Digital Audio Output Differences? Is USB Audio Really The Top-notch?

[preston8452]

Hello guys,

So after some some struggles between spending time in optimizing my PC audio functionalities and adopting a dedicated music streamer, I opted for the second one.
I purchased the Munich M1T by Silent Angel, given it's good reviews in UK and Germany and Switzerland, I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot, but frankly speaking, the mainly reason was because the price fits my wallet more hahahah...

Anyways, so there are several digital outputs on its back panel, AES/EBU; I2S(HDMI), Coaxial, USB Audio, hell hahah, I have literally no idea which one is better or which can provide a special feature or something, I mean it does show that the USB Audio supports up to up to PCM 768KHz and DSD 11.2M (DSD256), but does that the higher the sampling rate, the better the sound quality? I just can't make sure...

And if the USB Audio can provide the " best " digital sound quality, then why added other ports? Ain't that just costing more on the manufacturing end?
Hope you guys can give some insights on this, or share some of your experiences, because this is the first time I saw an AES/EBU port on a audio streamer...

Best,

 

[Rnrmf]

There's probably no shortcut for trying all of them into the particular DAC you're using.

The capabilities of a particular digital output on the streamer don't necessarily translate into the best sound quality - it could just indicate the digital signal's "bandwidth" capabilities on that output.

The DAC you use might have a digital input that sounds best, the streamer might have an output that sounds best, and one of the cables you have for each interface might be of better quality than the others.

I'd check a few reviews or forum posts about both the streamer and dac to see if there are any hints as to what might be a good place to start.

 

[Bones13]

Many flavors of DACs, and inputs. Some differences detectable, some not.

See which connections your streamer and DAC share, and experiment with inexpensive cables. Let your ears decide for you. Upgrade cable if desired.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

USB is likely the least compromised commonly found interface between a server and dac. emphasis on the phrase 'commonly found'. but it needs considerable optimization to reach it's best performance. it's not just plug and play. the Taiko Extreme server has a special USB card, and optimizes unique drivers for each dac. that is USB done right.

the best interface i've heard by far is the proprietary Akasa optical link between the Wadax Ref dac and Ref server. but it is hideously expensive and requires a custom sending and receiving unit. not 'commonly found'. at this point only on the Wadax Reference gear.

 

[W9TR]

One big difference between AES/EBU, S/PDIF, I2S and USB is that in the former group, the clock in the server determines the overall jitter and timing performance of the system. In the case of USB, the DAC’s clock and receiver circuitry determine the overall performance.

 

[Alkyogre]

What improves the sound alot is to cut the powerline in the USB cable, so it only can send data.

Sadly alot of dacs do need power from the USB, resulting in a malfunctioning cable.

 

[soastrup]

The consensus among professional reviewers (Stereophile and TAS) seems to be that SPDIF Coax and AES sound superior to USB. However, the SPDIF connections are limited to 24 bit /192 KHz while USB can be used for 32 bit /384 Khz and native DSD up to 512 or higher.

So I am basically wondering about the same thing: Is there a crossing point where the increased bandwith of USB make up for the inherent sound quality issue with USB? Is DSD 512 via USB better that 24/192 via Coax? Am I taking my OCD too far?

I am considering changing my Aurender A10 for a newer model like the N200 just to get the Coax output and wonder if I am simply deluding myself.

 

[W9TR]

The consensus among professional reviewers (Stereophile and TAS) seems to be that SPDIF Coax and AES sound superior to USB. However, the SPDIF connections are limited to 24 bit /192 KHz while USB can be used for 32 bit /384 Khz and native DSD up to 512 or higher.

So I am basically wondering about the same thing: Is there a crossing point where the increased bandwith of USB make up for the inherent sound quality issue with USB? Is DSD 512 via USB better that 24/192 via Coax? Am I taking my OCD too far?

I am considering changing my Aurender A10 for a newer model like the N200 just to get the Coax output and wonder if I am simply deluding myself.

I think the short answer is ‘it depends’. DAC’s have very different USB implementations whereas AES/EBU implementations have been around much longer and generally perform in a consistent and predictable manner.

With AES/EBU and S/PDIF, the server determines the jitter performance of the system, so having a high performance server makes a real difference.

With USB, especially the kind we use in audio, which is “asynchronous isochronous”, the DAC and it’s internal USB and clock circuits determine the jitter and timing performance of the system, and the streamer performance is less important.

 

[nicoff]

The consensus among professional reviewers (Stereophile and TAS) seems to be that...
.....

A consensus amongst professional [subjective] reviewers? I never knew there was such a thing!!