AES/EBU vs XLR cables for digital connection

@steakster 

+1

Another update: having put some time into listening with the AES/EBU cable, I thought I might experience a significant improvement if I went to the trouble of switching out the USB port in the Morpheus for an I2S module. They’re not very expensive and it’s fairly easy to make the change, which I did myself despite not being any kind of electrical expert. After wiring the Morpheus to the Hermes via ethernet cable (a very pedestrian one I had on hand), I did get some encouraging results. Bass and midrange presentation improved markedly, as did the stereo image, but the upper mids and high frequencies are still quite shrill and glassy. I really don’t know where the weak link is here. I’m using a Topping A90 headphone amp and a pair of LSA HP2 headphones. The Roon/Qobuz inerface is accessed from my Dell XPS laptop via ethernet cable.

I’m certainly open to further opinions and suggestions. Thanks.

@cooper52 

I know you’re using Roon but I’m wondering if you’ve compared streaming without the use of your laptop. Have you compared Qobuz through your streamer when using the app via an IPad or phone without the laptop/Ethernet connection? If you try that and here an improvement (or not) it may help narrow down your focus.

Thanks, designsfx for your suggestion, but I don't see how I can control the Hermes with my phone, as it doesn't seem to have wireless capability. Okay, I'm really new streamers, so maybe I'm missing something? It would certainly be a worthwhile comparison though, cutting out the middleman, so to speak. And, of course, it would be far more convenient to do it that way. Again, I'm very open to suggestions/instruction. 

BTW, it turns out that the Hermes doesn't have a USB port, just an ethernet input (to connect to the network), and outputs via AES/EBU, optical, coax, or ethernet I2S. They must have had their reasons for this, I guess...

@cooper52 

Sent you a pm to help with an explanation