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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
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,055 posts
 
psag,  

IMO, N10 does a great job of minimizing digital noise and jitter control.  If you do end up up trying Alpha USB, please post your finding here.

Here's to another tweak and relentless pursuit for audio nirvana 🍻
mitch2
3,687 posts
 
 I went with an Audiophelio usb to spdif converter, and this dramatically bettered the straight usb to usb connection in every musical sense.
Kennythekey, I am considering trying a converter (Off Ramp 5) with a server that has only a USB output.  I would be interested to hear specifically how the USB to SPDIF converter bettered the straight USB connection with your server.  Also, what server were you using at the time, and were you using the 5V power leg of the USB cable into your DAC?  I am wondering if the reason some who report better sound with SPDIF connections through converters are experiencing worse sound because of noisy 5V power going through the USB cable.
kennythekey
571 posts
 

Mitch

In my situation, improvements have mainly come from improving power.

At the time, my DAC's one review fault was with it's USB input, but with the upgraded model that I own (+), improvements were made to that. I put together the C.A.P.S. Carbon music server, so usb to usb. The two sounded pretty good, but when I hooked up my old CD player to the coaxial input, that bettered my Carbon. So, more detailed and dynamic,etc.. That's when I started looking into a converter and wound up with the Audiophilleo2 with the optional PurePower.

The dirty power from the usb cable is used to charge the PurePower battery and do some processing work, but the power to the clocks and the spdif output stage is completely clean. So, you are probably correct about some experiencing worse sound with straight usb. I'm sure, that this also depends on the gear being used and what kind of job, if any, that the gear does to handle the dirty 5v.

Power is very important to me, and it has made dramatic improvements across the board to the sound of my system in every aspect. No need for specifics, because as you remove the background noise all things improve.

I have also applied this power philosophy to my Carbon and even my Squeezebox. The Carbon is DC and fanless, and powered by a SOtM multi-rail power supply. I also built (kit) a power supply for the Squeezebox. The sound improvements, in my system, are not limited to usb vs. spdif, because I have always used spdif for my Squeezebox. So, going from the wall wart to the power supply for the Squeezebox was big.


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