Long run USB and other questions...
The normal resting place for my laptop PC running Vista requires at least a 30'USB run to hook to my PS Audio DLIII DAC. Apparently, for long USB runs, one can use an "active" cable, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-U042-036-USB2-0-Repeater/dp/B000W0BVTW/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I35XUXEH1EBFGI&colid=3V4SC92K1KEWE
Can someone please provide some wisdom on this. I have no clue what I'm doing. For serious listening, I do about 70% SACD with the rest Redbook. However, for casual listening and background music, I've recently acquired an iPod and I hook it directly to my preamp and I've enjoyed it immensely. Of course, this is not ideal. Since I own a USB DAC (the USB input is only good for 16 bit), I thought I'd move up the quality chain and hook it to the computer. I am using iTunes and I've recorded at 256 kbps (although if I do this, I'd like to try some Apple lossless too). I am not yet ready to move up to the big leagues for computer based listening, although I know I will eventually. Please let me know if the USB cable noted above will work for this application and anything else that I'm missing! Sorry, I love music but I'm a techo-idiot; therefore, please be specific! Thanks so much for your help.