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Server to DAC connection

Robert Harley recently reviewed the top Aurender server, which offers several choices of connection to a DAC. He preferred USB via a Berkeley Alpha USB converter. By adding a cable and complicated piece of hardware, this seems to go against the 'simpler is better' philosophy. But, I wonder if there might be an overall gain with the Berkeley. I have the Aurender N10, and I'm currently using the SPDIF connection, as my DAC does not have a USB input. I'm thinking of trying the Berkeley Alpha USB. Has anyone else compared the Berkeley to AES or SPDIF? For those with a USB DAC, how does the Berkeley compare to a direct USB connection?
psag

Showing 2 responses by psag

psag OP
517 posts
 
lalitk,
I did briefly compare the M2-tech HiFace Evo to SPDIF, and I preferred the M2-tech. However in the process of fiddling with the M2-tech, I  damaged it. It is not a robustly made unit. My understanding is that the Berkeley is even better than the M2-tech.

KTK,
I don't think Harley explained the reason he preferred the Berkeley converter to AES or SPDIF. But, I suspect its related to the reduction of jitter and the re-clocking that occurs in the Berkeley.
psag OP
517 posts
 
Based on the above responses, one could surmise that direct SPDIF beats direct USB, but USB converter (Berkeley or M2-tech) beats them both.
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