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Thread: Optical or USB

  1. #1
    Join Date: Jan 2013

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    I'm James.

    Default Optical or USB

    If you had a choice to run a long cable (5m) to a DAC would you choose Optical or USB?

  2. #2
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
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    I'm Allen.

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    Optical
    [

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2016

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    I'm Geoff.

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    Optical: both in terms of sound quality and convenience.

    I use these and can recommend them. Also available in black https://www.amazon.co.uk/XO-Optical-...rds=5m+optical

    Geoff

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2008

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    Unless you are also using a decent USB to digital co-ax converter as well as the USB cable, optical.
    .

  5. #5
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    Optical it is then -thanks chaps.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Feb 2011

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    I'm James.

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    (Raises Head slightly above the parapets )

    A vote here for USB !!
    Not Bandwidth limited in case you want to experiment with super-dooper Hi-Rez material in the future.
    Plus I've never got on with Optical Sound-Quality wise. Very harsh and fatigue-ing whenever I have heard it. IMHO of course !

    Jim.

  7. #7
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    try and get a glass one-fisual do a couple at reasonable money.

  8. #8
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    If you have a galvanically isolated, asynchronous USB connection, then it'll spank optical. Otherwise, things can be more variable, so try both. FWIW 5 metres is within spec for USB 2.0 requirements.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  9. #9
    Join Date: Apr 2008

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    Quote Originally Posted by jandl100 View Post
    Unless you are also using a decent USB to digital co-ax converter as well as the USB cable, optical.
    ...or if your DAC already has a well-sorted USB front-end, use USB.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Jan 2013

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    Quote Originally Posted by Yomanze View Post
    If you have a galvanically isolated, asynchronous USB connection, then it'll spank optical. Otherwise, things can be more variable, so try both. FWIW 5 metres is within spec for USB 2.0 requirements.
    The DAC I will be using will have fully galvanically isolated USB but reading more about it from the designer either USB or optical are fine and there is not much in it. Probably best try both and see which works best from MacBook laptop?

    I was more concerned about using a 5 meter length and how this would affect a USB cables performance ?

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