Is Coax -> USB a thing?

This is probably a ridiculous question, but I own a USB DAC / Amp (Hifiman EF400) that I like very much, and would like to be able to use it with my CD transport (Audiolab 6000CDT). Unfortunately, the DAC only has USB inputs. Is there any way to convert my transport's coaxial output to the DAC's USB input? I realize that people are generally trying to go the other way, and perhaps it's even technologically impossible, but figured I'd ask.

Thanks for any help.

 

You would need something with a board that converts S/PDIF to i2s and then another board to convert i2s to USB. Like you said most devices on the market are trying to go the other way. There are some cheap devices that do this but only for optical and not electrical S/PDIF, and they will sound quite bad. Most digital to digital converters are music killers. You are better off just ripping your CDs.

 

I know devices to convert SPDIF -> USB for a PC but I doubt this would interface with a DAC. Here is one I found awhile back:

https://www.beis.de/Elektronik/DA2USB/DA2USB.html

 

Short of using a computer with a digital interface to capture spdif and route it to the DAC in question... Hard to say.

 

I think this might be one of the many things within the capability of the new Schiit digital/cd transport thing

 

Sounds intriguing, I will definitely keep an eye out for that!

 

What is your current setup? Do you use an external dac to feed the EF400?

 

Such a thing exists, for a price...

 

For my CDs, I generally use the Bifrost 2/64 --> Bryston BHA-1. But, to my aging ears, the EF400 sounds more musical (albeit less detailed), so I use the built in DAC and amp for my computer based audio. Also, it saves space, and would also save me money if I could use that AIO unit.