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Asynchronous USB vs. SPDIF with regard to DAC upgrade

My system consists of the following:

  1. Weiss 204 DAC with Modwright Linear Power Supply
  2. Lumin U2 Mini  streamer with LHY Linear Power Supply
  3. Conrad Johnson Et-7 linestage
  4. Bryston 4B3 cubed power amplifier
  5. JBL 4349 horn loaded loudspeaker (sounds great at moderate levels)

Seeking a dac upgrade with a budget of $14,000.00. (new only)

At first I was only looking for Coax via SPDIF, but then an audiogon member educated me to the fact that with a USB Audio connection the internal clock is controlled by the Dac and not the streamer  as streamers usually will  not have the same clock quality as a high end Dac. I should mention do not use my computer in my system. The two candidates are the Weiss DAC 501 MKII and the Berkely Audio Alpha Series 3. I was advised that the Berkely does not come with a USB port and this is an add on.  I believe Berkely did not want to put the USB intterface in the Dac itself to avoid USB noise that comes from a computer.  My reading and research tells me a asynchronous USB port will sound better, less jitter than a coax SPDIF.  Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestion?  Thank you. 

 

kjl1065
mahler123
4,038 posts
 

+1 @tubeguy80 

 

the answer to the OP is “it depends”.  Theory will only get you so far.  I’ve heard many DACs where usb was either the best or the worst option.  And does anyone make asynchronous usb anymore?

kjl1065's avatar
kjl1065 OP
89 posts
 

This response is directed to audphile1. You mentioned in this thread that the Berkely Alpha Series 3 Dac does not have a network card. I thought a network card is found in a streamer and not a stand alone Dac. If I am incorrect would appreciate the correct information so any buying decision that I may make will be based on correct assumptions.  Thank you. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,001 posts
 

@kjl1065 

There are different categories for these digital sources.
1. streamers with built in DACs:  typically a single box solution geared towards convenience with somewhat compromised DAC performance. These units feature native streaming software. Examples include Lumin D and Aurender A lines

2. DACs with built in network cards that allow a user to leverage these units as Roon endpoints and or Qobuz connect or Tidal connect streaming devices, with primary focus still being the DAC. 
 

There are different tiers for each category. A very large portion of high end DACs include network cards of various quality. Examples include Mola Mola Tambaqui, Playback Designs MPD-6, Weiss, Meitner MA3i, EMM Labs DA2i, Bricasti and dCS DACs. 
Some of these DACs have excellent design and implementation for these in-built streaming cards. 
In my system the Meitner MA3i eliminated the need for Aurender N200 and a high quality USB cable that I used it with to feed the DAC. 
A good Ethernet cable into Meitner is all it takes. I am using it as a Roon endpoint. 
 

Hope the explanation and examples I provided are helpful. 
 

Now…going back to your plan with Berkeley that will require a top notch clock implementation in the streamer due to its lack of USB and network card, will demand you add a streamer on the level of Aurender N20. 
Only you can be the judge if a streamer in this configuration is an added value. That’s why I and everyone else is suggesting you try different DACs including those with built in network cards. And compare using different configurations. 

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