Collaborator I

Answered

Era 300 adapter question

8 replies
1315 views

I have an existing USB C to RCA adapter and assumed would work with my turntable but line in showing as disconnected? Does that mean it only works with the dedicated Sonos adapter ?

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melvimbeAnswer

Not sure if non Sonos adapters exist for this, but you need an RCA to USB C adapter, not USB C to RCA adapter. They are not the same thing.

Danny

melvimbeAnswer

Not sure if non Sonos adapters exist for this, but you need an RCA to USB C adapter, not USB C to RCA adapter. They are not the same thing.

Danny

M

Marto69Author

Collaborator I

Ah that could be it - this is defo a USB C to RCA - just assumed would work both ways at it fits fine at both ends. Thanks for quick reply 👍🏼

melvimbe

Ah that could be it - this is defo a USB C to RCA - just assumed would work both ways at it fits fine at both ends. Thanks for quick reply 👍🏼

Yea, converting USB C to RCA is DAC (Digital to Analog Conversion) while RCA to USB C is ADC (Analog to Digital Conversion). I suppose a device could be created that could sense which end audio is coming from and perform the appropriate conversion, but have seen such a device. As well, I imagine it would need external power.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the adapter Sonos sells doesn’t actually do an ADC conversion itself, but just transfers the RCA analog signal (left and right channels) along two specific pins in the USB C cable, and the Era speakers themselves perform ADC. I have no idea.

Danny

M

Marto69Author

Collaborator I

Many thanks. Very helpful. Now to source the adapter. Sold out on Sonos site. Lesson Learnt

A

AnEarForMusic

Lyricist I

Marto69, were you ever able to source the RCA to Type C cable. I’m having the same issue.

buzz

Grand Maestro

I think that the ADC converter is in the USB adapter and this is why the generic adapters don’t work. I think the generic adapters are simple pass throughs. In the expected mass use cases (surround sound or a Room), no analog input processing is necessary. Yes, ADC is required for voice processing, but this is a different type of animal from high quality stereo audio processing.

A

AnEarForMusic

Lyricist I

Okay, so do I need to get a ADC converter to connect to my ERA 300 to the T1 phono sb?

buzz

Grand Maestro

You need the ERA 300 USB adapter in order to connect an analog source. A generic adapter will not work.

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