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Importance of source quality with asynch USB DAC?

I have never tried computer audio and I'm considering either a great DAC with mediocre synchr. USB in, such as Bel Canto DAC3, or an asynchr. USB DAC such as Ayre or Wavelength. The advantage of the former being I can use my CD player as source until I can buy a new computer, and the advantage of the latter being I can simplify the system.

So my question is how important is the quality of the source computer with an Ayre QB-9 or Wavelength. My current laptop is a Dell Latitude 420 (I believe), which is 4 years old. Alternatively I could use an even older Sony Vaio PC, but that's old. I know people rave about Mac Mini + an asynch USB DAC...that would be my goal down the road, but how would it sound in the meantime, compared to a Bel Canto DAC3 fed thru S/PDIF from a Rotel CD player as transport?

Thank you!
lewinskih01

Showing 1 response by kbarkamian

kbarkamian
647 posts
 
There's people who'll argue how important asynch is, and those who don't think it makes a difference. I saw the guy from Beresford arguing it doesn't make a difference on a forum.

As with everything else in audio, I'd be willing to bet the technology in and of itself doesn't make every asynch DAC superior to every non-asynch DAC. Kind of like tubes vs SS, class D vs A/B, etc. I'd say audition what you can and take it from there.

I'm pretty sure the Ayre DAC only has a USB input and nothing else.
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