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USB sucks

USB really isn‘t the right connection between DAC and Server: depending on cables used, you get very different sound quality if the server manages to recognise the DAC at all. Some time ago I replaced my highly tuned Mac Mini (by now-defunct Mach2mini, running Puremusic via USB) with an Innuos Zenith Mk3. For starters I couldn‘t get the DAC (Antelope Zodiac Gold) and server to recognise each other, transmission from the server under USB2.0 wasn‘t possible because the server is Linux based (mind, both alledgedly support the USB2.0 standard) and when I finally got them to talk to each other (by using Artisansilvercables (pure silver) the sound quality was ho-hum. While I understand the conceptual attraction to have the master clock near the converter under asynchronous USB, the connection‘s vagaries (need for exact 90 Ohms impedance, proneness to IFR interference, need to properly shield the 5v power line, short cable runs) makes one wonder, why one wouldn‘t do better to update I2S or S/PDIF or at the higher end use AES/EBU. After more than 20 years of digital playback, the wide variety of outcomes from minor changes seems unacceptable.

Since then and after a lot of playing around I have replaced the silver cables by Uptone USPCB rigid connectors, inserted an Intona Isolator 2.0 and Schiit EITR converting USB to S/PDIF. Connection to the DAC is via Acoustic Revive DSIX powered by a Kingrex LPS.

The amount of back and forth to make all this work is mindboggling, depending on choice of USB cables (with and without separate 5V connection, short, thick and God-knows what else) is hard to believe for something called a standard interface and the differences in sound quality make any review of USB products arbitrary verging on meaningless.

Obviously S/PDIF gives you no native PCM or DSD but, hey, most recordings still are redbook, anyway.
Conversely it is plug and play although quality of the cable still matters but finally it got me the sound quality I was looking for. It may not be the future but nor should USB, given all the shortcomings. Why is the industry promoting a standard that clearly isn‘t fit for purpose?

Finally, I invite the Bits-are-bits naysayers to go on a similar journey, it just might prove to be educational.
antigrunge2
furzy_cat
7 posts
 
I use Rednet, a pro-audio ethernet method and prefer it to USB.
herman
2,259 posts
 
Since Rednet is a proprietary Focusrite interface that limits you to using Dante type pro audio interfaces that no high end DAC uses, doesn't that kind of make it so limited in scope that it really doesn't pertain to a discussion on an audiophile forum? AND it really is intended for a different purpose especially longer runs that USB can't deal with, handling many more channels in a recording studio, ,  as well as uses where latency is important, not home audio. Also, since there are very few devices that give you a choice of Dante or USB like a Lynx Hilo does, how can you prefer Dante when you can't compare the 2? 

That said, I'm all in on pro audio interfaces. You can see the heart of my system is an Antelope Eclipse 384, but it uses USB and sounds wonderful. 
furzy_cat
7 posts
 
Not limited at all, Herman, except for direct DSD. A Rednet 3 in hifi terms is equivalent to a usb/spdif converter (and the reverse), except that the USB is replaced with ethernet. It's currently used with a Khadas Tone Board although I did try it briefly with a Holo DAC. In both cases Rednet made USB sound grainy to my ears. Yes, it's overkill in that only two of 32 channels on the device are being used!
I'm sure your Antelope sounds wonderful :)
fastfreight
799 posts
 
Is there really an advantage to not using a combined Streamer / DAC?
I have Roon Nucleus + (yes expensive but flawless in operation, don't ever even need to look at it, located by modem in my office) and two DACs, Auralic VEGA 2 and MOLA MOLA Tambaqui, both of course ROON endpoints.  The Nucleus + has installed internal hard drive so there also is no separate network attached storage to fool with. This did replace my aging Mac Mini which gave me fits when it needed rebooted or whatever.  Both DACs have network bridges and are trouble free.  NO USB cables, no compatibility issues, less boxes.  Both are hard wired vs wifi.  I did need to update my switch and some ethernet cables, but this would benefit anyone.  I am into audio, not computers.  Ken
herman
2,259 posts
 
Thanks for the info Furzy, looks interesting, I may try it to compare to USB as the Antelope has spdif and optical inputs. However, even though I doubt it would be significant, those inputs are limited to 192 and 96K respectively whereas I can feed it up to 384k upsampled in Roon from USB.

On the other hand, a Raspberry Pi with digital card will do the ethernet to spdif for about $100

wonder if Roon would see the Rednet as an audio device like it does a Pi?
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