Optical or USB

[SteveR750]

Eek, a truth dilemma. I swttched the Hegel to optical from my PC, so switched J River to Realtek s/pdif WASAPI, as that was the only option. Hmm. More open? Bit more ragged at the top end? Better bass? faster?

Switched back to USB and it's definitley smoother up top, and more detailed, I think.

Which is right, cos ears cannot be trusted. Other DACs are best using USB, some toslink (Chord Qute).

 

[JamesMellor]

I have a NAD 390 DD which has the same array of inputs as your hegel I think .

stream from a macbook to airport x optical out / digital coax from sony bdp to amp / usb from mac to amp.

I truely belive the second two options are "better" but I also know they are "louder" , for myself everyday I stream to airport x , on saturday nights is the bluray for albums and then plugging in the laptop usb , I guess the USB is better , I dont get up and get my laptop cos I want it to sound worse.

James

 

[CnoEvil]

If you hear a consistant difference, go with what you prefer....that is after all, what selected your system and your taste in music.

 

[SteveR750]

If you hear a consistant difference, go with what you prefer....that is after all, what selected your system and your taste in music.

The word is consistent!

 

[CnoEvil]

If you hear a consistant difference, go with what you prefer....that is after all, what selected your system and your taste in music.

The word is consistent!

Let me put it another way...don't talk yourself out of what you are hearing.

 

[Helmut80]

USB. Always USB.* I just like USB cables.

*This is of course nonsense, as it is, device-dependent.

 

[SteveR750]

If you hear a consistant difference, go with what you prefer....that is after all, what selected your system and your taste in music.

The word is consistent!

Let me put it another way...don't talk yourself out of what you are hearing.

They're ever so slightly different, I know which sounds nicest but I don't know which is more *correct*

 

[CnoEvil]

If you hear a consistant difference, go with what you prefer....that is after all, what selected your system and your taste in music.

The word is consistent!

Let me put it another way...don't talk yourself out of what you are hearing.

They're ever so slightly different, I know which sounds nicest but I don't know which is more *correct*

In this instance, go with your heart, not your head.....ie. listen to your musician side rather than your scientific one.

 

[SteveR750]

Since I'm not in a recording studio / monitoring then that's what I have done.

 

[andyjm]

All other things being equal (and they rarely are), then async USB will outperform a standard optical S/PDIF link. I could explain, but it gets technical.

Your specific installation of course could be different.

 

[SteveR750]

All other things being equal (and they rarely are), then async USB will outperform a standard optical S/PDIF link. I could explain, but it gets technical.

Your specific installation of course could be different.

Andy, please do. We're here to learn!

Plus, what about non async? Hegel uses adaptive as they think they can get it to work better, though many of the reviews state it's an async USB connection. I underdstand the basic principle of asynchronous clocking, but I thought that WASAPI (optical) also allowed the DAC to control the timing of the data?