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Coax SP/DIF to USB..thoughts?

I now have a DAC ( I like this DAC a lot, so it is not getting replaced) that only uses a CoAx input and does not have the ability to input USB. Many streamers seem to utilize just USB as their output. There are a few USB to SP/DIF cable converters out there, but I have not heard any of these cables, nor do i know anyone who has. For those who have heard this type of conversion, is this a good way to go? 

Personally, i prefer the SQ of a CoAx cable to most all of the USB cables i have heard. Thoughts?

daveyf

Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,502 posts
 

My experience is that ultimately the sound quality is about 50-50. While at lower levels the DAC makes a bigger different as the quality goes up the difference equalizes and really high end sound requires both at the very highest level. My streamer is actually more expensive than my DAC.

ghdprentice
7,502 posts
 

OP,

Yes my Aurender has all three… I use the AES.
 

Actually it has lots of additional outputs… even dual AES. 

ghdprentice
7,502 posts
 

USB is a relatively new requiment. It can with the need to connect computers to audio systems. Before this SP/DIFF was the connection. USB presents a completely different input to the DAC… the DAC must retime the bitstream. Which sounds better depends on your DAC and streamer. In general, if your streamer is better than your DAC then USB might sound better, and visa versa. Some DACs were produced specifically to be connected to computers and hence only have USB inputs. But of course some streamers then started to have USB outputs.

For contemporary and equal quality streamers and DACs SP/DIFF (or AES.. the balanced equivalent) is best. But you have to try both to be absolutely sure. I have very high quality equipment, there is really no substsncisl difference between the two, so I use the AES.

 

Avoid conversion. 

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