My understanding is that different manufacturers have optimized different connections among the available options. So it's really impossible to generalize about.
Many high end mfg are combining R2R, multi bits or customs dac chips with a high end streamer which inherently has lower noise when properly designed and 2 less cables. Bricasti, DCS, Aqua , are just a few high end companies doing this.
It depends. Generally optical is not good, skip that one. But USB versus SP/DIF or AES depends on the DAC since USB requires the DAC to retime the signal the others do not. So, it depends on the quality of the DAC versus the source. Generally, AES or double AES should be better than single ended SP/Diff.
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