USB 2.0 can be run up to 22 feet. USB 1.1 only about 12 feet. I would run the USB 2.0 cable to my DAC sitting on my rack near the amp. USB 2.0 is much cheaper than a 15 foot pair of interconnect and there should not be any degredation of sound.
Long runs - USB or RCA???
I'm considering an "external HD > laptop (PC - iTunes) > USB DAC" setup in my office. My audio rack is 15' away from my listening position where the laptop/exHD will be. My question is - do I position the DAC near the listening position and run 15' analog RCA cables to my integrated amp in the rack or do I site the DAC in the audio rack and run a 15' USB cable to the DAC? I know that with certain RCAs, I'll be susceptible to RFI; will a long-run USB cable potentially have the same problem? Any recommendations of either flavor cable to avoid the RFI? Thanks.