FX Audio DAC-SQ3 USB-SPDIF Bridge & DAC Review

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A review of the FX Audio DAC-SQ3 budget $100 DAC that can also act as a digital to digital converter (DDC) and turn a USB output into either coaxial (SPDIF) or optical digital (TOSLink)
Thank you to HiFi College for making the review possible! tinyurl.com/HFCSQ3
00:00 - Introduction
01:42 - Specs & features
02:48 - Glamour video
03:14 - Interface
03:29 - Inputs & outputs
04:15 - DAC sound quality
05:13 - DAC-SQ3 vs E1DA 9038D
06:49 - Bridge / DDC sound quality
10:20 - Final conclusions
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22 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 69

@ginom407 2 года назад

Great Review. 👍👍👍 Who even knew a device like this existed? I didn't...

@johnspy12345 2 года назад

I recently came across these as well, I also put an order in for the SRC-DX which people have been raving about for bypass the Hugo TT2’s USB implementation.

@jamesbittle2138 2 года назад

I think some folks use the entry-level Topping DAC (D10) for the same purpose.

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

Yes, the D10 is the same and is also unimpressive as a DAC while degrading quality as a bridge too. I'm also interested in the SRC-DX, but I'll be very curious to hear if it really makes a significant difference when all other factors are equal (e.g. source quality, cable quality, etc.)

@yajiu Год назад

DAC aside, would this be suitable for USB > Toslink recording? Primarily on my old minidisc deck. This accepts a signal of 24bit 44.1khz. Do you think it’s ok to go with this one or is there another budget-friendly option that you can recommend as a DDC? Thanks and great video :)

@PassionforSound Год назад

I think this should be ok for that purpose if you're looking to keep the cost down.

@yajiu Год назад

@@PassionforSound thank you :)

@ekjellgren 2 года назад

Excellent information as usual. Would a digital transport like a PI2AES be better than this, and most important- would it improve the sound as a transport to a better DAC like Pontus II or Pegasus? Or do we need something like the Gaia?

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I have used a Pi with a Hifiberry Digi+ board and it is definitely better than the DAC-SQ3 so I do think it's worthwhile. A DDC like the Gaia or SU-6 can be more convenient because it will take USB straight from a PC without having to stream via a third device like a Pi so that's worth considering too. I'm hoping to review the SU-6 in the near future

@seanc5827 2 года назад

@@PassionforSound in the case of a Pi as interconnect, would it add latency as well? I’m not sure you could watch Netflix for example from a PC using aPi2AES, but you could do it with a usb DAC…is this correct?

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I haven't tested it, but I believe you'll get pretty significant latency issues using a Pi and there's probably not sufficient benefit for movies, etc. It's really suited for maximising audio where you're not looking to align video. Best to stick with a USB DAC for video watching IMO

@1964ilovebears 2 года назад

Hi Lachland. I own a couple of edifier speakes connected to an imac and I wonder if adding a dac would be interesting. Any recommendation for this specific configuration under 200 bucks? Thank you

@SumbaListens 2 года назад

Absolutely! I’d suggest the Ifi Zen Dac V2! It has a pre out that can either be set to fixed or variable output! Also has a super nice volume control knob and balanced and unbalanced headphone sockets for desktop listening. Sadly no remote but I believe the edifiers come with a remote. For 180$ it’s the best out there!

@1964ilovebears 2 года назад

@@SumbaListens Thanks Sumba

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I can't speak to the Zen DAC quality, but the Topping E30 is also a good option to try.

@1964ilovebears 2 года назад

@@PassionforSound Thanks Lachlan

@ydjeong9796 2 года назад

Thanks for your review. I have been using this DAC for a month. Basically I am very satisfied with the sound quality. However, when this DAC is connected to the computer, the computer will not go to energy saving mode. Did you know that fact? Enabling USB sleep mode in the computer control panel does not help. Do I need to download a driver?

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I didn't have it setup in such a way as to test that so I can't comment - sorry!

@SumbaListens 2 года назад

Sorry Lachlan, came in here and I realized I ended up sounding straight up like an Ifi Audio salesman 😂.. Loved the video, interesting product but I feel there’s soo much better value and products out there. I feel spdif/coax converters and spdif in general is kinda obsolete….

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

No problems. For clarity, I don't select products based on what is guaranteed to be good - I select then based on what is offered from retailers or manufacturers and what I think might be interesting to viewers. You'll also rarely see me review iFi, Audeze or a few other brands because of the local distributor making this difficult - it's not a reflection on my opinions of the brands

@paulp6386 2 года назад

Hi Lachlan. What are your thoughts on the SMSL Sandskrit mkii?

