USB Cable Switcher?


I want the (permanent) ability to switch between two DACs from a single source, in my main system. Right now, I do that by connecting the USB output from my streamer to a DDC, which offers multiple outputs. However, it seems none of the popular DDCs include USB as an output option.  What I would really like is to have a device that would accept a single USB input (from my streamer) and then offer two USB outputs that are selectable and isolated from each other to prevent ground loops and other issues that would be detrimental to sound quality.

As simple as that sounds (to me) there must be a reason it is difficult to accomplish, or maybe I am not looking in the right places.  Using AI, I did find this device (link) but I am curious whether any of you have found something else that performs this seemingly simple task (of being able to select one of two USB outputs).

mitch2

Thanks @kr4 ​​​​@lanx0003 

Both of the DACs are fairly high quality units and one of them has a tube rectifer and tubed output stage while the other is fully solid state.  Both are optimized for their USB inputs so, even though using the AES or S/PDIF outputs from the DDC has been an acceptable solution, I would like to try using both from their USB inputs. Since I listen to the tubed DAC only occasionally, compared to the solid state unit that I listen to most of the time, I will only be switching between the two USB output cables a couple of times each week, at the most.

Of the two devices you guys recommended, I like the Topping unit because of the effort they have put into protecting against grounding issues and because it has one USB Type-B female input, which will match the audio USB cables I have around here that have USB Type-B male connectors for the output/receiving end.  The Topping unit also has one USB Type-A female output, which is consistent with the USB Type-A male connectors on the input/source side of audio-purposed USB cables.  I would however need one USB Type-C male to USB Type-A female adaptor for the second switchable output, which should be no problem.

Another unit I found is this iDsonix USB 3.0 Switch (link), which has two USB Type-A female output ports but would need a USB Type-B female to USB Type-A male adaptor on the input side.   

If anyone else out there has other suggestions, please chime in.  Otherwide, I am incliened to order the Topping unit. 

Apparently, at the level of the two streamers I have here, the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe optical and the Innuos Stream 3 with PhoenixUSB Reclocker, the USB outputs are optimized to connect directly with a DAC and stuff in the way can actually cause issues with impedances and clocking, and actually increase jitter.  In trying to achieve the best do no harm hub, I found the HiFi Rose RSA720.  Unfortunately, when using only the USB input and outputs on the RSA720 you do not receive the benefit of optical isolation.  Also unfortunate is that the HiFi Rose RSA720 requires that the chosen output be changed within the streaming protocol, usually by selecting one of two endpoints but it simply doesn’t work with the Sonore streamer since Roon sees the streamer as the endpoint, and not the connected DACs.  I am still committed to using USB with the two DACs as it sounds best but the inability to achieve a high quality method of easily switching between them without changing cables is certainly frustrating.

@mitch2  You did not try the Topping I recommend?  It seems, so far, the only USB interface with isolation and switch features you are looking for in the market now.  I recalled back then I searched high and low for a good hour to finally find it.  I was surprised that, 3 weeks later, you are still stressed about it.  Free return if you don’t like it. 

@lanx0003 - I actually had the Topping USB switch here but didn't try it because I found the HiFi Rose RSA720 and perceived that would be a higher quality hub, as was supported by my on-line research.  At that time, I was mistakenly under the impression that the HiFi Rose unit provided galvanic optical isolation through either the USB-B input or the SFP, and I also had no idea that I would have such difficulties in facilitating the electronic switching between the two USB outputs.  I now believe I would have the same connection issues with the Topping unit even though it has a switch to designate which output is being used. The problem is that the Sonore is the most sensitive streamer I have ever owned wrt establishing a handshake in order to join the network. It is really designed to operate one DAC, directly connected by a single dedicated USB cable.

Therefore, if I want to keep using two DACs, each connected using a USB cable, then I am going to have to switch USB cables and reboot whenever I want to change DACs.  The easy solution is to go back to the Singxer SU6 DDC.  The connection between the Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe optical and the Singxer DDC was rock solid and even though I sort of, maybe, perceive the sound to be a little better from both of the DACs I am using when fed through a direct USB connection, I can't really point out where AES or S/PDIF falls short.  The two options are very close sonically, so the easy call would be to simply go back to using the DDC and then I could switch between DACs by switching preamp inputs using my remote from my chair.  So much easier.  Of course, the other solution is to purchase one solid-state DAC that wouldn't make me miss the Aries Cerat, if I were to sell it.  Thanks for the suggestion and for trying to help!