Location: Suffolk, UK
Posts: 1,473
I'm Paul.
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.
Location: Manchester
Posts: 359
I'm John.
In my experience with tinkering with the different types of connection between my silent HTPC and M2Tech Young Dac I recorded the following
USB - standard without software and using windows sounds the worst
Coax - sounds more musical and quiet
Optical - More detail and cleaner
Asynchronous USB with M2tech software, Jrivermedia player M2Tech young dac Standard USB cable better than all of the above
Same as above with a Supra cable sound slightly better than the above so kept that and still use that today 5 years on
All just my opinion of course no scientific evidence
Alan
Turntable - Garrard 401/Jelco 750L/Ortofon Kontrapunkt B, Pioneer PLC 590, Micro Sieki MA505 , Denon DL103R - DIY Paradise Phono stage - Reel 2 Reel Studer A810, Otari MX55,Tascam BR20, Revox A77, B77, PR99, TEAC X1000 & 3440, Digital HTPC / Young Dac - Preamp - DIY B4, 821, Power Amp's DIY Avondale NCC300 Mono Block, Speakers Wilmslow Kit Volt BM220.8 / Scanspeak D2905/9500
That's no surprise - from the Windows end it will be seeing generic drivers. USB is not designed to be an audio interface! The clue is in the U bit of USB.
It will - the coax connection is an audio one!
And ground plane noise is eradicated .....
The M2Tech "software" is not software as such - it's appropriate drivers for the hardware being used.
Chris
Common sense isn't anymore!
Yes they make a difference. I use Wireworld Starlight and iFi USB power combination. I have tried USB to SPDIF convertors with mixed results, as PC software upgrades can make them not functional, or they wont handle all the sound option formats.
I would like to try one of the more expensive converters but the thought it might cease to work puts me off.
Regards Neil
Location: South Africa
Posts: 13
I'm Brian.
I just Bought the entry level QED USB cable it’s so cheap I thought why not, I hear a difference, more clarity and openness almost like the noise floor has been lowered. It’s not gonna make a good system brilliant but it definetly worth the price. I wouldn’t pay much more than that though, if I had paid £500pounds I think I would’ve been disappointed but for £15 it was well worth it.