Pops and crackles on USB output

[realysm42]

I should really (and will) write a separate review for it but the linear PSU I've got for my PC from mcru is a game changer; I'm sure it can be tailored for your needs.

It lowers the noise floor considerably, meaning less of what you don't want to hear and more of what you do (and previously never would have). Its amazing how much more nuanced the music is and bass has texture all of a sudden.

[hermit]

I should really (and will) write a separate review for it but the linear PSU I've got for my PC from mcru is a game changer; I'm sure it can be tailored for your needs.

It lowers the noise floor considerably, meaning less of what you don't want to hear and more of what you do (and previously never would have). Its amazing how much more nuanced the music is and bass has texture all of a sudden.

An alternative approach, if using a usb-spdif converter, would be to isolate it from the pc power supply by using something like an AQVOX linear usb power supply or the Ifi Micro iUSB.

[realysm42]

I use both.

[RichB]

The problem I had came from an ground loop created by my laptop PSU. A better PSU resolved it completely. As an extra measure I've ordered one of those Kensington 2 pin power chargers instead of the cloverleaf one the laptop came with. This takes the earth out of the equation and still powers the laptop. I expect the same could have been achieved by just using the toslink output on the v-link rather than the coaxial thus breaking the loop which caused the issue.
This video explains it rather well
Anyway since I now know this I've switched over to optical from the v-link as an extra measure.

I don't want to knock the solutions ifi and others offer but if the answer is as simple as using 2 pin chargers and optical cable then I can live with that.