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Quick USB question

I currently have a Node (2021) streamer and it has only one USB port.  Does someone make a decent “Y” adapter? I currently have a 4TB hard drive in it and would like to try using the USB as an output to my DAC.

I’m not sure if it will work. Anyway, with one thing going in and the other going out, not at the same time of course.

Thanks in advance.

JD

128x128curiousjim

Showing 2 responses by danager

danager's avatar
danager
883 posts
 

Try a powered USB hub. You might get by with a passive one if you aren’t powering any of the devices through the USB port.

 

Best USB hubs of 2022

 

danager's avatar
danager
883 posts
 

@larry5729

Can’t you just do a comparison of with MQA and without and see which one you prefer? Lots of people live without MQA and prefer hi-rez over MQA (Qobuz vs Tidal).

A better streamer can makes a difference. It will lower the noise floor, reduce the jitter issue associated with digital audio but only if the DAC can actually resolve the difference. The USB interface is quite problematic and requires some extra circuitry to be top notch (there are those who say it will never compete). You can put premium gas in a econobox and it won’t make much of difference but regular gas in a Corvette is quite noticeable.

I’m a believer “The first watt is the most important watt.” and that what you feed it is even more critical. Get the best input you can afford even if it causes you to rethink your budget on cables, amplifiers and even speakers. There are many ways to get big buck sound but all of them begins with the input.

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