Erndog,
Thanks for the suggestion, but, as I have come to understand it, the Octave Mk II has a very similar USB implementation to the Hex. Reviewers have stated that they found little difference between the Hex's USB imput and SPDIF converted imputs. The one supposed difference in the USB implementation between the Hex and Octave Mk II is that the Hex's USB is internally powered. That's the reason I ordered the iFi USB, in order to isolate my Octave's power from the computer. I may be wrong about all of this, but that's as much as I was able to garner on it.
Thanks for the suggestion, but, as I have come to understand it, the Octave Mk II has a very similar USB implementation to the Hex. Reviewers have stated that they found little difference between the Hex's USB imput and SPDIF converted imputs. The one supposed difference in the USB implementation between the Hex and Octave Mk II is that the Hex's USB is internally powered. That's the reason I ordered the iFi USB, in order to isolate my Octave's power from the computer. I may be wrong about all of this, but that's as much as I was able to garner on it.