Signstek HiFi USB to Coaxial S/PDIF Converter Convert Digital to Analogue Signal Mini USB DAC PCM
Brand | Signstek |
Maximum Supply Voltage | 5 Volts |
Mounting Type | Coaxial,Plug Mount,Freestanding |
Interface Type | USB, Coaxial |
Number of Channels | 1 |
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This Item Signstek HiFi USB to Coaxial S/PDIF Converter Convert Digital to Analogue Signal Mini USB DAC PCM | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | ||
Price | Currently unavailable. | -29% $99.00$99.00 List: $139.00 | $79.99$79.99 | $26.95$26.95 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 |
Customer Ratings | ||||
Quality of material | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
Sound quality | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
Volume control | 3.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 |
Value for money | — | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
Sold By | — | Schiit Audio | Hifi Made Fun | LiNKFOR US |
interface type | Coaxial, USB | Coaxial, USB | Coaxial, USB | Coaxial, USB |
number of channels | 1 | — | 2 | 1 |
mounting type | Coaxial,Plug Mount,Freestanding | Plug Mount | Tabletop Mount | Plug Mount |
5 volts | 5 volts | — | 5 volts | |
— | — | — | — |
Product Description
This product is USB DAC, not USB audio. It only provides 2 sound channels, right and left. It does not support 5.1 surround and AC3. This device can be used to connect to your computer via USB cable and configures as an audio output device, with the purpose of creating a high quality S/PDIF digital audio output signal that can connect to your existing DAC.
Signstek Mini USB DAC
Compatibility
Compatible with Windows XP, Mac OS-X , Windows2000, WIN7, WIN8, WIN10, MAC Operating System. Support Sample Rate: 16 Bit 32k, 44.1k, 48k (not support 24 Bit).
Great sound quality
Enable to get better clarity, lets you distinguish instruments better and appreciate music better. Digital output signal after fever isolation transformer DV709 filtering, the sound quality more perfect.
Package includes
- 1xMain Unit
- 1xCable
- Size: 100*66*27mm
- Net Weight: 300g
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Easy to useSmall size, convenient to carry. Powered by USB cable. Comes with a headphone output for private audio listening. Uses it standard or build right into your DAC. Operation and setup is plug-and-plug, no drivers to install. |
High-qualityThe surface of the font used expensive laser engraving, never fade. made of high-quality aluminum shell material. |
Specifications
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Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 3.9 x 1.18 x 2.8 inches |
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Item Weight | 7 ounces |
ASIN | B00FEDHHKE |
Item model number | Signstek |
Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #201,885 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #139 in Signal Converters #146 in Digital-Analog Converters |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | September 24, 2013 |
Manufacturer | Signstek |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, performance, value, and quality of the electronic signal converter. For example, they mention that it works very well, it improves sound output immediately, and it's good value for money. That said, some appreciate the ease of use, saying that it'll just plug and play.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the signal converter. They say it adds soundstage, detail, and bass control. They also say the music plays through their stereo beautifully with no distortion, hissing, or other problems. The device improves sound output immediately, making it very good for casual music listening.
"...The Senns are more laid back and with this device are a more pleasant listening experience, with better sound stage and no harshness...." Read more
"...The problem was not the receiver. It faithfully amplified the flaws in the audio and sent them to the Micca speakers, which faithfully reproduced..." Read more
"...It produces clean accurate sound...." Read more
"...TOP OF THE LINE, BUT WILL GET YOU STARTED WITH GREAT, BETTER THAN ENTRY LEVEL SOUND QUALITY, WHILE NOT WASTING YOUR MONEY ON THE WAY UP THE LADDER...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the electronic signal converter. They say it works very well, it works immediately, and it improves sound output immediately. It's a really amazing device, especially for the price. The USB to optical function works great, and the drivers load automatically in a couple of minutes.
"...Works perfectly!MINE RATTLESThe first thing I noticed about this unit is the rattling inside...." Read more
"...on a laptop runnings windows 7 so far, but the drivers loaded automatically in a couple of minutes and it was ready to go...." Read more
"...Still, I must repeat, for $19.99, it's quite good...." Read more
"First, this is a bargain DAC that is performing quite well for me...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the electronic signal converter. For example, they mention it's well built, and amazing for the price. Some say it'll improve audio performance.
"...All that said, this unit is very, very good for the price, at least as good as a unit costing 10 times more...." Read more
"...This is not a "hifi" solution, but it's very good for the price...." Read more
"...The first is called "Equalizer APO" and it is free, worked OK but not all features worked as expected...." Read more
"...Second, this is a great low-cost solution to convert usb to optical/SPDIF, which is the primary reason I purchased it, as many DAC units sold on..." Read more
Customers like the quality of the electronic signal converter. They mention that it's well-engineered, solid, and built like a tank. The case is made of extruded aluminum, making it tough and durable. Overall, customers are satisfied with the quality and functionality of the product.
