USB audio

Radtek

Ok I have a real old Acer Aspire laptop (2010). I want to use it to stream Hi Res music from Amazon HD music. I cannot get the USB port to send audio to the USB DAC  on a 205 Oppo BD Player. Is this even possible on this old of a machine? I can stream from the HDMI output but would have higher bit rate etc from the USB out.

Radtek

billsey, I found a SMSL a Hi Res headphone amp I had with a USB input same as the Oppo. Plugged it into the Aspire and yes in deed it sends audio out at 24 BiT 44.1 KHz which is a high as the headphone amp will play. So I have eliminated the Aspire as the cause and now it falls on the Oppo. Thanks for trying to help me figure this out and a tip of the hat to the old Acer Aspire laptop that keeps on keeping on.

billsey

You can look at that type B connector as well, the design for those changed from 2.0 to 3.0. The type A stayed the same, except for a color change.

billsey

You should probably reach out to Oppo to find out the specs for their USB port. All I see on their website is:

USB Audio: up to 2ch/768kHz PCM, up to 2ch/2.8224MHz/5.6448MHz/11.2896MHz/22.5792 MHz (native mode only) DSD.

Which doesn't tell us if the port is USB 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1. Data transfer rates are radically different between the versions. Likely your laptop is USB 2.0, but I don't know for sure because I don't know which laptop you have... USB 3.0 was finalized in 2010.

Radtek

billsey, Thanks for responding. I have a Aspire 5740-5255...I believe it is only USB 2.0. That being said all USB versions are downward compatible. I have downloaded the software from Oppo so the USB DAC input will play nice with Windows computers. I am not getting any audio at all from the Aspires USB ports. I just was feeling out if anyone had one of these older Aspire Laptops and would know if it is capable of outputting audio from USB. If it does not, I have configured the Aspire to output Audio to my NAD receiver via it's HDMI which will then play up to 24 Bit 192kHz, which is still pretty ***** decent.

billsey

OK your model have four USB ports, all USB 2.0. If the Oppo needs USB 3.0 speed then you are out of luck with your laptop. I know of no way you can add 3.0 to your system.

Radtek

billsey said:

OK your model have four USB ports, all USB 2.0. If the Oppo needs USB 3.0 speed then you are out of luck with your laptop. I know of no way you can add 3.0 to your system.

The users manual does not state either way if The USB DAC input needs USB 3.0...now the OPPO 205 does have USB 2.0 type "A" inputs and I know they  work receiving a digital signal. These are mostly used for USB thumb drives for pictures, stored music and videos. I have used these in the past for videos.
 Where I need to connect is into OPPO's  USB "B" input DAC coming from the the Aspires USB "type A port" The type B port on the OPPO could be 3.0 but from my understanding, type 2.0 and type 3.0 are compatible. What I plan on doing is looking in my conglomeration of electronic ***** and find the old USB 2.0 amp/player I use to have and test it on the Aspire's USB ports and see if it indeed will send an audio signal.  

Radtek

billsey, I found a SMSL a Hi Res headphone amp I had with a USB input same as the Oppo. Plugged it into the Aspire and yes in deed it sends audio out at 24 BiT 44.1 KHz which is a high as the headphone amp will play. So I have eliminated the Aspire as the cause and now it falls on the Oppo. Thanks for trying to help me figure this out and a tip of the hat to the old Acer Aspire laptop that keeps on keeping on.

billsey

You can look at that type B connector as well, the design for those changed from 2.0 to 3.0. The type A stayed the same, except for a color change.

Radtek

Thanks I didn't know about the difference in the 2.0 and 3.0 B connector. Now I know the Oppo has a USB 2.0 B connector as it's USB DAC input.

billsey

OK, so it's not an issue with the port speed then... Looks like you're going to have to hear from Oppo before you can go any further.

Radtek

I suppose I will although at this point I am enjoying the Hi Res 24 bit 192kHz coming from the Acer's HDMI output into my NAD 785HD receiver and my ears are 75 years old so.... why quibble.