USB interface quality varies a lot. Most of them are poorly designed IME. Using power in the cable for the critical clocked part of the interface is a no-no.
However you can improve things a LOT by using a separate high-quality power supply for the USB power. The Power Block is such a USB power supply and the best one available using the Hynes regulation technology. You simply plug the USB cable into it and a short integral USB cable plugs to your DAC. It sits behind your DAC. Email for more details. See:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=128620.0
30-day unconditional money-back guarantee, less shipping.
Another option for you is to use a good USB converter like the Off-Ramp 5 and drive S/PDIF coax to your DAC, abandoning the built-in USB interface completely. This will match or beat your CD transport. More expensive though:
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/off-ramp-converter
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/news-and-reviews/off-ramp-converter
Steve N.
Empirical Audio
est. 1996
However you can improve things a LOT by using a separate high-quality power supply for the USB power. The Power Block is such a USB power supply and the best one available using the Hynes regulation technology. You simply plug the USB cable into it and a short integral USB cable plugs to your DAC. It sits behind your DAC. Email for more details. See:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=128620.0
30-day unconditional money-back guarantee, less shipping.
Another option for you is to use a good USB converter like the Off-Ramp 5 and drive S/PDIF coax to your DAC, abandoning the built-in USB interface completely. This will match or beat your CD transport. More expensive though:
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/off-ramp-converter
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/news-and-reviews/off-ramp-converter
Steve N.
Empirical Audio
est. 1996