at the top of the food chain it’s USB. the top dacs and servers are optimized for USB. it’s where companies like MSB are designing proprietary interfaces for USB optimization and servers like the Taiko Extreme have custom USB output cards.
USB is not perfect which is why there are quite a few different efforts to optimize it. it’s just the least compromised approach. it’s what i use. i also have Ethernet and a Renderer for my MSB dac but the USB interface sounds better.
however there are no wrong answers, and in the middle of the market there are many reasonable ways to get the digital stream from the server/laptop to the dac.
choose a dac then ask the dac maker what interface works best with that dac.
keep in mind that it's inevitable that better digital interfaces will be implemented, which is why if you invest in an expensive dac it should be modular so the interface can be upgraded reasonably and your dac won't become an expensive door stop. my MSB is fully modular and designed with future changes anticipated.
USB is not perfect which is why there are quite a few different efforts to optimize it. it’s just the least compromised approach. it’s what i use. i also have Ethernet and a Renderer for my MSB dac but the USB interface sounds better.
however there are no wrong answers, and in the middle of the market there are many reasonable ways to get the digital stream from the server/laptop to the dac.
choose a dac then ask the dac maker what interface works best with that dac.
keep in mind that it's inevitable that better digital interfaces will be implemented, which is why if you invest in an expensive dac it should be modular so the interface can be upgraded reasonably and your dac won't become an expensive door stop. my MSB is fully modular and designed with future changes anticipated.