Computer Audio Asylum

Posted by dzzmiller (P) on March 01, 2008 at 13:16:19

In Reply to: RE: USB isolation hub (Gordon, audioengr, John - input wanted) posted by pryamomimo on February 22, 2008 at 07:59:59

The biggest problem with USB is the USB clock. Devices like the Trend UD10 "reclock" the datastream in a clean external environment.
Soundcards also reclock like the UD10, so toslink off a sound card is another option that will have better timing and also provides a non-conductive cable to the DAC.
A soundcard clock, while always better than USB, must also perform in the harsh environment of the PC. So it's not ideal.
The proper solution is a DAC that reclocks all input. Most do not. Transports of any kind don't matter with a good reclocking solution.