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I haven't had a chance to try that one yet, I'm afraid. Sorry!

@GaryHuntPianoman 2 года назад

Hi Lachlan !! so . If I connect my Dell computer's USB A port to full powered DO100 DAC that already has a USB C input , can I still get 24/192 out of my balanced XLR out to my powered speakers or do i need do I need a bridge or...am I good with what I have now .Do you think I need a Douk Audio U2 USB to digital converter adapter. Is my dell spitting out 24/192 ? I might be wrong about all this . So glad you are here so much !!! Just wish I could simplify all this and just connect computer usb a to my SMSL DO 100 usb c input and be done with it Thank you sooooo much

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

Hi Gary, the DO100 will accept whatever is coming from the PC (48kHz, 16-bit is the default for PC sound, but if you're playing back 24/192 it will send that to the DAC). The DO100 will then give you analog outputs to go to your speakers. Is that what you want or were you wanting a digital feed to the speakers? What speakers are you using?

@GaryHuntPianoman 2 года назад

@@PassionforSound Yes ,I want DO100 to output 24/192 then to my MackiesI am using 2 Mackie powered speaker ..full RMS of 1000 real watts I love strong bassy and punchy music . I was told my computer only output 48kHz, 16-bit and my DO100 only shows 48 even tho my settings in Amazon UHD set to 24/192 still only shows 48 on my DO100 when I play an Ultra HD 24/192 song . Is their a way to get the full 24/192 .Is it b/c the usba to usbc do not uotput b/c of the computer only spitting out 48kHz, 16-bit . I just want Hi Res being that is the best signal from my DO100 to feed my large speakers .Will the Douk Audio U2 USB to digital converter adapter fix this . I would rather not if I dont have to . Thank you sir .You are the best !!

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I don't know the Amazon music interface, but there should be somewhere that you can set it to use an "exclusive" output to the DO100. That will prevent the sound being resampled by Windows / iOS and you should see the right sample rates then.

@user-wq6nz5gc4f Год назад

Hello, my english very bad, tell me pls this dac good or no to buy, thanks.

@PassionforSound Год назад

It's ok, but if you can spend a little more money, there are better options like the Topping E30 or SMSL SU-6

@user-wq6nz5gc4f Год назад

@@PassionforSoundThanks.

@CinemaDemocratica Год назад

I wonder how this unit compares to the Ifi Zen AirDAC.

@PassionforSound Год назад

I haven't tried the iFi so can't comment - sorry!

@CinemaDemocratica Год назад

@@PassionforSound I am so grateful that you've been responding to my comments -- thank you! I have a bit of a mad-scientist rig in mind, and I'm getting ready to buy all the stuff and try it out, but there's one big question mark left -- and that's whether the DAC contained within the Aiyima T9 Pro can keep up with any of the $100 stand-alone DACs out there. I suspect that it would do very nicely, since the asking price of the T9 Pro is essentially "an A07 amp plus $100 for a DAC" even though it's not being marketed that way. So it's a longshot, but **if** you were taking requests, that would help me out a lot: How does the internal DAC on the Aiyima T9 Pro compare with a $100 stand-alone such as the iFi or something from FX Audio or Topping.

@PassionforSound Год назад

That's a question that I won't be able to answer - sorry!

@kennethoransky4881 2 года назад

Well that kinda wraps it up for the SQ3, doesn't it?

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

Afraid so ☹️

@sleeper1023 Год назад

Is this plug and play? My devices can't seem to detect it

@PassionforSound Год назад

It should be on Mac & PC AFAIK. What devices are you using?

@sleeper1023 Год назад

@@PassionforSound Thanks for the response. I'm using a MacBook. The DAC would turn on but wouldn't detect any input

@PassionforSound Год назад

Hmmm... I'm not a Mac user so I don't know what to suggest there - sorry!

@sleeper1023 Год назад

@@PassionforSound No worries, thanks for the inputs!

@WorldView22 2 года назад

Can you recommend a usb bridge that does not degrade the signal, Lachlan? I try to avoid using the cursed usb output feeding my dac. :-)

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

I'm actually in the process of reviewing the Singxer SU-6 and Topping U90 at the moment and my simple answer for now is that you're much better off using USB and maybe upgrading your USB card if you have a desktop computer with a spare PCIe card

@WorldView22 2 года назад

@@PassionforSound Thanks, I was afraid so. Apple Mini dropped Toslink 3.5mm out since the 2014 model and I’m stuck with a noisy and temporally-challenged USB port on newer models. Apple Minis have no ground on their power cable, to make things worse.

