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USB DAC How to Split Signal from Power Supply

C

Copperjacket

pfm Member
I have a USB DAC that I want to try with an external power supply. Unfortunately there is no provision for an external psu.

How would I go about this please? My thoughts have got as far as some sort of signal only cable from the PC, but how to merge the 2 to provide the power to the single usb port on the dac?

Many thanks
 
There's loads of companies that make split USB cables for power and signal or USB power injectors, google is your friend.
 
I did look at that with no success: Y cables which do power and signal +power seem to be available but not one that does a separate power and signal?
 
Use an AQVOX supply, so you get a connection that a) splits the power and b) feeds the power from an independent supply. Costs less than Gucci USB cables that'll make no difference too.
 
Copperjacket said:
I did look at that with no success: Y cables which do power and signal +power seem to be available but not one that does a separate power and signal?
Click to expand...

well why not either, cut the power cables on the signal+power side or get some thin tape (you can google this) and block off the two lines you dont want on the power supply outlet (assuming it's usb).
Sbooster do a usb Vbus isolator for around €25 which does the same as the tape trick.

ronnie

Last year sometime, I saw on Tindie.com an interrupter for usb which had four dip switches.I have just checked but could not find it. The one that seem to be available now are slightly different.
There is an instructable on how to make your own, if you search.
 
I've got a SBooster Best of Two Worlds power supply which does the same job as the Aquavox, yours for £60 delivered (UK).
 
Made a cable for this myself. Splits data and power.
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Thank you all for the great advice and suggestions. There was a lot more information than I was able to find by myself.
I am using a £5 maplin dac so I am very much at the cheaper end of the experimentation stage. The problem with it is that the sound is preferable from the usb connection although there is more “noise” than the optical connection with an external usb psu

I have a psu so the cable option to see if there is an improvement would be sensible.

The DIY route was initially attractive until I saw the Audiophonics Y cable which seems to tick all the options.
 
Copperjacket said:
Thank you all for the great advice and suggestions. There was a lot more information than I was able to find by myself.
I am using a £5 maplin dac so I am very much at the cheaper end of the experimentation stage. The problem with it is that the sound is preferable from the usb connection although there is more “noise” than the optical connection with an external usb psu

I have a psu so the cable option to see if there is an improvement would be sensible.

The DIY route was initially attractive until I saw the Audiophonics Y cable which seems to tick all the options.
Click to expand...

My recommendation is that you don't waste money experimenting with a £5 DAC.
Start saving for a better DAC, there are very affordable DACs which are reasonably good.
 
tuga said:
My recommendation is that you don't waste money experimenting with a £5 DAC.
Start saving for a better DAC, there are very affordable DACs which are reasonably good.
Click to expand...

Good advice. I have a couple of those Argos DAC's and while they are fine with other inputs they are very noisy using USB. I still find them useful when used with the optical output from Chromecast Audio's, but wouldn't use them on USB now. The other DAC's I use for USB are a lot better, with little (if any) difference in noise between USB and the other inputs.
 
Hi All. The same for here. Have the possibility to chose best powersupply for my DAC.
I have searched the entire internet for a way to make this USB power/signal separator. My plan is to made a very short wire with male and female usb-b and add an external 5V connection.
I found out that i need the gnd for the two signal wires. I also read that i need to have some current draw on +supply from the usb source for the computer to recognize connection.
Am i totally wrong, since I can't get it to work ?
 
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