Most of the cheap ones that are available online are completely passive, meaning they take the data pins from the USB-A plug and just wire them over to some pins on the USB-C receptacle. The problem is that the geometry of the USB-C plug vs. the USB-A plug means that if they just pick 6 data wires to pass from A to C (4 superseded wires and 2 USB 2.0 wires), only half of the superspeed pins in the USB-C receptacle will actually be functional, meaning your USB3 device will only work in one orientation, but not the other. Remember, USB-C has 8 superspeed pads, while USB-A has 4. In order to do it right, the adapter needs to have something called a multiplexor, or "mux" for short, which routes the 4 superspeed wires that come from the USB-A plug to the appropriate 4 superspeed pins depending on the orientation of the device you plug in. I won't ever use it for charging or anything like that. Whether you intend for it to be used for charging or not, like it or not, the USB system always guarantees power is sent on Vbus wires. Even if you're plugging in a DAC, the DAC is drawing power from your PC via the USB-C or USB-A port... so yes, that's "sinking power". Power is a concern. The USB-C port has more safety features built in from its original design than the USB-A port, meaning that when nothing is plugged in, the 5V main voltage is not present on any pin. All of the correct behavior of a USB-C female port requires active components to cut power to Vbus, and to route or mux signals. Passive adapters don't do that, and can't be recommended. Luckily for you, there are companies that make active adapters that check off more of the boxes: https://www.amazon.com/Female-Adapter-3-Pack-CableCreation-Peripherals/dp/B074V4QRNK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A21TE5CLHZDYA7&th=1 That one will work in both orientations, and cuts Vbus when disconnected on the USB-C receptacle. Answer from LaughingMan11 on reddit.com