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

Bummer! In that situation where you have no choice, the Singxer SU-6 is the least damaging to the sound I think. I need to do more thorough testing, but it's only real crime is flattening the soundstage slightly

@WorldView22 2 года назад

@@PassionforSound The interesting thing is that Burson Conductor 3P DAC-amp can deal with Mini's USB output pretty well as long as I activate its LOW jitter control (allegedly, though, it also reduces dynamics very slightly, not sure I can hear it yet); however, when using it as a DAC-only and send the signal to a Woo Audio OTL amp, I get a buzzing sound on the Woo’s analog output depending what the computer is doing and the amp's volume setting. I was considering, as an alternative to the Singxer, the iFi audio Nano iGalvanic3.0 or iUSB3.0 or micro iUSB3.0 in order to bypass the risk of signal degradation and get rid of the USB noise. You might want to check these devices as well because, arguably, USB digital audio signal output is almost pervasive nowadays in the majority of audiophiles.

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the Conductor. I wonder if the Burson relying on the earth/ground connection of the downstream DAC (because it has no direct connection to ground via power) is the issue? Sadly, I can't currently get the iFi gear for review, but I'm working on it 🙂

@prabinpaudel5572 2 года назад

I can't believe this. I was just thinking about this.. If this would be a wiser buy for stuff like 250 dollar modi multibit (2nd rev) than getting a 300 dollar USB galvanic isolators.. It's crazy.. Just starting

@prabinpaudel5572 2 года назад

Ended the video Thanks for the explanation.

@prabinpaudel5572 2 года назад

Something like bifrost 2 used is a way better deal than 300 dollar Dac and 300 dollar galvanic isolation for sure.. 😂

@SumbaListens 2 года назад

@@prabinpaudel5572 wait, have you checked out the iPurifier 3 from Ifi? It’s got really good measurements and for $130 I think is worth a look. Cause I’ve never seen bifrost drop to sub $600 yet.. unless it’s faulty 😅

@prabinpaudel5572 2 года назад

@@SumbaListens in used market I meant. they go for as low as 550.. plus its not my current plan certainly.. I will once my hip dac dies. thanks a lot tho

@jamesbittle2138 2 года назад

I used a Schiit Eitr with the Multi-bit before I upgraded to the Bifrost.

@soulfreshACV 2 года назад

This or Topping D10s?

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

They're both about the same in my experience and both pretty crappy sounding. I'd avoid them altogether if you can

@CarAudioHorizons 2 года назад

This guy has things completely backwards, the Topping d10s and Topping d10b do an excellent job if you’re using it via it’s USB to Coaxial Digital, or Optical Toslink out. I have tested both of them in my hi end car audio system and they blow away any dongle DAC that I have tested so far.

@PassionforSound 2 года назад

Did I say the D10S was worse than a dongle? This review isn't of the D10S and I didn't own it at this point so I can't recall discussing it in any detail.

@bangsw1190 5 месяцев назад

quite fair tho peace

@thinkIndependent2024 Год назад

I think your reviews lack imagination would you not go USB optical to optical?

@PassionforSound Год назад

That's a rather critical comment. Not sure what you mean about going USB optical to optical?

@thinkIndependent2024 Год назад

@@PassionforSound multiple applications available for devices like the one you reviewed ( such as TV top streamer to integrated AVR) in many of my test a device like this out preformed HDMI audio extraction

@thinkIndependent2024 Год назад

Ron of equipment with optical interface AVR,Soundbars , come out of a streamer via USB into the FX-Audio , solves a lot of ( how do I get my local media like Tidel, Qobuz) Well-fed software ecosystems for steaming can still 50 + years of audio devices still out there

@PassionforSound Год назад

My channel is specifically focused on music listening, TB. If I tried to cover all possible ways someone might use a device, it would make for long videos with stretches of content that aren't relevant to many viewers

@thinkIndependent2024 Год назад

I went back and viewed multiple posts from your channel you mention 🎧 everytime Abraham Maslow quotes ( he that is good with a 🔨 thinks sees all as a nail) I'm not rich !!! But I have a Passion for Sound as well America there is so Much!! equipment I refurbish some from time to time as a hobby to give to others. I'm my home 7 different types of headphones 4 Home Theater Systems some with speakers 1.6 meters @ 115 kilograms. Sound is just one of my many hobbies That 👁️ have Passion sorry for assuming But I did originally find your channel while researching OP- Amp rolling something that I wasn't completely familiar with at the time I started myquest