Add S/PDIF Coaxial output to your motherboard simply and cheaply

Discussion in 'Modifications and Tweaks' started by DigMe, Jan 7, 2017.

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  1. DigMe

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    I thought I would share what I did to add S/PDIF output capability to my mobo. It may not be to the level of the E22 and other solutions but I believe it is giving a cleaner signal than the USB to my Modi Multibit/Vali 2/HD6XX chain.

    This started with a post by @Abhishek Chowdhary on the all purpose advice thread here:
    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...purpose-advice-thread.19/page-168#post-103937

    It was followed up by various comments and convos. I liked the idea of using the mobo S/PDIF header but I wanted a cleaner solution than directly connecting the cable to the pins. I looked around amazon and realized that there is an off-the-shelf solution that I wasn't aware of and it's only $13 shipped with Prime. I know this isn't news to many but I didn't see it discussed here so I thought it might be helpful to some.

    The product I bought is here:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035J9Z7W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    It's just a simple bracket with some wires on a little ASUS S/PDIF board. It comes with some different tips and I had to split it into two connectors - a double that went to the 2 pins for S/PDIF and then a single connector for 5v signal that I connected to the pin on an unused mobo USB hookup. Not sure why it needs 5v - I'm guessing for the optical that is also on the board. I went ahead and connected it though because I read a review on Amazon where someone said that coax didn't work without the 5v hooked up.

    The picture on Amazon is not accurate. I've attached some photos of the actual product.

    Of course this option will not work for you if you do not have the S/PDIF pins on your mobo.

    Brad
     

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  2. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Last edited: Jan 7, 2017
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    This is cool. My mobo is supposed to have SPDIF but there's no pin header because it's an OEM sample I got for free from work. I tried soldering on pins but no digital device shows up in the Realtek utility. All the resistors and caps shown in the datasheet to implement SPDIF out from the codec look to be there but it seems to be dead. So I'll be using my ifi micro as a DDC when I get my Modi Multibit.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2017
  4. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    I wouldn't be surprised if they disabled it in the firmware, not something i'd mess with unless there is solid recovery option or you have an eeprom programmer.
     
  5. DigMe

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    I'm fairly technically adept and I can solder and follow directions but I wouldn't know what to do just on my own.
     
  6. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Yeah it would require some figuring out on my part as well, but i took a look at that transformer and i only saw 4 pins so how hard can it be?
     
  7. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Found this (links fixed):
    Single post: http://duc.avid.com/showpost.php?p=1120835&postcount=4
    Full thread: http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=196460

    The PM for that project said he didn't know and our DVT dept. didn't test for it, so that must be it.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2017
  8. DigMe

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  9. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    For the price of that bracket, I've been tempted to do this with my mobo, as it has an SPDIF header. However, I can't find any low profile brackets for these. I'd get creative, but I'm pretty sure my motherboard's SPDIF is jenky, so I'm not even going to bother.

    ...If I didn't live 2800 miles away from my father, I'd try it out in heartbeat. He's got enough stuff and tools laying around that I could to do it for free. :(
     
  10. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    A few years back i made something similar for my mobo, but that was just a coax cable i cut up and hooked up straight to the spdif header. If you have soldering iron it takes less then 10min to make.
     
  11. DigMe

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    Yeah, see the first link in my original post.
     
  12. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Aha must've missed that one, but yeah that is exactly how i did it.
     
  13. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    That's exactly what I want to do! But I don't have any of materials or tools, including a soldering iron. My father has all that and more. I used to just drive to his house whenever I wanted to do something as such.
     
  14. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Yeah i used to do the same when i was younger but i guess you have to start making your own tool collection some time, also i can't think of a better project to learn how to solder(if you don't already know how to).
     
  15. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    My tool collection is fairly decent, but is missing a soldering iron and Panavise. I'll need to add them to it at some point. Add a heat gun and I could start making cables!
     
  16. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Sounds like a good plan! I want to get myself one of these one day: http://solderbuddy.com/products/solderbuddy-spk/
     
  17. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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  18. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    That looks quite nice indeed. Perhaps for my next big project.
     
  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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