Connect Node 2i to a cd transport

Answered

Chen Ostfeld

• August 25, 2020 21:18

Hi,

I have a cd player and I want to use the node 2i as a dac (to use the cd player as a transport).

The cd player has a spdif coax digital out.

Which cable do I need to use in order to connect it?

I understand that the device has analog/digial toslink output, but how can it go with one side spdif coax cable?

Now I currently use the cd player's dac by connecting it througe the rca out to analog in (in the node 2i), but I really like to try and use the cd player as a transport.

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• Official comment

  

  Sam R.

  • August 26, 2020 17:42

  Hello Chen, 

  This wouldn't be easy to do, as Coax uses conductor wire to transmit electrical data, whereas Optical transmits using light.

  You would need to purchase a third-party SPDIF to Optical adapter for this purpose, though I have not done any testing and cannot make recommendation on any specifics. 

  Regards,
  Sam R.
• 

  Chen Ostfeld

  • August 26, 2020 17:54
  • Edited

  Thanks Sam,

  Do you think I will benefit from this sound quality-wise?

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• 

  Sam R.

  • August 26, 2020 20:54

  Difficult to say. Usually comparing DAC audio can really only be done by actually listening to both back and forth -- it comes down to how it sounds to you (quality could be the same but DAC sonic signatures differ; some have a warmer sound, some are more neutral, etc). 

  Also, I'm not sure how much the digital audio quality will be affected after going through a Coax to Optical adapter. 

  I would recommend purchasing one of the adapters from a place you can be sure to return to, and then comparing both the Node's DAC vs your CD player's DAC so you can confidently decide which you prefer sound-wise. 

  Regards,
  Sam R.

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