I would like to stream music from my MacBook (with Audrivana App) to a RD160 by connection the Mac to the RSA720 via USB 3.0 and the RSA720 to the RDA160 via SPF.
Is this possible or is the RSA720 only meant to be used with the RS130?
Although the RSA720 is designed exclusively for the RS130, it can also be used with other devices.
Thanks for your reply – I just ordered the RSA720 and will give it a try!
I am trying to do the same thing - MacBook out via usb C to usb B cable - USB B into the RSA720 - fiber out to a RS160 DAC using fibre and SFPs supplied with the 720.
Despite trying various settings (SFP/USB switch positions, pushing reset button) I can get no sound out of the 160 (input set to SFP).
Is this actually possible or is the 720 only useable between two HiFi Rose products?
Have you tried your USB C to USB B cable directly from the MacBook to the RD160? Seems like the 720 is barely useable for most people.
Yes, from the MacBook direct to the 160, using a USB cable works fine, and sounds good. From what I understood of the 720 things could be improved further by converting the usb input into the 160 to an optical signal. For me this doesn’t work.
I am thinking that maybe using it this way is not one of Hifi Rose’s use cases. It seems that the optical fiber mode it is meant to only be used between the 130 streamer and the 160 DAC. However if this is what you want to do you don’t need the 720 at all but can connect the fiber directly between the SFP in each unit. Perhaps the 720 in this scenario is just meant to enable additional storage disks (eg a NAS) to be added as sources for the DAC.
I’m a bit disappointed at this stage
I contacted support directly and it isn’t supported yet. But they may support it in the future.
Meanwhile I use the USB input of the RD 160 with an Audioquest Carbon USB cable (which is said to filter digital noise). From my experience it sounds very, very good!
Markus, thanks so much for taking an interest in my problem. It is (I suppose) good to know that we have clarity on the issue, it’s just not so good that I have just shelled out for a new 720 which will not actually do what I wanted it for.
I too have been using a good quality usb cable into the 160 and have been happy with the sound - I was just interested in whether the use of an optical link for this stage could improve things further.
BTW I’d be interested in knowing more about the response you go to your enquiry to support - was this recently and did they sound like they were seriously looking at adding this function to the 720?
Thanks again.
I contacted support on the in February and got the answer they will look if there is a way to update the firmware of the RS720 to support this feature.
To be honest the SFP connection between the RS130 and RD160 is flakey as well. If you turn on the units in the wrong order or want to use another input on the RD160 for another source, good luck getting it to connect over SFP without pulling your hair out and power cycling the units a bunch of times.
I haven’t had one problem with SFP between the 130 and the 160. I always turn on the 160 first then the 130 but pretty sure I’ve done it opposite before as well. Sometimes the 130 has to “look” for the 160 a second time if it hadn’t booted up but that happens automatically in less than a minute. Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL in both sides and a Corning fiber cable.