"...The housing is 100% metal, and seems rugged enough to be a travel companion...." Read more
"...Better than an android phone DAC, comparable to an iPhone and/or iMac DAC, assuming no other jiggering with the bitrate or encoding...." Read more
"...Good USB-to-Optical/Coaxial converter, 2) Acceptable DAC, 3) A good deal for the money." Read more
"...Construction Notes: The parts and construction of this MUSE really are excellent, much better than you might expect for $25...." Read more
Customers find the electronic signal converter easy to use. They mention that it's a plug-and-play solution, with no installation issues. The drivers install automatically without the need to find them online. Customers also mention that the device is up and running in a snap.
"...Ease of use: It has only been used on a laptop runnings windows 7 so far, but the drivers loaded automatically in a couple of minutes and it was..." Read more
"...In short, this little magic box is an absolutely perfect plug and play solution." Read more
"...No drivers or setup required--just improved audio quality and the conversion you expect...." Read more
"That's right, folks. This Signstek DAC is inexpensive, simple to operate, and ta-da (drum roll please) it works very well...." Read more
Customers like the USB connectivity of the signal converter. For example, they say it's compact, inexpensive, and runs on the included USB cable to the PC and an optical cable to a soundbar. That way, it eliminates unnecessary wiring mess and it can convert USB to pretty much any audio output. Customers also appreciate the convenience of using a USB port instead of the headphone jack.
"...Love the fact that the USB powers this unit—no additional cables! There is a small red light (LED?)..." Read more
"...Good USB-to-Optical/Coaxial converter, 2) Acceptable DAC, 3) A good deal for the money." Read more
"...But it is, and, without external power, it can even drive my vintage Sennheiser HD 530 headphones (300 Ohms)...." Read more
"...This little guy gets power from the USB connection so it's a snap to move it around. It's light and sturdy, and the connections are solid...." Read more
Customers like the clarity of the electronic signal converter. They say it has a very clear and expansive signal, with high frequencies that are clear and sharp. The RCA output is decent, and the analog output is better than most PC's sound card. The stereo separation is dramatically improved, and it has perfect reception.
"...Midrange was clear and fast, high frequency was also very clear - the distortion of the guitar amp used for the lead solos on DSOTM was very..." Read more
"...The stereo separation is dramatically improved. The soundstage is very wide, much wider than the speakers themselves...." Read more
"...At that point, things warmed up a little but, but the higher frequencies were still elevated and depending on what type of music you listen to, the..." Read more
"...It also has optical and coax digital pass-through outputs.That is what it is and it does that very well...." Read more
Customers find the electronic signal converter versatile. They say it features an excellent UAC1 chip, is useful as a mobile DAC, and is helpful for use with PS5 and existing DAC/amp. It has multiple output options for input from streaming media player to speakers. That clarity lets them distinguish instruments better and appreciate music better.
"Great little unit for numerous applications. I am currently using it to connect my iMac to a Yamaha Yas-103 soundbar...." Read more
"...So this device is a good deal and has some versatility but don't expect miracles at this price...." Read more
"...That "clarity" lets you distinguish instruments better and appreciate music better...." Read more
"...That’s where this DAC comes in! This features an excellent, albeit older, UAC1 chip...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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MINE RATTLES
The first thing I noticed about this unit is the rattling inside. I unscrewed the side panel and found that the PCB is a 1/6" shorter than the metal housing (lengthwise), so it rattles a bit. This does not affect the performance, but in my case it was resting on the speaker and would rattle whenever the bass hit, even at low volume. So, I mounted it to the back of the iMac with double-sided tape, no more rattles.
THE HOUSING // TRAVELS WELL
The housing is 100% metal, and seems rugged enough to be a travel companion. My only worry in traveling with it would be pushing in the jacks, so I would recommend finding a small rugged case for it, or similar protection. The labels for the jacks are screenprinted/painted on, so they should last awhile. If you move it around a lot and need them to last longer, I recommend covering them with clear nail polish
USB POWER!
Love the fact that the USB powers this unit—no additional cables! There is a small red light (LED?) that illuminates when the unit is plugged into a powered USB source, even if there is no audio being sent to it. So, it's always on, when plugged in. Nothing too bright, but if you are a space/event where lights can be distracting, you may need some tape for it.
THE SOUND
I tried this on a MacBook with some Audio-Technica ATH-M50S headphones and found the audio to be cleaner (no hiss or other electronic noise I was getting from my onboard 1/8" jack). I also noticed that it brought out some of the subtle notes and tones of the music. I listen to a wide range of music and found that in most cases the sound was 'cleaned up'. When it came to hard rock and metal, I didn't hear any noticeable difference.
We mainly use this unit and the YAS-103 for streaming movies, DVDs, music and podcasts. While it's main purpose is to faithfully convert USB-out to optical-in, we feel it does a better job than just using the 1/8" audio jack.
SETUP (MAC)
On OSX (Mac), go into Settings > Sound > Output tab and select "USB audio DAC" from the list to send audio through the USB to this unit. In my case (USB to optical) the iMac's volume no longer controls the volume. We can even mute it on the computer and it has no effect. It becomes a line and the YAS-103 controls the volume.
