Music Server/DAC – Ethernet, USB, S/PDIF, AES3 or I2S.

Thank you for sharing! This is a topic I bave been helping my direct community and customers to better understand. It’s nice to have a thorough explanation that is worth sharing around.

Thanks. I like the history and simple block diagrams identifying the functions. So, useful information. 
 

I don’t think it will stop discussions / debates on which sounds better since as they basically say “I2S is better than AES3, is better than S/PDIF”… but it depends on the cable and implementation. Folks on the forum will have all sorts of different components and cables… and all that will determine the sound in each system. 
 

Simple, nicely presented info though. 

Agree with @ghdprentice …good article that shows clear path to SOTA streaming setup. One thing this article didn’t address is ‘cleaning’ up Ethernet signal before it reaches your local server / streamer. Everything matters, Choose wisely :-) 

There are many, MANY other equivalent and better options out there with a cradle -to-grave “solutions” with similar web-based marketing puffery for their proprietary fast, bit-perfect, high resolution jukebox for the digital audiophile.

PS AUDIO as just one example, has a boatload of them on YouTube University,

I’m just  waiting for their respective legion of fans all chiming in soon … and all similarly pushing their faves.

The one constant is that each cohort is firmly entrenched with no hope of ever convincing their rival competitors.

the first and arguably more important read for me and box to check for me , is their Product Support History, and Ease-of-Use of the unit vis-a-vis (a) their choice of software , and (b) compatibility with other software options.

 

 

 

Ignores the fact that some DAC designs are almost immune to recloking.

Antipodes makes good argument for their K50 solution. Ed Meitner of EMM Labs has stated having clock closest to circuit it's clocking is preferable, in this case we'd want to use the clock in dac.

 

I'd love to to a direct comparison.

@sns

I have long admired and valued Ed’s contributions. That’s one argument to have clock close to its circuit for best performance but I can’t stress enough the improvements in precision and realism one hears from a SOTA external clock, assuming your downstream components are good enough. In a direct comparison between DA2 and Merging +NADAC and +clock (external clock), I was in a different stratosphere. As good as DA2 is on its own, it simply paled in comparison. This revelation came after enjoying DA2 with Aurender N20 for over two years.

My take away is, unless one have the opportunity to experience and compare, we are speculating at best. In audio, the best in our minds is what we can afford at present. I am only using a external clock that cost $18.5K. The next two level of upgrades in Merging clock are $30K and $58K :-)

@lalitk 

“ … In audio, the best in our minds is what we can afford at present.…”

+1 

 

 

 

@Akg_ca I prescribe to the PS Audio architecture with a Bridge II network card In my DAC hitting a NUC rock fed by Tidal and Qubuz. I have electrically isolated the DAC network card by converting to optical then back to LaN right before the last 1ft of LaN. The optical to wire box is powered by ifi pure. I believe Paul's theory about digital feed and am wary of reclockers upstream of a high quality DAC which will have it's own clock. I believe the I2S is the best protocol and understand it works best as a direct connection i.e. no cables. Probably get some pushback from some who have spent big on cables and reclockers...

With my Bluesound Node N130 and Gustard x26 pro, I am definitely in the USB camp (Gustard doing re-clock and dac). It sounds better all the time. Seems like there is either a burn-in period for the DH Labs silver sonic USB cable or the Bluesound or both. Probably more the cable, but I will never know since I bought them both together. But who cares, now my streaming equals CDs and vinyl. All three have a slightly different different presentation but are all just as satisfying. Amazing that it only took a couple months and one failed attempt to get there with the streaming. Lesson: Streaming is easy when done right. Analog is hard.

What an easy to read/understand  article.

Thanks for sharing.

Usb is a flawed connection to a dac no matter what. You can buy all the reclockers/tweaks that you want to clean up the signal but in the end, it’s still bad. Your better dacs give you better options than usb. If you look at some of the better dacs they don’t include usb.

Just finished another search of best digital interface, been watching this for years,  still no consensus on which is better.  Only way to know which is better is direct comparison, implementation is key.

“Usb is a flawed connection to a dac no matter what. If you look at some of the better dacs they don’t include usb.”
@p05129

Spot on! USB was adopted out of necessity to facilitate audio out of a PC’s. For the purpose of digital streaming, the DAC’s with direct Ethernet stream is the way to go thus eliminating the need and endless debate on which input (USB, AES/SPDIF, Toslink) is better regardless of how they are designed and implemented.

Those continue to advocate USB, AES or SPDIF protocols needs to hear upper tier DAC’s with Ethernet stream capabilities.

The only audio outputs on the Node are RCA, Toslink and USB. How would I use ethernet if I want it connected to my dac.

lalitk"USB was adopted out of necessity to facilitate audio out of a PC’s."

That is completely, totally, and without exception false, untrue, and mistaken USB is a computer protocol for connecting various computers, peripherals, and communications tools that dates to the last century and there have always been multiple, different, unique ways to get audio out of a PC and USb is just one of those methods, techniques, and standards.

I do not understand why some people get their facts so twisted, confused and wrong on Audiogon.

I've seen no evidence best interface has been objectively determined.

@clearthink

Well, you got this part right, “USB is a computer protocol for connecting various computers, peripherals, and communications tools that dates to the last century”

Please re-read my original post and the point of contention about USB protocol used for streaming audio out of PC. Sure you can stream audio, but is it perfect; not even close! 

I am guessing you’re one of those many using PC to stream audio and thinks it’s the next best thing to sliced bread!

There is obviously no best answer. It's all system dependent. USB is mine. 

lalitk"I am guessing you’re one of those many using PC to stream audio and thinks it’s the next best thing to sliced bread!"

No that I have found never produces truly satisfactory results I use Aurender W20SE in one of my homes and a N30SA in the other main home I have tried many streaming products for music reproduction systems and have found Aurender to be the best in my opinion.

This is how Sarjan at 6moons does it. I, myself, don't stream but the only thing he's heard that betters his set up is the new Pink Faun server but at $20,700 it's too dear a price for the average audiophile that frequents this site. In his review in progress, he states his set up in more detail right below the image. In all, it's much less expensive and not that far behind the Pink Faun.

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise  I previously owned  Singxer SU6, never bothered to even try it, seems rather counterintuitive since it still uses usb, only thing changed is internal vs external conversion to I2S. If dac already has quality usb board, seems like lateral move at best.

 

Only way to directly compare multiple interfaces is atx motherboard server. With atx you can optimize each and every one of these interfaces via Pink Faun/JCAT cards.

@sns, I can't speak for Sarjan on that point except that he is trying it and likes what he hears. Beyond that, I really can't offer anything more than what someone else offers as a solution.

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise Suppose I should have tried it when in house, kind of regret it just for the experience alone, theoreticals don't always work out in real world. I agree wide variety of opinions on streaming solutions, empirical evidence seems best we have at this point, may stay that way into future.