Ultralite 1 S/PDIF OUT

[tillets]

Hello,
can I use the S/PDIF OUT from my Ultralite 1 to a general OUT like the Headphones OUT or Main OUT in monitors.

Well I want to listen my computer sound in the optical IN of my Focal home hi-fi system.
The cable S/PDIF is the same. I don't know much in optical, S/PDIF etc.
Could you help me?
Thanks in advance.

[terrybritton]

S/PDIF is a Coaxial cable connection (that is, a wired connection). It is not optical. It is a digital signal, not an analog-audio one, so it won't work in headphone or speaker inputs expecting an analog signal.

Do not use a regular audio cable for this - get an actual Coax Cable with an RCA plug on each end. This is a digital signal that needs good shielding to keep the radio frequencies from radiating and disturbing people's TV's, Receivers, Amps and Radios.

In TOSLINK mode (selected from the MOTU Audio Console), it should work as a stereo connector to many devices having S/PDIF inputs.

One word of caution: older receivers and such from the late '90s and early 2000s may not work as they used to use a copy protection scheme called "SCMS" back then which required that a special signal accompany the digital stream to allow it to work. (I own such a unit - an old Yamaha that won't work with my Ultralite mk3 hybrid!!)

Terry

[tillets]

So can I plug a coaxial RCA cable in the S/PDIF OUT, put the end of the cable in my focal hi fi system and believe that I can ear the sound of my computer?
Focal just say its a digital input which is RCA.

[terrybritton]

So can I plug a coaxial RCA cable in the S/PDIF OUT, put the end of the cable in my focal hi fi system and believe that I can ear the sound of my computer?
Focal just say its a digital input which is RCA.

By default, that S/PDIF output is set as an eight-channel ADAT output, which your hi fi system likely does not know what to do with. You need to go into the MOTU Audio Control Panel and change it to TOSLINK for it to work as a stereo output.

Terry

[tillets]

Thanks for the answers but I think I can't choose toslink I have the first ultralite...
Please, look at my screenshots:
http://imgur.com/gbDblbn
Im on a mac.
Thanks.

[terrybritton]

Thanks for the answers but I think I can't choose toslink I have the first ultralite...
Please, look at my screenshots:
http://imgur.com/gbDblbn
Im on a mac.
Thanks.

Ahh - indeed that does seem to be the case. Sorry about that.

Still, nothing wrong with the analog outputs from your device - it has some of the nicest digital-to-analog converters out there! (And Analog-to-Digital also!)

Terry

[tillets]

thanks again...
I own a coaxial-optical converter.
It seems to do not work.
S/PDIF OUT (coaxial) to converter to optical to my Focal amp.

[terrybritton]

thanks again...
I own a coaxial-optical converter.
It seems to do not work.
S/PDIF OUT (coaxial) to converter to optical to my Focal amp.

Well, sure, because that converter is expecting a normal stereo TOSLINK style signal, and the unit is sending an ADAT format it cannot understand.

I think you will like the sound of the analog outputs, really!!!

Terry

[tillets]

I have analog on my Focal....
3 inputs in RCA and I own a cable jack stereo split in two jacks to RCAs red and black...
I just found that its in the main out outputs jack to RCA in my focal amp...
It works!!!
Thanks a lot !!

[terrybritton]

I have analog on my Focal....
3 inputs in RCA and I own a cable jack stereo split in two jacks to RCAs red and black...
I just found that its in the main out outputs jack to RCA in my focal amp...
It works!!!
Thanks a lot !!

That's great to hear! Enjoy!

Terry