Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF?

Posted by creativepart (A) on April 17, 2007 at 13:13:33

I have a Mac Mini and I'm using it for my music server. I've been trying out a Slim Devices Squeezebox (SB3) for the past couple of weeks and I like it pretty well. However, My Mac is only a foot or two away from my DAC (X-DAC v3) and audio system. So, I can arrange it so that the Mac is close enough to the DAC that I can use a Toslink SPDIF and go to the DAC directly without the SB3.

I got a good quality (expensive) Toslink cable and today I tested using the Mac to drive the Dac and I'm pretty sure that this sounds quite a bit better than using the SB3 into the DAC.

My question is... would I be better yet to use a UD-10 USB/SPDIF converter to take USB out of the Mac Mini and use that to connect to the DAC? Or is the stock Mac optical SPDIF a good, jitterless, connection and least equal to using a USB converter. Or is USB better?

Thanks
PS. If you are considering the Squeezebox, I can say that it is a very good device with lots of pluses. But, only to send music from your music server to other parts of the house wirelessly.

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Topic - Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - creativepart 13:13:33 04/17/07 (20)

The answer is simple - hermanesque 21:23:48 04/18/07 (0)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - audioengr 11:31:03 04/18/07 (0)

Go Toslink - Gordon Rankin 06:57:27 04/18/07 (2)

Yes, but after doing that would it be better still to use USB instead Toslink? - creativepart 07:10:12 04/18/07 (1)

I prefer USB with my stuff I guess it depends on what you plug into too? - Gordon Rankin 13:55:22 04/18/07 (0)

Have you looked into Bolder Cable mods for the sqeezebox? - j_thunders 06:02:11 04/18/07 (3)

Bolder Cable Mods - creativepart 06:33:02 04/18/07 (2)

I see. - j_thunders 20:43:33 04/18/07 (1)

No offense meant. Really - creativepart 20:48:58 04/19/07 (0)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - maabx 05:05:31 04/18/07 (0)

Stock PC/mac toslink is going to be extremely jittery... - Yashu 04:59:11 04/18/07 (0)

Word on the street is: - Presto 18:53:21 04/17/07 (0)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - Chicago_phile 18:45:55 04/17/07 (1)

Toslink - creativepart 07:15:45 04/18/07 (0)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - col zimka 17:38:38 04/17/07 (2)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - creativepart 20:35:33 04/17/07 (1)

Doesn't all this depend on whether your DAC reclocks or not? - Dave in gva 22:34:49 04/17/07 (0)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - Gmood1 14:03:04 04/17/07 (2)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - creativepart 14:11:25 04/17/07 (1)

Re: Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF? - Gmood1 15:20:51 04/17/07 (0)

Which is better? Toslink or USB converter to Digital S/PDIF?

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