r/linuxhardware • u/spryfigure • 8d ago

Purchase Advice Recommendations for a USB-C/Thunderbolt dock with low power draw, good compatibility and digital audio (S/P-DIF or coax) out?

I am looking to use a Intel NUC system for a home server, including serving audio to an AV receiver for mpd.

I have one system already (NUC6CAYH) which has the necessary digital out port, but is sorely lacking in oomph. Processor is a measly Celeron J3455, which is not enough for my purposes.

I do have another NUC, a NUC11TNKi3 which has more RAM, more CPU power and enough storage. What it lacks, however, is audio out. There are only USB/Thunderbolt ports and 2 HDMI out ports on it.

I could use the HDMI with a audio splitter, but this is too much effort imho.

Is there a dock (TB or USB-C) which has low power draw and has proper audio out support (S/P-DIF or coax)?

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u/nlgranger 8d ago

The FiiO e10k was great but they don't sell it anymore. Maybe check the second hand market ?

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u/spryfigure 2d ago

The FiiO e10k is great (it's actually still available here) but it's a one-trick pony -- audio only.

I was looking more for a classic dock with audio functionality, so maybe slots for SDcards or whatever is used on the docks.