When you use USB, you are using the computer as the player and streaming music via USB.You are not streaming music, you're streaming data since timing is not involved. Source of D/A conversion timing is the clock inside of your DAC. Because it is data computer doesn't have to be dedicated, can be slow or fast, with any amount of RAM. Yes, computer can be electrically noisy (as everything around is including LED bulbs), so you should use USB cable without power wires. Well designed DAC should have common mode noise suppression in separate digital section. External HD can be acoustically noisy, but I have one that is very quiet, not to mention SSDs that are getting cheaper. Format is not important since it is data. I use ALAC with with WiFi to save space. Any playback program will do, as long as it is bitperfect.
PS Audio DirectStream network bridge
I'm planning on buying a ps audio DirectStream DAC next week and I want to know more about the network bridge, hopefully from an owner but I welcome info from anyone in the know.
Once the bridge is installed, what happens next? I plug an Ethernet cable into the bridge and on the other end my wifi router and then what? How does the dac find the music on my network attached storage device? Or on my MacBook iTunes library? What software do I need for Apple computers? Does the dac appear as an AirPlay device? If anyone could explain their own particular arrangement, I would appreciate it. Can I select music
Once the bridge is installed, what happens next? I plug an Ethernet cable into the bridge and on the other end my wifi router and then what? How does the dac find the music on my network attached storage device? Or on my MacBook iTunes library? What software do I need for Apple computers? Does the dac appear as an AirPlay device? If anyone could explain their own particular arrangement, I would appreciate it. Can I select music