As for a USB streamer, I wanted to clarify the “clocking” part on this discussion, based on what I researched and experimented with back then (I no longer use USB now):
Yes, the AUDIO SIGNAL on the USB streamer is “clocked” by the DAC. No question. A good USB streamer reclock the USB signal, not to be confused with the clocking for the audio signal. It is reclocking the USB commnunication between the source and the DAC, meaning it does not work at the audio level but at the USB protocol level.
I don't think people realize that the USB signal does not get reclocked by the DAC. What they reclock on the DAC is the audio signal that is transported via USB. The USB communication components themselves (I.e in a USB streamer) are affecting the performance of the DAC. This has also independent of the galvanic isolation of the DAC, which on its own is a separate, independent issue.
I hope this makes sense @mihalis . Needless to say, theory is just that, theory, and not a substitute for practice.
Yes, the AUDIO SIGNAL on the USB streamer is “clocked” by the DAC. No question. A good USB streamer reclock the USB signal, not to be confused with the clocking for the audio signal. It is reclocking the USB commnunication between the source and the DAC, meaning it does not work at the audio level but at the USB protocol level.
I don't think people realize that the USB signal does not get reclocked by the DAC. What they reclock on the DAC is the audio signal that is transported via USB. The USB communication components themselves (I.e in a USB streamer) are affecting the performance of the DAC. This has also independent of the galvanic isolation of the DAC, which on its own is a separate, independent issue.
I hope this makes sense @mihalis . Needless to say, theory is just that, theory, and not a substitute for practice.