Digital Drive

RE: It Should Not Hurt Sound Quality Because . . .

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Mel

A

In Reply to: RE: USB Power Blocker posted by Jotaro on August 31, 2024 at 16:15:32

. . . there should be nothing to receive the 5V line at the other end.
I've had two DACS (LKS and Musetec) that provided the 5V internally to their USB to I2S board. I tried blocking the 5V as per Abe, and it made no difference at all.
This sort of arrangement has two advantages. First the 5V provided to the incoming board can be as clean as the designer wishes and designs for. In the case of the Musetec it is provided by a bank of super capacitors.
Second, the data lines on the USB cable are thought by some to be compromised by the 5V running through the cable. Hence the various designs in some cables separating the 5V line from the rest.

Edits: 09/01/24

Follow Ups:

It depends on the DAC.... - AbeCollins 09:50:31 09/02/24 (1)
"It Should Not Hurt Sound Quality Because . . . . there should be nothing to receive the 5V line at the other end."
It depends on the DAC. Many DACs -do- need the 5V while some do not.
Some DACs -require- the 5V Vcc over USB continuously or momentarily while others don't need it at all. That's one of the reasons for experimenting by blocking the 5V line in the USB-A connector. If the DAC stops working after blocking the 5V then you have just determined that your DAC -requires- the 5V over USB to function. If that is the case you can then break the 5V line and inject your own 'clean' 5V to see if it helps SQ. YMMV.
In my experience I've owned DACs that required the 5V over USB and others that did not. There was no correlation to suggest improved SQ from DACs that did not require the 5V. In fact, I had an Ayre DAC that did not require the 5V over USB at all but my PS Audio DAC does. It sounds ever so slightly more to my liking so I kept it. Sold the Ayre DAC long ago.

Edits: 09/02/24 09/02/24
- RE: Actually, what they might need momentarily is the ground. - Mel 11:09:26 09/02/24 (0)
  It's called handshaking. All DACS need that pin 4 ground for the handshake even if they don't use the 5V from the USB cable. There are those who disconnect the ground after the connection is made. They claim improved SQ. Others have the ground connected via a resister--a half-way measure.
  Of course fine DACS have been made which need the 5V on the USB cable as wll as those which don't. But there can be no doubt that a good engineer can improve his product assuring a cleaner 5V line than can likely be provided through the USB cable.
  
  Edits: 09/02/24 09/02/24
RE: It Should Not Hurt Sound Quality Because . . . - Jotaro 14:34:26 09/01/24 (0)
Second, the data lines on the USB cable are thought by some to be compromised by the 5V running through the cable. Hence the various designs in some cables separating the 5V line from the rest.

I can see this being the case to some extent.

J.

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