@ubrwaltz - most everything I am reading now in forums (I use a PC based platform as a music server) is that Ethernet does resolve better than USB for the purposes of digital audio.
My next DAC purchase is most probably going to use that method in the future. I am however waiting to make my next move in DAC choice to better position myself in return on investment. The improvements are rapidly costing less as the technology develops across the board.
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@ antigrunge2 - Thank you, I am actually currently looking into technologies that enhances connections. I do agree that oxidization is certainly an area which needs to be addressed in connections, especially for example copper. Still, there’s nothing wrong with a good mechanical connection, yes that’s personal opinion. And more totally off topic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=Y2nQ8isf55s&feature=emb_logoImagine if it were possible to have a totally solder free set of cables, or crossovers, amplifier etc. Cold welded USB, XLR cables and speaker cables. Okay enough have eluded to my being in a fantasy world, without my providing evidence. |
+1 dougeyjones
I have heard PS Audio DirectStream, Denefrips Terminator, Chord Hugo, Geisler DACS and quite a few I can't recall the name of, all using USB. Including Grandinote, pity I wasn't there for the MSB session.
I used to make Curious Cables, they are expensive, I do use a JCat Femto USB card in my computer server also not cheap.
I have read many reports that ethernet is superior to USB for streaming, however I can't say USB sucks, I mean, at all.
Opinions vary, glad you found something that works for you.
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+1 loke
I didn't mention also the DC power in USB, if it can be made more linear with less jitter, there are reports this can also make for better transfer of data.
Some customers completely lifted the DC from the source and used a linear power supply instead of the port.
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Why some USB cables are better is due to better edge detection on an analogue square wave. Well of course it’s not perfectly square, just as a sign wave from a power station isn’t a perfect sinusoidal wave.
My qualification is that I am an Instrumentation technician, and Automation programmer. Please go and do some actual studies and research before claiming that there is no difference between different conductors and cable materials and geometry/shielding. Get on a decent oscilloscope and go see for yourself. I have worked in a business that controls robots, and they used EtherCat protocols. I have spent hours in a classroom studying theory, in order to get my qualifications.
For example Cat 5, 5e, 6, 6a, 7, 8 Ethernet cable standards.
This isn’t for fashion, there are actual differences, measurable differences in performance.
Try a quality USB (I used to work for a reasonably well known USB cable maker in Australia, an an employee) with a quality USB DAC sometime and hear the difference.
Digital is an encoding system, transfer of data is all totally analogue and electrical. Edge detection is to measure over time when a electrical signal is powered and the circuit is powered down, noise is a real issue.
There’s nothing in the cables passing little ones and zeros across the cable.
EDIT: excuse my rant, I am just trying to ensure people don't get misinformed and miss out on relatively cheap solutions that will significantly increase performance.
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I'll get flamed for this I'm sure.
On the USB A connector, the flatter rectangular one, on the top side I use my thumb to give it a little depression to better "clamp" the conductors against the terminal.
Obviously there is not much one can do for the USB B connector.
Whether or not it improves the signal by adding a little clamping force I dare not conjecture, however I find it gives me peace of mind knowing it's a bit more secure.
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@
lalitk1
- Of course I meant to type PLAYBACK, not payback...
hahaha a Freudian slip (
parapraxis ) perhaps..hahaha
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I just returned to civilization from a trip to Yellowstone National Park with my wife on our wedding anniversary. Managed to see my first wild bear, well a mum and three cubs playing in the water together. In my travels I've always said every country has something unique to offer the traveler - America has never disappointed! @guyboisvert - yeah thanks for sharing, charming really. I can tell you didn't pass any degree, you should study a bit before trying to look that you know something, you just don't... Engineering theory is great, congratulations on your studies sir. Certainly there is a plethora of information more specific to audiophile needs than general computing has been provided in this thread, however it seems that conjecture and opinion varies sufficiently enough, that anyone who actually wants to know for themselves if different devices and or cables with different connectors and materials can more or less effectively change the final resolution of their system, really aught to try it themselves. There are enough people in here who claim they have had superior results in their playback systems to merit investigation. I for one have a system where I can hear payback quality change using different USB cables, interconnects, speaker cables and power cables. |
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@lgldsr73 - There's got to be a better way for sure.
If audiophilia were more of a priority for engineers, we might already have it?
I've been present when USB (using a high end USB cable), toslink, and coaxial cables (even high end contenders) have all been put to the test - USB had won. Mind you this was a couple of years ago now, and I acknowledge things change rapidly in our hobby.
There's AES3 aka AES/EBU which looks promising to me, though I haven't tried it personally.
I am disappointed that digital hasn't yet universally beaten the older methods of analogue recording and retrieval. With constant advancement, and new data transfer protocols, newer technologies in processing the digital format to analogue - I hope one day it will.
As I believe camera technology has surpassed film finally.
Hasselblad H6D-400C,
PhaseOne XF IQ4, Fujifilm GFX 100 are high end examples of this, where digital finally is better than analogue.
What do you think is the best at the moment? What are you using?
Rick
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I have FEMTO clocks on both ends, and I mostly use USB, and did use a carbon coaxial cable from my Cambridge Audio 4K Bluray player.
I found my fanless PC with linear power supply sounded better in my system.
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@steakster - thanks for that, did a lot of reading. Learnt new things, brilliant - cheers
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