What to expect from a new DAC?

Ah the philosophy of better....

Still there is another technical factor to consider in what will be the source for your DAC....? A low jitter transport was critical back in the day for your discs.... Now you seem to need a low jitter USB source for digital files on your PC or server.

I have a nice Sonic Frontiers SFDI Mk II DAC with a nice tube output stage... How good of an asynchronous USB interface should I invest in....before I leave well enough alone and get a newer DAC with higher resolution format support and the Asynch USB DAC and transport interface.

IMO, the discussion of better becomes even more difficult.

(opinions wanted!!!)

Hmm..

So, my transport is a Levinson 31 Reference DAC.... so it was very expensive (and sounds great).

My preamp is an Audio Research LS15 active preamp (tubes). I tried the passive linestage attenuator 20 years ago and found it not to be the way to go...(with lesser gear then I now use) If memory serves, the music just seemed dead. Funny how things go round and round... What's different with a passive transformer linestage ..... (at the time... I was told... well... the analog impedance matches were just not quite right and you lost too much with the passive Adcom line stage attenuator.

What I want to do now is add a USB to digital Low jitter interface for a PC server. What would be a good match for the Sonic Frontiers DAC/LS 15 combination?

Hmm..

So, my transport is a Levinson 31 Reference DAC.... so it was very expensive (and sounds great).

My preamp is an Audio Research LS15 active preamp (tubes). I tried the passive linestage attenuator 20 years ago and found it not to be the way to go...(with lesser gear then I now use) If memory serves, the music just seemed dead. Funny how things go round and round... What's different with a passive transformer linestage ..... (at the time... I was told... well... the analog impedance matches were just not quite right and you lost too much with the passive Adcom line stage attenuator.

What I want to do now is add a USB to digital Low jitter interface for a PC server. What would be a good match for the Sonic Frontiers DAC/LS 15 combination?

Hmm..

So, my transport is a Levinson 31 Reference DAC.... so it was very expensive (and sounds great).

My preamp is an Audio Research LS15 active preamp (tubes). I tried the passive linestage attenuator 20 years ago and found it not to be the way to go...(with lesser gear then I now use) If memory serves, the music just seemed dead. Funny how things go round and round... What's different with a passive transformer linestage ..... (at the time... I was told... well... the analog impedance matches were just not quite right and you lost too much with the passive Adcom line stage attenuator.

What I want to do now is add a USB to digital Low jitter interface for a PC server. What would be a good match for the Sonic Frontiers DAC/LS 15 combination?