Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Anyway, what is your opinion of using USB in the following configuration:
Gateway NV79 > Belkin e129760-c usb > Yggdrasil

A better USB cable would improve things.  The problem is that most USB interfaces built into DACs are not that great. There are a couple of decent ones.

Should USB produce better results than the Belden 1694A coax?

Depends on the USB interface and the S/PDIF interface and associated clocks.  There are a lot of variables.  I would think that a low jitter source using a good S/PDIF cable to the Yggy would outperform the USB input.  My BNC cable has RCA adapters with it, so you can do any combo.

Should there be improvement if I were to switch the optical from my cable box to the Oppo? (note that according to Schiit, AES/EBU is best to the Yggy, followed by coax)

If you use this for TV, movies on Netflix and 2-channel audio, then I would recommend using the IFI S/PDIF iPurifier for $149.  You can go optical in and coax out using my Standard BNC cable.  This is what I do with my OPPO and my Smart TV to reduce jitter.  It supports all formats, including Dolby Digital and DTS.  Big difference with TV and movies.

I only have AES/EBU out from my Emotiva. I also recall reading from Georgehifi that some type of glass optical is best, which I’m also not using.

I thought the Emotiva was a DAC.  If so, then the AES/EBU is an input, not an output.

I'm getting confused as to what is driving and what is receiving here....

Glass cables can be very good compared to cheap plastic, but the plastic I use from my Smart TV is even better than glass.  From btpa.com:

https://btpa.com/?target=search&mode=search&substring=toslink&including=all&brandId=0

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

I studied atmospheric physics in depth too but I better stop there... as nobody likes to hear rational discussion on that topic which has become a new cult religion.

I do.  People need to be educated on this. Most don't realize that GW is an existential threat to mankind.  Weather catastrophes cost the US over $300B in 2017.  Worst year ever on record and its only going to get worse.  And here we are quibbling about $2B or $18B for a wall. We cannot even fund FEMA anymore.  People don't even realize that power plants are only half the problem.  Cars and other vehicles are the other half of the problem.  Time to by a Tesla.  They are fantastic cars!!

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

CTsooner wrote:

I'm getting The Memory Player with built in DAC and was wondering if I should use the SM to connect the TV to the internal DAC via BNC?

If you are only doing 2-channel, the Synchro-Mesh is a great choice.  If you want it for HT and have a SS proc., then the IFI S/PDIF iPurifier.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

Shadorne can you explain then dark energy.

This is the energy needed to place all of the masses in space relative to each other that is not explained by gravity and space-time.  It's an unknown energy.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio