Optical TOSLINK vs. USB SPDIF

Posted by: RobH on 14 June 2016

Im sure this is a well trodden route!  My system is Mac Mini into my NDac via an optical toslink and its pretty good.  However, I'm forever wondering if I get a little more out of it. Ive read countless articles but I'm none the less still confused. Would I get any sound improvement if I changed the toslink for a well implemented USB?

 

Rob

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Sloop John B
RobH posted:

It occurs to me that my question has not been answered.  

Rob

and that surprises you?

 

 

SJB

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Innocent Bystander
RobH posted:

It occurs to me that my question has not been answered.  Would at top class optical link sound better that sound better or not as good as a top class SPDIF and USB

Rob

The answer may well be within my reaponses, but as you did not come back and clarify what software you're running on the MM, it is hard to see how a more definitive respponse can be made.

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by RobH

I'm sorry, your completely correct.  I'm running audirivanna plus into a wireworld supernova 6 into the NDac.

 

Rob

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by nbpf
RobH posted:

It occurs to me that my question has not been answered.  Would at top class optical link sound better that sound better or not as good as a top class SPDIF and USB

Rob

Rob, I think that you have received quite a number of answers to your original question. The above question "Would at top class optical link sound better that sound better or not as good as a top class SPDIF and USB" needs to be stated more precisely. What do you mean by "optical link"? An optical SPDIF cable? Connected to what? As I mentioned in my previous post, a decent USB to SPDIF interface (no matter whether with optical or electrical output) will generally offer a better sound quality than a direct connection (again, no matter whether optical or electrical) to the MM sound card provided that, in case an electrical connection is used, the interface provides galvanic isolation. Best, nbpf

Posted on: 19 June 2016 by Innocent Bystander
RobH posted:

I'm sorry, your completely correct.  I'm running audirivanna plus into a wireworld supernova 6 into the NDac.

 

Rob

As I said in an earlier post, With Audirvana using a dedicated usb port the output completely bypasses the MM's soundcard, so is capable of better SQ (see Audirvana manual). I don't know how well isolated the nDAC's electrical input is, but as it doesn't have usb you'd need a convertor, so a usb/spdif isolator/convertor between like the Gustard U12 (see other threads) should do the trick. You'd then yave the option of optical or electrical SPDIF to the nDAC, and Richard Dere's been playing with the AES/EBU output of the Gustard. (Usb cable between MM and Gustard doesn't need to be exotic, just nneds to deliver the signal.)

How much better it will sound I don't know not having an bDAC -  it certainly improved with the Hugo.