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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
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
@lgldsr73 - There's got to be a better way for sure.
If audiophilia were more of a priority for engineers, we might already have it?

I've been present when USB (using a high end USB cable), toslink, and coaxial cables (even high end contenders) have all been put to the test - USB had won. Mind you this was a couple of years ago now, and I acknowledge things change rapidly in our hobby.

There's AES3 aka AES/EBU which looks promising to me, though I haven't tried it personally.

I am disappointed that digital hasn't yet universally beaten the older methods of analogue recording and retrieval. With constant advancement, and new data transfer protocols, newer technologies in processing the digital format to analogue - I hope one day it will.

As I believe camera technology has surpassed film finally. Hasselblad H6D-400C, PhaseOne XF IQ4, Fujifilm GFX 100 are high end examples of this, where digital finally is better than analogue.

What do you think is the best at the moment? What are you using?

Rick
Post removed 
tk21
238 posts
 
"why is there a significant market for USB clean up and reclocking devices by Uptone, Intona,IFi, Schiit, Berkeley Alpha, InnuOs, Aqua, DCS et al?Are they all selling snake oil?"

I cannot say what others are hearing (or think they are hearing) by adding these devices. I’ve added a couple (from Uptone, Sonore/SGC). When the devices do recognize each other, the SQ is quite good. However, it isn’t necessarily better than the SQ I get from ethernet or S/PDIF. It’s just that I can’t help myself from tinkering with HQPlayer filters and such through USB. For most "normal" people (not OCD audiophiles) this would be a complete non-starter. They do not have the skills/mind-set/patience to go through the trouble-shooting needed to fix a broken USB handshake. Just plug in the ethernet or S/PDIF cable, enjoy the music, and be done. Caveat:  I own pretty good (but not phenomenal) gear and am in my 60s.  Maybe with better gear and ears, I'd notice bigger SQ differences.
jaybe
740 posts
 
Love how so many folks quote other sources as an authority without having any personal experience of their own. And then even put their own cred on the line by defending those sources.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,537 posts
 
“What do you think is the best at the moment? What are you using?”

@rixthetrick,

In my system, both AES/SPDIF and USB outputs sounds superb. I have decided long ago that I won’t rely on external ‘band-aid’ solutions to fix the inherent issues with devices like laptop or Mac-mini to stream music. My streamer and DAC has SOTA internal clocks 😊
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