Convert USB to SPDIF


I searched the Forums but didn’t find anything recent on this.  I wish to add a 2010 MacAir running Audirvana Plus to my basement system.  NAS and router are upstairs.  My AVR is anAnthem MX5 channel that doesn’t have a USB input.  What is the best way to convert USB to SPDIF?  I found some cheap converters but would like add something decent...
mahler123
Ok, the proverbial dumb question, I'm reading this post and others, my question. is it always advised to convert USB to Spdif? I'm running from Windows 10 laptop to Schiit Wyrd( decrapifier) then in Project box S2. Will converting usb to spiff always sound better? Better in all respects. Thank you, Otto

It depends on how good the USB receiver board is in your DAC.  If your DAC has an Amanero USB receiver board with really good power supply, it's likely that you may not get much (if any at all) if you put in a USB-to-SPDIF converter box.  Also, Amanero boards usually have two separate clocks that generate the proper timing on the two main audio format sampling rates.

If you have a cheap DAC without a good USB interface, then a USB-to-SPDIF converter box is likely to improve things significantly.  In this situation, the relatively lower cost solutions such as the Matrix solution mentioned above or the Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Reclocker for $299 could be good options.  It's a little more expensive, but I would choose the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 USB Interface for $379 because it uses Accusilicon clocks which I know are excellent and I think better than the Crystek clocks typically used in these devices.  The Wyred4Sound and Matrix both use wall-wart switching power supplies (which can be upgraded to linear power supply if you want).

Or you could go for something totally high end such as Singxer SU-6 or Audio-GD DI-20HE interfaces. (full internal linear power supplies and high end digital clocks).

Your Project Box S2 really doesn't have any sort of good USB receiver / clocker, so I would definitely recommend a USB-to-SPDIF box for this DAC for sure.  If you did do this, I would just remove that Schiit Wyrd decrapifier because it's really not doing anything that these USB-to-SPDIF converters are already doing and it would be just another device and usb cable in the chain.
I'm running from Windows 10 laptop to Schiit Wyrd( decrapifier) then in Project box S2. Will converting usb to spiff always sound better?

There may be a cheaper way to improve your sound.  Replace your wall-wart power supply on the Project Box S2 DAC with a linear power supply such as this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hifi-Linear-Power-Supply-for-Pro-Ject-Pre-Box-S2-Digital-Preamp-and-DAC-L17-48/143261499196

That would significantly improve your sound quality at a lower cost of about $136 USD. 

You could also get a better power supply such as the LKS:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LKS-Linear-power-supply-DC-5V-USB-5V-for-DAC-with-25VA-Talema-transformer-PSU/133558190349

Then buy a USB cable with a "Micro-USB" connector on one side for your S2 dac.

Hello Mahler123, I do not have a solution for your question, but a question myself. May I ask for your expertise and guidance? ow can I connect my music collection on a FLAC USB to my pre-amp listed here? My sound system is an early 80s ‘stack’ system.

None of the components are digital: Bryston 2B solid state amp, Conrad-Johnson PV-11 pre-amp, MIT 330 interconnects, MusicWave phase-equalized speaker cables, California Audio Labs CD Alpha and Delta drive, Dual 1129 turntable. B&W 803 speakers.

I would appreciate your suggestions and guidance on the matter.Thank you.

Mark Saracino


You can’t.  You need to add a DAC, and one that will accept usb.  And you probably need a “Player” and that can read the files on the flash drive and send them to the DAC