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DACs — HiBy UC10
Description, images, technical data and specifications
HiBy UC10
Image source — © HiBy
The UC10 is a USB-C to S/PDIF digital converter from HiBy, maker of portable players and dongles in China. Unlike HiBy's DAC dongles, it contains no DAC or headphone amplifier. It acts as a digital-to-digital converter between a phone, tablet or computer and a DAC with a coaxial input. It was priced at USD 29.
Key specs that matter
Input is USB-C, and output is coaxial S/PDIF on a 3.5 mm socket. The UC10 is bit-perfect with PCM up to 192 kHz and passes DSD64 as DoP, and higher DSD rates are downsampled to PCM 192 kHz. It has separate discrete oscillators for the 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sample rate families. A 1 in screen of 80 x 160 pixels shows the incoming sample rate. It is powered from the USB bus and weighs 16 g. A 4.5 cm USB-C to USB-C cable is included, and 3.5 mm to RCA or 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm coaxial cables are optional at USD 10.
Engineering and use context
Many DACs, including older models and some high-end converters, have S/PDIF inputs but no USB input, and the UC10 lets a phone or tablet feed them. S/PDIF carries only PCM and DSD by DoP at lower rates, which is why higher DSD rates are converted to PCM. Separate oscillators for the two sample rate families mean material of either family is clocked from a native frequency rather than converted, and the UC10 buffers and reclocks the signal before it leaves. The screen reveals whether a phone or app is resampling all audio, since some resample everything to 48 kHz. Bus power removes the need for a mains supply. The small coaxial socket is unusual, and the mini-jack to mini-jack cable suits portable DACs such as Chord's Mojo. The body is wrapped in metal. As a digital-only device, it leaves all conversion to the partnering DAC. The dongle suits travel, since it adds almost no weight to a phone. It works as a low-cost link between mobile devices and home DACs.
Pairing
The UC10 connects a phone, tablet or computer to any DAC with a coaxial S/PDIF input. The optional RCA cable is needed for most home DACs.
Alternatives
HiBy's FC1 is the brand's compact USB-C DAC dongle with headphone output.
Key specs that matter
Input is USB-C, and output is coaxial S/PDIF on a 3.5 mm socket. The UC10 is bit-perfect with PCM up to 192 kHz and passes DSD64 as DoP, and higher DSD rates are downsampled to PCM 192 kHz. It has separate discrete oscillators for the 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sample rate families. A 1 in screen of 80 x 160 pixels shows the incoming sample rate. It is powered from the USB bus and weighs 16 g. A 4.5 cm USB-C to USB-C cable is included, and 3.5 mm to RCA or 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm coaxial cables are optional at USD 10.
Engineering and use context
Many DACs, including older models and some high-end converters, have S/PDIF inputs but no USB input, and the UC10 lets a phone or tablet feed them. S/PDIF carries only PCM and DSD by DoP at lower rates, which is why higher DSD rates are converted to PCM. Separate oscillators for the two sample rate families mean material of either family is clocked from a native frequency rather than converted, and the UC10 buffers and reclocks the signal before it leaves. The screen reveals whether a phone or app is resampling all audio, since some resample everything to 48 kHz. Bus power removes the need for a mains supply. The small coaxial socket is unusual, and the mini-jack to mini-jack cable suits portable DACs such as Chord's Mojo. The body is wrapped in metal. As a digital-only device, it leaves all conversion to the partnering DAC. The dongle suits travel, since it adds almost no weight to a phone. It works as a low-cost link between mobile devices and home DACs.
Pairing
The UC10 connects a phone, tablet or computer to any DAC with a coaxial S/PDIF input. The optional RCA cable is needed for most home DACs.
Alternatives
HiBy's FC1 is the brand's compact USB-C DAC dongle with headphone output.
Specifications
Model name
UC10
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
N/A
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 24 bit / 768 kHz and DSD512
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
N/A
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
N/A
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
0.001
Dimensions (mm)
44.5 x 22 x 11.8
Weight (kg)
0.0155
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