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Using on board optical vs. hiFace or similar?

post #1 of 4
9/9/11 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 

I'm trying to determine the best interface between my computer and an external DAC (looking at new Bifrost).  Trying to avoid going with a typical USB connection and would prefer S/PDIF.  Is there a sound quality difference between using the motherboard's optical port and going with something like the M2Tech hiFace or even the fancier hiFace Evo?  I understand the M2Tech is USB but for their price I though it might offer an advantage over using the motherboards onboard optical out.

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 4
9/9/11 at 4:24pm
There are a lot of USB devices out there now. I used an optical input to my dac (16 yrs old) and going to a outboard USB device sounds noticeably better.
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post #3 of 4
9/9/11 at 7:28pm
I would just stick with the onboard optical/coax, that's what I have been using for years without any sound quality issues (As long as Bifrost has at least some kind of jitter correction, optical is going to sound identical to the ridiculously expensive USB interfaces).
Edited by ttol - 9/9/11 at 7:30pm
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post #4 of 4
9/9/11 at 7:41pm

I got a Hi Face when they first came out .  It sounds very good.  But there have been glitches along the way with the drivers.  Nothing that cannot be worked out, but it has caused the occasional PITA.   At home, where size is not so critical, I am now using the V-Link.  It sounds every bit as good (no pun intended) as the Hi Face with driver-less plug and play ease.   Not expensive, either.  Do a search and you will find reviews -- in particular check out John Atkinson's comparison of the V-Link and Halide Bridge in April, 2011 "Stereophile". 

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