Most dacs these days are designed to be connected to a pc using the usb standard printer connection for it’s more robust and less likely to break. So if i2s and usb support the same format which usb use to be higher but on the smsl sux dac and the topping centerious they both sound good with usb or i2s, but I am using i2s and it sounds pretty decent, audio is best with xlr, usb, and i2s those should be the only connections available especially to bring prices down on overpriced audio equipment that doesn’t even measure well and ones that go beyond human hearing are nothing but a waste a few kilohertz higher sure but not double for there is no use for it
Does your DAC sound better through the S/PDIF or I2S inputs than through USB?
For a long time I used a Windows NUC driving my DAC through USB. (A modified Gustard X20Pro.) Then I got an Aurender N100 which provided a better USB source. I also tried a DAC on the recommendation of a friend in the New Jersey Audiophile Society. People were excited about this there: the Gustard R26.
I found that the R26 is disappointing through its USB input, but excels through the Coax S/PDIF input using a Gustard U18 Digital/Digital Convertor.
This probably points to a subpar USB implementation, to be honest, but I started wondering if this is a general pattern among DACs that can take both S/PDIF and USB.
Anyone find something similar in their DAC?
For example, I'm interested in a Schiit DAC (not sure which model yet). Now that I have the DDC I can drive it through Coax and compare to USB. With the Gungnir 2, I may not have the choice of USB because they have a USB C connection and my only good USB cable is A to B.
Note: what is wrong with the R26 through the USB input: very light bass, unintegrated treble (sibilance kind of clouds over the sound and doesn't integrate with the body of the instruments)