2. digital
  3. 160131-150037

DAC Connections to streamer?

What’s best connection between streamer and dac - usb, coax, optical?  
Usb can handle dsd but optical doesn’t seem too.  Optical seems limited to 192.  Bandwidth for usb seems far superior vs other connects.  But if using a streamer, seems I can only use optical or coaxial (bluesound) to link streamer and dac.

Do streamers allow a connection of a usb between streamer and dac?  Bluesound doesn’t seem to.
If you use a streamer can you connect to a dac with usb?  


emergingsoul
mike_in_nc
1,198 posts
 
It depends entirely on the quality of each output from the streamer & the quality of each input in the DAC. So, you'll have to experiment with your own setup.

Some streamers (e.g., Auralic, Allo) do allow USB connections.

I use an Auralic streamer, connected by USB. I've also tried AES3 (XLR) and didn't notice much difference.
emergingsoul OP
1,323 posts
 
Thanks,
Have a chord tt2 dac and only has optical, usb and bnc. Strange no coax.  Can usb cable connect to streamer from the dac? 

Not sure I understand use of usb if not connected to a pc.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Some streamers have USB out to a DAC. Node2i doesn’t. You can get an adapter for BNC to RCA to use coax if you want.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4121
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
Majority of the good streamers have USB out. Node is not one of them. How much can you afford?
emergingsoul OP
1,323 posts
 
Like idea to use bnc rca female adapter.  Only 1.27 each from mono.  Assume quality not an issue?  Will go nuts and buy 2.

Coaxial bandwidth so much better vs optical.

An Outgoing usb on streamers would be of great value, most like me are so naive about usb connect value between streamer and dac. 

Thanks.
More to discover