Is USB overrated as decent digital source?

There is a very nice professional product from TCelectronics, named Konnekt 24D (or 8D with less connection and DSP). It is a professional A/D, D/A converter mainly for musicians with Firewire connection.

They developed their own software driver for Mac and Windows, they have their own clock regeneration and jitter filtering and it can be used as a Firewire - SPDIF converter as well. This is how I am using it with a Macbook and an Altmann Attraction DAC (with all the clocking and jitter scrambling options). It sounds wonderful, with better dynamics, timing and transparency than any USB - to SPDIF converter I tried. The Altmann Attraction DAC / Konnekt 24D / Macbook is an extremely musical and emotional combination, I changed an Accuphase DP-100/DC-101 system to this one, and never looked back. Since I am using this system I almost doubled the number of my CDs, and I had more than 1000 earlier.

Audioengr:

you have to study the Konnekt brochure a bit more carefully. The 1 ns jitter is for the complete A/D, D/D and D/A loop. They developed their own firewire software driver for mac and pc, the mentioned Dice II and Jet chips developed for jitter attenuation and stable and jitterless clock. It has a 12V 2A external power supply.

I am using a Konnekt 24D since last december with my Altmann DAC. In the last 2 and half years I tried dozens of different USB, USB2 and Firewire to SPDIF converters with coax and with Toslink outputs. None of them were working so well (for me at least, YMMV) as the Konnekt with my latest Macbook. I sold my Accuphase DP-100/DC-101 when I became familiar with the Macbook - based solutions. Never looked back. The only CD player which is in the same league was the Naim CD555. Nothing else.

Since last week-end I am using the Altmann Creation ADC as an SPDIF clock generator for the Konnekt, it is now externally synchronized to the battery driven ADC and its Ultra Precise Clock. Soon I will be using the Konnekt from the same battery as the ADC. Can not imagine more pleasure from my cds and high - res audio files.

You can find a picture of my system here:

http://www.penna-media.hu/altmnn/source/kf1.htm

and here:

http://www.penna-media.hu/altmnn/source/kf2.htm

It is one of my friends' system with a custom built CD Pro transport using a spruce board from Charles Altmann:

http://www.penna-media.hu/altmnn/source/system1_1.htm

Uncleff:

:-))

Actually the transport is not mine but one of my freinds' transport.