Best way to connect a DAC - USB or Optical / Coax?

[wilro15]

So I have been looking at upgrading my DAC recently. I have been reading reviews online as you do.

I found an interesting review of the Rega DAC here: http://www.stereophile.com/content/rega-dac-da-processor It features an interview with the top guy at Rega who says he doesn't consider USB to be a "high tier audio interface".

On the other hand, I see on other sites (e.g. Computer Audiophile), people talking about how USB is best because you can have "integer mode" enabled,

Certainly it seems a general rule that higher bit rates are possilble over Optical / Coax than USB. So should I not worry about getting a USB connection and concentrate on other things?

 

[ID.]

Like many things it probably depends on the implementation.

Asynchronous USB that is galvanically isolated should be fine because it should eliminate jitter and electronic noise from sources like computers.

With the right drivers you can also use USB for higher resolutions. I don't think there is a definitive answer as to which is the best connection, but certain connections may be better in certain DACs.

 

[cheeseboy]

I found an interesting review of the Rega DAC here: http://www.stereophile.com/content/rega-dac-da-processor It features an interview with the top guy at Rega who says he doesn't consider USB to be a "high tier audio interface".

he'd be correct, because it's not an audio interfce at all, it's a data interface. Audio never travels down usb, only data. So unfortunately, he's just shown up how clueless he is on the matters.