the laptop sends, a lot of noise from the usb port , as well as large amount, of interference and jitter
only one to do ,disconnect the usb port power ,from the laptop
buy ifi defender as well as ifipower
I have done that ,and cleaned up the ground loop
then there is dac after ,all it costs from 600 to 10000 dollars
are the usb port, on the dac is galvanically separated, to the usb card on the dac
it's at over 1000 dollars dac
if not galvanically separated ,to the usb card on dac, cheap dac
can buy iPurifier3 , removes dc offset
it does not give better sound, otherwise that distortion becomes smaller
find usb cable with tight 90 ohm + and - 5% tolerance
possibly supra usb cable it is cheap
try it first
so there is not much difference expensive usb cables
3 things power and 90 ohms as well as dac on usb cable
only one to do ,disconnect the usb port power ,from the laptop
buy ifi defender as well as ifipower
I have done that ,and cleaned up the ground loop
then there is dac after ,all it costs from 600 to 10000 dollars
are the usb port, on the dac is galvanically separated, to the usb card on the dac
it's at over 1000 dollars dac
if not galvanically separated ,to the usb card on dac, cheap dac
can buy iPurifier3 , removes dc offset
it does not give better sound, otherwise that distortion becomes smaller
find usb cable with tight 90 ohm + and - 5% tolerance
possibly supra usb cable it is cheap
try it first
so there is not much difference expensive usb cables
3 things power and 90 ohms as well as dac on usb cable