I2S signals carry the clock and data information needed to reproduce digital audio. As other IC (LSI) technologies become popular, other levels will also be supported. Mat C pfm Member I have been long waiting for a streamer or transport with i2s output (get rid of USB which needs tons of accessories to help improving its SQ), and this small one looks attractive supports lot of streaming platforms. Very cleverly, the K50 offers DIP switches on the bottom of the unit for easy access to allow for any required combination. Using an I2S-based digital-to-analog convertor (DAC), you can play high-quality audio from Raspberry Pi™.

The point remains the same, I2S skips a receiver chipset and is one less conversion of your audio signal before hitting the DAC chip.

void I2S_WriteByte(uint8 wrData, uint8 wordSelect) Writes a single byte into the Tx FIFO. A pci card is not going to sound or be different in anyway from a firewire,usb, pci-express.

Correct, but generally this is built-in to any DAC/transport that has i2s input/output.

Coax to digital optical converter