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USB vs s/pdif

I'm using a Wyred 4 Sound DAC 1. It has the usual compliment of inputs, including USB. I connected my MacBook via the USB input and was surprised to hear how bad it sounded. At least compared to the s/pdif output of my Squeezebox 3 with Bolder digital mods. There was really no comparison. The USB/MacBook sounded flat, lifeless, constrained and not very extended at the frequency extremes.

Why is that? Is the SB3 that good or am I doing something wrong with the MacBook?
ecruz

Showing 1 response by mihaitaa

mihaitaa
111 posts
 
My experience with USB was always a letdown until the async USB of the W4S DAC2 I'm currently enjoying.
In my opinion, unless asynchronous, USB is not up to par with S/PDIF. In asynchronous version, the cable stops making a difference, as no timing info is passed from the transport to the DAC.
I'm sure other posters will have different opinions, though, as usual.
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