When I used this with the Audio-Technica ATH-M50S headphones, the volume on the computer controls the volume in the headphones. There is no volume control on this unit.
RECOMMENDED FOR...
I recommend this unit for:
— audio for your high end headphones
— travel (get yourself a short USB cable!)
— streaming movies/DVDs to a soundbar or home theater
— situations where you only have a choice between USB or 1/8" stereo jack on the source (and you want to use the USB audio out)
Ease of use: It has only been used on a laptop runnings windows 7 so far, but the drivers loaded automatically in a couple of minutes and it was ready to go. On that Sony PC I’ve run it with windows media player and itunes. Since both programs are simply sending the digital files to the DAC, there is no difference in sound. MP3s, WAVs, WMA and M4A were all handled without a glitch. I prefer to use iTunes since it is easier to sync to an iMac and iPhone. Your choice.
Sound Quality/Experience: Delightful from the first note. I listened on headphones (35 ohm Sony’s) and through my main listening system. Lots of signal for either application. The perception of space and instrument placement is as good as my “gold standard” a late 1980’s Parasound top of the line DAC. Nothing else (that I can justify in terms of price anyway) compares to it, and this little champ Signstek was just as good in this regard. Individual voices or strings playing in harmony could easily be followed. Of course this presumes the listener has a set of speakers than can deliver and a recording of sufficient quality. Harder to come by in my experience.
Frequency Response/Range: Excellent. The heartbeat on the first track of Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd rattled my listening room, which is a fairly large space with a two story vaulted ceiling. Midrange was clear and fast, high frequency was also very clear - the distortion of the guitar amp used for the lead solos on DSOTM was very authentic - one could almost name the amplifier used. The only downside so far is that the very highest frequencies are a little harsher than those from the Parasound DAC, but this may change over time.
Other comparisons: Way, way better than the onboard DAC in the Sony Laptop (Yuk). That’s the reason I bought this DAC in the first place - just to avoid using the Sony analog output. Better than an android phone DAC, comparable to an iPhone and/or iMac DAC, assuming no other jiggering with the bitrate or encoding. Not quite as good as the onboard DAC in my Sony CD player, but that’s not really a fair fight. That is straight ‘bit to DAC’ conversion (no encoding) and it cost about $4k. The sound quality is still closer than it ought to be for several times the price. Finally, the high frequencies from the onboard DAC in an OPPO DVD/CD player running through my main listening system were very similar to the little Signstek. And that unit has been burned in for 100’s of hours and runs about $700. You just cannot beat the Signstek DAC for value.
Highly recommended and I am buying a couple more to replace the onboard DACs in other computers. I always like to have backups anyway.
Listening direcly toi the Signstek 3.5 mm analog out ith my ATH-M50s headphones I think the sound is a little harsh. I have to set volume level below 25% in my Control Panel (Windows 7) to get a sound that approaches musicality. I was able to use the HA INFO headphone amp at a higher volume level without running into a harsh sound. Other headphones might respond differently but one reviewer who gives the Signstek really high marks for music listening was using the same headphones. So this device is a good deal and has some versatility but don't expect miracles at this price.
Edit March 28 2017: I substituted a pair of Sennheiser 580's and really like the sound through these compared to the Audio Technica. The Senns are more laid back and with this device are a more pleasant listening experience, with better sound stage and no harshness. I am listening to Pandora and I think I could listen for quite a while without listener fatigue setting in. I was able to turn volume in the system settings up to about 75%. Same number of stars but the quality of output sems to be highly dependent on the headphones you use. Still haven't tried the optical output and may add to this review if anything significant emerges when I do.
Top reviews from other countries
Based on the specs of this DAC, I figured it was a class 1 DAC (which are supported by the PS5) and decided to buy it. I connected a USB cable from the PS5 to the DAC's USB input, then a RCA Coaxial cable from this to the Modi 3 (and then the rest of the audio chain) - and it worked! I was able to select this DAC as the audio output in the system settings, and the audio goes all the way through to my headphones without a problem. Sounds as clean as always, so I don't think there is any distortion along the chain.
It's also pretty tiny, lightweight and has a nice build. Great product all around!
I had originally tried Bluetooth audio with my sound bar but I was suffering from noticeable lag with the audio. Where people's lips wouldn't match the audio and the delay was very frustrating. I'm pleased to say that adding this cheap DAC allowed me to connect to my sound bar with optical audio and experience no noticeable lag at all. Just for fun, I tested it on my Denon amplifier as well and again, it worked perfectly.
I can now enjoy awesome quality audio, lag free and for less than the cost of a Bluetooth 5 dongle, or an expensive sound card.
The headphone / phono out is a bonus as well and I'm sure will come in handy. I've tested this both on Windows 10 and Mac OS big sur and they both function perfectly. Now I have awesome quality audio and i'm able to watch stuff on my PC or Mac and have really awesome quality audio in zoom conferences etc.
This was a really nice , cheap way to add optical audio to my computer since there was none on either my Mac or my PC and avoids the lag of Bluetooth audio.