Music Fidelity V-Link 192

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for the information.  

A USB/SPDIF converter shouldn't have a big affect on your music.  If your DAC has one already built in then it's hard to conceive that an external one would do much better.  
I moved up to a Chord Hugo-the difference was shockingly good.  I was using the vlink with a Schiit Bifrost.

I guess I was under the assumption that the V-link improved the signal from the laptop and passed it on to the DAC.  But since the V90 has asynchronous USB input the VLink or any USB/SPDIF Converter does nothing for sound improvement?  

Though I am a user of USB/SPDIF converters (V-link, M2Tech Hiface, Audiophellio) I am not sure the V-Link would prove a benefit over your V90 for streaming Spotify Premium. The V90 has asynchronous USB input. 

Yes my V90 has USB input, coaxial and SPDIF.  Elevick you seem to get the opposite benefits from what ghosthouse experienced.  The whole assumption or the reason the V-Link was designed is to take the signal from the laptop and improve it so the DAC does a better job right? From what I have read and been told by several is the V90 is a great little dac and Stereophile Class A or B minus.  What higher end DAC did you go with?

If your v90 has USB input then the Vlink won't do anything more for you.  I have the 96 and 192 and honestly hear no difference.  However, I went with a higher end DAC and heard a whole new level of detail...

I used a V-Link 192 for a long time between my MacBook Air and Gungnir DAC which did not have USB input on it.  The V-Link is a USB to SPDIF converter so I could use SPDIF in on the Gungnir which (I think) is a superior connection compared to USB.  The V-Link provides some other electrical and sonic benefits over straight USB out from the computer but my recollection about those is shaky (e.g., galvanically isolated).  I actually purchased a second V-Link as backup because I was so taken with sound using it.  

More recently, Schiit Audio has come out with their Eitr USB to SPDIF converter.  It embodies Schiit's 5th gen USB tech.  That's what I'm using now.  It is only $175.  Has a separate linear power supply vs the computer supplied power the V-Link used (unless, of course, you got a USB cable that separated power and signal leads).  

Hope this is of use.