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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

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,665 posts
 
Without USB isn't the clock in the Node 2 running the show?

Yes, but:

1 - You can't put USB in the middle and have it magically control the output of the coaxial cable.  The coaxial signal (or optical) is one way only. 

2 - The only reason this was ever needed in the first place was to improve upon mediocre clocks in the transports by replacing them with the superior clocks coming out in the DACs. So, if the transports had perfect clocks, asynchronous USB would never have been needed.  These clocks are now better than they used to be.

3 - There are clock regenerators, like Wyred4Sound's Remedy, and it does work and it is effective but only up to a point. It works a lot better with old DACs than new DACs which have better clock locking circuits.
erik_squires
16,665 posts
 
Hey there.

No it does not make sense to add coax to USB. 

Over the last 15 years or so clocks have gotten really good though, so if you are running a modern player and DAC the benefits of USB have diminished somewhat.
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