Is USB audio output to PC possible?

[Drewbiedoo42]

Hi all!

I appreciate any feedback you guys can provide!

I have a mid-2012 MBP, a Windows10 video editing PC, and Polk Hampden (USB, 3.5mm, bluetooth inputs) speakers which use their own DAC. All are at the same workstation.

Ultimately, I would like quality audio from both computers to be able to play simultaneously through the speakers. This would allow me to utilize all the PC resources for editing and rendering, while playing music or whathaveyou from the MBP.

Currently, I have the speakers connected to the PC via USB and the MBP to the PC via 3.5mm cable:
[Speakers]
|
|(usb)
|
[PC]
|
|(3.5mm)
|
[MBP]

This setup is functional, but the sound from the MBP is pretty bad since it's being processed by the MBP sound card, the PC sound card, and the DAC on the speakers.

I've had a few ideas as to how I might accomplish the goal, but it all feels like a shot in the dark:
1. USB transfer cable between the MBP and PC might allow audio in/out from the two?
2. Add a bluetooth adapter to the PC and pair it to the MBP which might allow an audio connection?
3. Find a USB splitter that would allow the MBP and PC to both connect directly to the speakers?

There's a lot I don't know about the way computers see each other, not to mention that they're cross-platform.

Let me know if you have any ideas or if you know 1,2 or 3 above are not possible.
Thanks in advance!
Andrew

 

[netnewswireuser]

Software alternatives:

A. Install shairport-sync (it's free, you can install with brew) on the Mac and stream audio to it using Airplay from the Windows PC (you must install TuneBlade on Windows to be able to stream Airplay audio, it's $9 or so). This is lossless, perfect CD quality audio.

B. Use Airfoil for Windows and stream bluetooth audio to the Airfoil Satellite in the Mac. This is not lossless as the AirPlay solution but is way better than the analog approach you are using.

Hardware alternative:

C. Install a usb dongle with optical audio output on the PC, install an USB dongle or sound card on the Mac with optical audio input and connect both using and optical cable. This is also lossless CD quality (and higher) audio.


I recommend the option A, best price/quality ratio.

 

[cbautis2]

Only option I see is to have both of them paired and connected through bluetooth

 

[Drewbiedoo42]

@netnewswireuser - Awesome suggestion! I think #1 will be the winner!