2. digital
  3. 1207385888

Long runs - USB or RCA???

I'm considering an "external HD > laptop (PC - iTunes) > USB DAC" setup in my office. My audio rack is 15' away from my listening position where the laptop/exHD will be. My question is - do I position the DAC near the listening position and run 15' analog RCA cables to my integrated amp in the rack or do I site the DAC in the audio rack and run a 15' USB cable to the DAC? I know that with certain RCAs, I'll be susceptible to RFI; will a long-run USB cable potentially have the same problem? Any recommendations of either flavor cable to avoid the RFI? Thanks.
soulbrass

Showing 2 responses by detlof

detlof
1,899 posts
 
I've had excellent results with Monster Cable's USB cables, using a four meter run between my laptop and my USB dac on a very resolving high end system.
Cheers,
detlof
1,899 posts
 
I agree with Gmood1, here size does not really matter....and Ultrafitimes, how did you come to your findings? Long ICs are certainly OK, but cost a lot more then even a good long USB cable. I tried both, but could not really hear much of a difference, so I settled for the less costly version. I am using a Spoiler USB dac, which driven that way is in the same league sonically as the Zanden combo or the DCS stack, as I pointed out elsewhere in these pages..... and yes, even a humble Trends USB to digital converter will sound perfectly fine that way, driven through the Zanden DAC.
More to discover