connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Fri, Jun 8 2012, 12:41PM
I have decided to upgrade my Internet listening by hooking up to my Hifi. At the moment I can get radio from itunes and opera including visuals from Arte but in poor sound from computer speakers and in the wrong place. When I recently upgraded my CD player I got a Quad CDP2 in the hope that I can use its accessible DAC for better sound than via the headphone socket.
I now propose to get a netbook, an ipad or a laptop (at costs ascending from £250 - £450) so that control of programmes can happen in the room (and on the floor!) where the Hifi is. However I can't find out how to link the laptop to the Quad. All the options seem to offer USB sockets but no one seems to offer a cable with a USB plug at one end and an optical plug or a digital RCA at the other as these are what the Quad accepts. Is there a box available with USB at one side and optical or RCA digital at the other?
I hope you can help. Thank you.
Sat, Jun 9 2012, 8:56AM
#2
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Thank you, Andrew, for the prompt reply. I will pursue this.
Tue, Jun 12 2012, 3:53PM
#3
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Another approach would be to buy a sensibly-priced internet and laptop-capable streaming device. I use a Squeezebox Duet, which you can connect to your CDP2 via its optical digital output and enjoy the high-quality output of the Quad's DAC anywhere on your wireless network. You can use the Duet to listen to internet radio, or music files on your laptop, or music files stored on an external drive. This is what I use with my CDP2 - I have transferred my CD collection in Flac format to a networked hard drive - and the results are very pleasing through a CPD2, 909 Amp and 2905 speakers. You can also download files in a variety of formats and play those through the Squeezebox. I find the Flac format preferable to MP3 and less memory-hungry than Wav files, but it is a matter of personal choice. If the Duet is unobtainable, the Sqeezebox Touch is a highly regarded alternative. My total outlay for the Squeezebox and a 1TB network drive, was a shade over 350 Pounds.
Tue, Jun 12 2012, 3:59PM
#4
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
A slight correction to my previous post: you can listen to the Squeezebox through whatever DAC and amp you choose anywhere on the wireless network. The CDP2's DAC output will be available only through the amp and speakers the CDP2 is connected to.
Sat, Oct 6 2012, 1:21AM
#5
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Hi,
WireWorld has the exact cable you need. I have the Platinum cable and I find that the sound is exceptional and well worth what I paid for it (not retail). Here is their site page;
http://www.wireworldcable.com/categories/usb_cables.html?playerMode=embe...
Sat, Oct 6 2012, 9:34AM
#6
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Hi,
WireWorld has the exact cable you need. I have the Platinum cable and I find that the sound is exceptional and well worth what I paid for it (not retail). Here is their site page;
http://www.wireworldcable.com/categories/usb_cables.html?playerMode=embedded&clearInternalInterval=%5Btype+Function%5D
Unfortunately none of those cables will do what the OP wanted, which was a means of converting a USB output on the computer to an optical digital feed for his amplifier.
Sun, Oct 7 2012, 7:48PM
#7
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
OK, then I misunderstood and I apologize. However, this 6 Moons review may be of use!
Sun, Oct 7 2012, 8:32PM
#8
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
OK, then I misunderstood and I apologize. However, this 6 Moons review may be of use!
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/puremusic2/1.html
No, not sure how that'll help the OP either
Mon, Oct 8 2012, 3:26AM
#9
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
I'm in the states and so maybe resources are somewhat different here but I could have someone make me a cable with rca's to usb. The idea is to bypass the laptop sound card and feed into the Quad DAC? I'm also assuming that Quad makes this CD Player so that the DAC can operate as a stand alone? If so, why wouldn't Quad have the needed cable? Otherwise, it's admittedly too confusing and I'm sorry I couldn't be of help.
Best
Mon, Oct 8 2012, 8:26AM
#10
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Not sure how a RCAs-to-USB cable is going to help, unless the computer can see the Quad as a soundcard. And in the absence of a suitable input on the Quad, I fear that won't be the case.
The best bet would be to use a USB-to-digital-output device on the computer, such as the one I highlighted above or the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro II USB Analog and Digital Audio Adapter, which will set you back around $20-25 in the States, or about the same number of £ in the UK, and use that to provide an optical digital output to the Quad.
Mon, Oct 8 2012, 8:31AM
#11
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
Probably you've already bought a laptop by now, but if not the easiest solution is to buy one of many that have a standard optical output (usually the 'mini' version). My Macbook has this and I regularly use it with my Quad CDP-2, which does indeed have (3) spare optical inputs.. Many Toshiba laptops have these outputs, and no doubt many others too.
Chris
Wed, Nov 28 2012, 6:02PM
#12
RE: connecting laptop to Quad CDP2
One simple solution is to place a Musical Fidelity V-Link between the notebook/laptop and the Quad CDP2. You use a USB cable to link the computer to the V-Link. You then use an optical cable to link the V-Link to the Quad and its built-in DAC. The Quad output is then linked with standard RCA audio cables to the CD or auxilary inputs on your amplifier. Quality of sound also depends on the cables used. This should cost you no more than 400 euros.
Do not spend a lot on a lap-top/notebook. I get excellent results from one costing 200 euros. The quality of the sound-card is irrelevant because this is by-passed when using USB. Dedicate the cheap computer to your HIFI set-up.
Although I haven't tried it and so can't vouch for the sound quality, something like this would do the job
Audio Editor, Gramophone