iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?

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Cacophonix

iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« on: 29 Jan 2018, 08:19 pm »
Anyone using iDSD BL with chromecast audio? I'd like to use the DAC capabilities of the iFi, but not sure what cable to use between the two. iFi has a SPDIF RCA input, while chromecast has a miniTOS output, and i've not been able to find such a cable.

Doublej

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #1 on: 29 Jan 2018, 11:29 pm »
Because you can't do it with just a cable. You need a box to convert the optical signal (light wave) into an electrical signal (voltage) so you need a box in between the Chromecast and the iFi DSD BL.

Something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Optical-Toslink-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B002HWZN4W.

Then connect an optical cable with mini TOS on one end and TOS on the other end from the Chromecast to the box and then and rca cable from the box to the iFi and you are good to go.

Depending on how you look at it it's another three things box, power supply, and rca cable, to mess things up or three more opportunities to tweak.

Or you could just pay your money up front ($99 vs. $35) and buy an airport express that connect the Airport express directly to the ifi. But then you are creating a solution to a slightly different problem.




Tyson

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #2 on: 30 Jan 2018, 12:41 am »
The iDSD has an optical input so you can just plug right in without messing with those other devices.

Doublej

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #3 on: 30 Jan 2018, 02:17 am »
The iDSD has an optical input so you can just plug right in without messing with those other devices.

I totally missed that on the page I was looking at. What does the cable end for the iDSD look like?

https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idsd-bl/




Tyson

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #4 on: 30 Jan 2018, 02:28 am »
I totally missed that on the page I was looking at. What does the cable end for the iDSD look like?

https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idsd-bl/

There's a little adapter they send with the unit - it plugs into the SPDIF jack and then you plug your toslink cable into that adapter.  It's very small, actually and fits the optical cable like any other normal toslink input.

Doublej

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #5 on: 30 Jan 2018, 02:58 am »

Tyson

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #6 on: 30 Jan 2018, 03:11 am »
At 1:23 the little black thing.

https://www.samma3a.com/tech/en/ifi-audio-micro-idsd-black-lable-review/



That's it - works well too.  I use mine with my Roku, which has optical out too.

TF1216

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #7 on: 30 Jan 2018, 06:05 am »
Thanks for helping out guys  :lol:

Cacophonix

Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #8 on: 30 Jan 2018, 10:00 pm »
Thanks guys! Looks like i might have missed looking for accessories in the box. I'll check later this evening, and verify that i have that adapter. Found all the accessories. Have ordered the minitos cable and will hook up the chromecast once i receive it.
« Last Edit: 1 Feb 2018, 08:48 pm by Cacophonix »

TF1216

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roscoeiii

Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #10 on: 1 Feb 2018, 07:10 pm »
Here are free MQA tracks
https://davidelias.bandcamp.com/album/david-elias-9-tracks-mqa-sampler-441-to-3528-khz

Does the iDSD Micro BL accept MQA now? I know the more recent Nano has that capability, but missed it if the Micro got MQA.

And for the purposes of this conversation, we've been talking Micro, since Nano only has USB input (IIRC).

TF1216

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Re: iFi IDSD BL and chromecast audio?
« Reply #11 on: 2 Feb 2018, 10:22 pm »
Does the iDSD Micro BL accept MQA now? I know the more recent Nano has that capability, but missed it if the Micro got MQA.

And for the purposes of this conversation, we've been talking Micro, since Nano only has USB input (IIRC).

Just the nano at the moment.