2. digital
  3. 166659-3592

Best Digital Interface

It is my understanding that Asynchronous USB may be the best interface for digital transfer to a USB DAC. If the DAC has  Asynchronous USB then it basically owns the signal and basically re clocks timing, bits etc for a more perfect transfer if fed USB? I am streaming from a Node 2 into an RME DAC. I know there is no USB output from the Node. I have a few questions: 
1. Is there a Coax to USB adapter available? Does this make sense? 
2. Are there other reasonably priced (>1k) streamers that have USB output?

Thanks! 
mofojo
rajugsw
222 posts
 
I2S even though my PS Audio DirectStream Sr. (Sunlight) is input Agnostic (according to Ted Smith & my ears). He is correct but my ears find the USB a tad thin (It's Placebo effect IMHO) even he does all that funky USB cleanup inside the DAC.

That's all I got and I've been doin' this Digital thang since my first Phillips CD150 with the 14bit/176.4kHz DAC chip. 
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Rsjaurr,
Yes, I know. That's the point I've been trying to make.
 
The OP posted from the manual...
With USB the internal clock is used, with SPDIF the external one".

Isn't that saying if SPDIF the RME does not "own the clock"
This statement indicates that only USB is being reclocked.
But, according to the spec sheet I posted, all signals are being clocked inside the DAC. 

My earlier post was to say it doesn't make sense to rely on the stream from the source without correcting it. I believe this Dac is designed to reclock all digital streams. 



walt8489
14 posts
 
As far as your second question is concerned, I think, but I'm not positive, that the new Bluesound Node that was just announced has USB output.  Check their website.
mahler123
3,389 posts
 
I thought the issue was that usb delivers info in packets, and that the other interfaces more as a continuous stream.  USB was originally designed for printers and other applications where the timing isn’t as critical as audio.  
ghdprentice
7,212 posts
 
@mahler123. “I thought the issue was that usb delivers info in packets, and that t.....”

.

I think you are thinking of ethernet. Network connections are packetized. On the other side of the music server comes either USB or traditional digital streams (SP/DIF, AES...). But yes on USB being a multi-use protocol.
More to discover