2. digital
  3. 159217-149317

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
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
I just returned to civilization from a trip to Yellowstone National Park with my wife on our wedding anniversary. Managed to see my first wild bear, well a mum and three cubs playing in the water together. In my travels I've always said every country has something unique to offer the traveler - America has never disappointed!


@guyboisvert - yeah thanks for sharing, charming really.
I can tell you didn't pass any degree, you should study a bit before trying to look that you know something, you just don't...
Engineering theory is great, congratulations on your studies sir.

Certainly there is a plethora of information more specific to audiophile needs than general computing has been provided in this thread, however it seems that conjecture and opinion varies sufficiently enough, that anyone who actually wants to know for themselves if different devices and or cables with different connectors and materials can more or less effectively change the final resolution of their system,
really aught to try it themselves.

There are enough people in here who claim they have had superior results in their playback systems to merit investigation.

I for one have a system where I can hear payback quality change using different USB cables, interconnects, speaker cables and power cables.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Not sure how relevant my setup is but will throw it out there.
Running Roon core on an old Dell laptop that is stripped bare and that is all it does.
That is connected to my network main router by short ethernet cat8 cable.
Long ethernet cat7 cable goes down to my network switch in music room powered by 5v LPS.
Short cat8 ethernet cable connect to Sonore Ultrarendu bridge fed by 7.5v LPS.
1M Audioquest Carbon USB cable from rendu to Metrum Onyx dac.

SQ?

Off the charts and all instant plug and play, Roon finds everything on my network including the Onyx.
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
I'll get flamed for this I'm sure.

On the USB A connector, the flatter rectangular one, on the top side I use my thumb to give it a little depression to better "clamp" the conductors against the terminal.

Obviously there is not much one can do for the USB B connector.

Whether or not it improves the signal by adding a little clamping force I dare not conjecture, however I find it gives me peace of mind knowing it's a bit more secure.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I'll get flamed for this I'm sure.
Why?
It sounded perfectly reasonable to myself.
I always wonder about the integrity of that connection, not that I have any proof or comments either way.
If it does not hurt anything then why not?
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,532 posts
 
“I for one have a system where I can hear payback quality change using different USB cables, interconnects, speaker cables and power cables.”

@rixthetrick,

You are not alone, there are many here who appreciates the uptick in SQ from cables and other tweaks. Just ignore the few Debbie Downer’s that are constantly lurking around with their cave man mentality.
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