Micah, actually that isn't the way that the Xitel works(I believe that another product does involve a conversion to digital optical). As I mentioned, it contains a DAC to convert the digital output to analog(an optical connection is of course inherently digital)and the feeds it with RCA plugs into analog inputs on receivers which don't have a USB input(most of them). Simple, and has worked very well for about 6 years for me. The Xitel site has some info. They've re-named the apparently identical unit the "MP3 Streamer".

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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.