2. digital
  3. 178127-106657

Ditch your USB cable for Toslink? Might surprise you!

I recently embarked on experiments with an updated USB cable between an Aurender N100h and a Qutest dac. (cables were Pangea, Curious and DH Labs) Bottom line, it  most definitely revealed improvements but also exposed some flaws. So I looked into other tweaks to improve the chain...reclockers, decrapifiers and the likes. All these devices designed to fix inherent issues with USB. So I had the "duhhhh" moment and thought instead of fixing it....replace it.

I went out on a limb and got Aurender's UT100, a device which converts the USB output to Toslink (best option as the N100h only has usb out). I connect a modest Audioquest Cinnamon cable to it and I've been testing and burning in this new device and the input on the dac for several days now, Redbook all the way up to 24/192. And I must say I'm impressed, really impressed. I'll summarize my experience by saying it's just as detailed, but with a more relaxed presentation, no digital "grunge". This is the first time I've even considered trying the incisive filters on the Qutest.

I think Toslink is looked down on as a digital interface, but I'm seeing some big advantages to it now.

  1.  You gain 100% isolation, it totally "air gaps" your dac from every form of interference. I've personally experienced some Bermuda Triangle kinda weird issues with USB and there have been lots of posts lately regarding this. Fiber puts an end to that....period!
  2. The price of admission is downright cheap, most streamers and dacs already have the connections and I don't think you have to pay a lot for a quality fiber cable.
  3. On some dacs it's generally accepted that the SP/DIF connections sound better than their USB counterparts. I've also read that disconnecting the USB cable from a dac, turns off it's internal clock and associated circuitry, thus less noise internally.....?? I have no clue but what I am warming up to is the idea that I want to stay away from USB. I've had great results with coax too, going back to my Theta and Sony ES days, but Toslink is cheap, allows long cables if needed and does truly isolate the dac. 

I'd encourage everyone to just try it, perhaps your equipment will respond favorably  like mine did. I'd love to hear other's experiences, especially Node3 owners. I'm planning on getting one for my office rig.

 Tim

 

treynolds155

Showing 2 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,445 posts
 

The largest selling cable companies are WireWorld, Transparent, and AudioQuest. This was from a survey on an audiophile forum…. Had a few thousand participants. I use almost exclusively Transparent, with one AudioQuest and Cardas power cords. I have several WireWorld and DH Labs spread across my other couple systems.

ghdprentice
6,445 posts
 

I am a big Aurender fan. I own two of their streamers… including their flagship… which is truly incredible.. the sound quality is equivalent to my really high end audio end. 
 

In general, optical connections are inferior to SP/DIF, AES and USB. The reason is that most components use inexpensive electrical to optical or optical to electrical converters on their components. I am sure Aurender has created a converter that takes advantage of the ability to ditch noice and other issues. The result in your system will depend on the receiving component.

So, if you have components that you are not going to be upgrading and want to see if you can get more out of them… it’s only $300… worth a try. Certainly worth a try. But I am sure it is very system dependent.

 

Thanks for sharing. Really interesting product.

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