Firewire to SPDIF

The USB 2.0 can pass 24/96, but not USB 1.0. (USB 2.0 maxes out at 24/96). USB also uses the CPU which drains power usage (though there are some new USB utilazations by third party manufactuures which bypass the CPU issue). I have long been a proponent of the superiority of firewire over USB as respects PC Audio and from recent posts in other forums, more users are coming around. USB was never intended to pass audi. It was intended to daisey chain peripherals, ie mouse, keyboard, gamecontroler, printers, etc. I do agree that the new implementations of asychronious USB utilizations have narrowed, possibly eliminated the advantage, if processed (and installed) correctly. These are new developments and I have not had an opportunity to compare them. I am thinking that even with the new outboard USB advances, the datastream may still be better when handled by firewire as these new USB implementations are not able to change the issue of USB transmitting packets of info, rather than streams, as firewire does.

...you can (and I do) convert firewire to spdif for my dac (M Audio Firewire solo). Do a search on firewire vs usb for audio. Here is just one of the many links I have found:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=526020

I haven't used the Echo.

Cerrot, My Benchmark DAC-1 instruction manual clearly stays that it utilizes USB 1.1 protocol, and is compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports. USB 1.1 is the first widely used and bug fixed version of USB 1.0. It has a maximum data rate of 12Mbs (full speed), more than enough to pass 24/96 signal.

USB 1.1 still no where as fast as Firewire. USB still utilizes the CPU in your configuration and transmits packets, not data streams. Try firewire.

Cerrot, I am not quite sure what you are suggesting. Are you saying the
Benchmark DAC-1 instruction manual is mistaken and its USB port is in fact
unable to output 24/96 signal?