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USB vs Digital Out from Audigy 2 Sound Card

I'm currently accessing the .mp3 files on my PC via my Audigy2's digital out jack to a Theta DS Pro prime II and then to my amp. Sound is fine (pretty good actually) but I'm wondering if running out via a USB port to a Edirol UA-1D USB to s/pdif converter (Audiogon Item: 1109638087) and from there to my DAC and on to my amp would be preferable?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Regards,

Bob Holmes
steerpike
edesilva
768 posts
 
I like my Edirol UA-1D--I run it into a Theta IIIA, and the set up works nicely for MP3s and WAVs. That said, if you already have a digital out, I don't know how much you gain. I did note, in the incarnations of my set up, that a long USB run to the UA-1D was much better sounding than long coax or optical runs from the UA-1D, which might be a consideration if your DAC is a long way from your computer.
ejliu
109 posts
 
According to some postings on Headfi.org, SB Audigy 2 card resample all 44.1 kHz signal everything to 48 kHz for internal processing and then output to 44.1 kHz again. This process will introduce non-exact digital out and is quite common amoung computer sound card.

You might want to do some research on bit perfect digital output on headfi.org.
edesilva
768 posts
 
The Edirol does too, apparently. The Head Fi guys seem to recommend M-Audio Transits or M-Audio Sonicas. Those don't work for me, however, b/c I've only got an RCA PCM input to my DAC.
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