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[penger10]

So using the audio on my motherboard doesn't get me much more than 48khz/16 bit sound.
I've read some good reviews on these 2 external DAC's that are supposedly Linux friendly and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them on a Linux box, both on sampling rate/bit depth available and sound quality.

1) iFi Zen DAC V2 
https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac-v2/

and

2)  Topping E50 DAC
https://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/697642.html

They both claim to work with linux 'out of the box'.  Anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks,
penger10
 

[bob]

I have the previous iFi Nano iDSD LE and it works great with linux. Plays DSD without issue and without drivers.

[mwillems]

I have the previous iFi Nano iDSD LE and it works great with linux. Plays DSD without issue and without drivers.

I don't have either of those devices, but I have a Topping DM-7 which has flawless Linux support (it might be the easiest to use multichannel DAC I've ever had on Linux). 

[Awesome Donkey]

Thankfully DACs released these days are USB Audio Class 2, which means they're likely going to work fine in Linux and Windows without drivers. The *only* potential gotcha is DSD support in the Linux kernel for some DACs, but again, most DACs will work there too. I actually would be surprised if either of the aforementioned DACs didn't work fine in Linux.

[eve]

So using the audio on my motherboard doesn't get me much more than 48khz/16 bit sound.
I've read some good reviews on these 2 external DAC's that are supposedly Linux friendly and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them on a Linux box, both on sampling rate/bit depth available and sound quality.

1) iFi Zen DAC V2 
https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac-v2/

and

2)  Topping E50 DAC
https://www.tpdz.net/productinfo/697642.html

They both claim to work with linux 'out of the box'.  Anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks,
penger10

Can vouch for most of the Topping stuff on Linux. No experience with the E50 directly but they're all based around similar components. They show up as USB Audio Class 2 devices (and can do all the different sample rates, bit depths and DSD where supported) so pretty much any even vaguely recent Linux distro should work. Like AwesomeDonkey said, there's a small chance on an older kernel you might not have DSD support.

Most modern "non audio interface" D/A is USB Audio Class 2 compliant and will work out of the box.

[penger10]

Thanks for the responses, it seems like either of them would be safe bets!
I don't know if this should be in another question, but does anyone know if the advertised performance, ie 384khz at 32 bit depth on USB is attainable on USB 2?  I have space to put a USB 3 card on my mobo, I suspect it probably needs USB 3, but I've only got 2 on this box.

[craigmcg]

I'm not sure that the Topping supports USB 3 speeds based on the USB port on the back (the few USB 3 hard drives have a different connector) and my quick scan missed any mention of USB 3 but it does say that it supports DSD512 and PCM 768kHz.

[penger10]

I'm not sure that the Topping supports USB 3 speeds based on the USB port on the back (the few USB 3 hard drives have a different connector) and my quick scan missed any mention of USB 3 but it does say that it supports DSD512 and PCM 768kHz.

I see what you mean re: the Topping E50, interestingly the iFi Zen DAC V2 does appear to have a USB 3 connector and tops out about 384kHz PCM.  I'm leaning towards the iFi.  I Iike that it has a headphone jack, knobs and switches.  Had too many touch sensitive controls that've failed on me.  I'm sure either would be an upgrade for me.