How to Connect DAC's USB Port to Ethernet Cable


My DAC is a Bricasti M21. I would like to try streaming native DSD256 files using the DACs true 1-bit DSD.

Music is currently streamed using Audirvana on my android phone from a network switch using the DACs ethernet port with an ethernet cable. The DAC can only stream DSD256 files using its USB port. I’d like keep the ethernet connection to stream other file types and Qobuz. I can switch to the DACs USB port using the remote when I want to listen to DSD256 files.

The computer with the DSD256 files is downstairs and the Bricasti is upstairs. How do I add a cord from the network switch in the music room to the DACs USB port? Do I need a separate box in the music room that converts the network ethernet signal to a USB signal or can I use a USB-B to ethernet adapter?

I already contacted the manufacturer, but the person I talked with said they have never tried this before.

bigby

You have a DAC that costs at least $15K.  Why fool around with an adapter that probably won’t handle DSD files?

  I would add another computer or streamer to the room that has the Bricasti and play the DSD files into the USB of the DAC.  The cost will be what, $1K at most?  It’s a fraction of what you already spent on the DAC

vinylshadow

Most recordings were done in 16/44 and sound best that way.

That's mistaken - 16/44.1 is a consumer format. Pros were using 16/48 even in the early days of digital, and resolution has been increasing ever since.

“Music is currently streamed using Audirvana on my android phone from a network switch using the DACs ethernet port with an ethernet cable”
@bigby

Since Audirvana has folder capabilities, add your folder containing DSD files to Audirvana on your laptop. As per Audirvana, folder view in app allows users to play local files on your server to play remotely. According to M21 manual, your DAC should play DSD64 natively and DSD128 as DoP over Ethernet. 

@vinylshadow  - The files I'm going to try are from NativeDSD Music. They are "True DSD" recorded in 256 (unless from analogue tape) so no up sampling.

@mahler123 -  I looked at some.  I just don't want another box in my music room or the process of returns.   If I can't get the cables to work, then I may be forced to go  the separate box route.

@lalitk - I already stream DSD128 over ethernet to the M21. DSD256 files have to be over USB.

@rbstehno - The USB port on the M21 is galvanically isolated.  The isolation should keep out nasty signals that contaminate DACs.