical of potential snake oil in hi-fi (still very much a cable etc sceptic) and only go for things if my ears tell me otherwise. The benefits of the SingXer USB Bridges in my system, are clear as day.
Click to expand...

Karl, out of interest i have just watched a live stream of Alpha Audio comparing various playback app options on Windows and it would seem that getting good sound from Windows is a challenge. If you are interested i can share the link. Remind me, what software do you use on windows for file playback? (Ps, i’m glad you are still enjoying your new Dave).
 
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