Dedicated USB Port v/s External USB Hub: For DAC a.k.a the Source

[Nocturnal310]

I have so many USB devices that i cant do without a USB hub.

although i have connected my iBasso D2 Boa DAC to a dedicated USB port on the laptop instead of using a external USB hub which extends the number of USB ports like this:

but my external 500 GB 3.5" Maxtor HDD (AC powered) is connected to a USB hub alongwith other devices...this HDD is my main source of music.

wanted to know..

if i connect my DAC to a similar kind of hub with other devices...will it affect the sound quality? ..will i hear more pops n clicks? will its performance suffer?


using foobar (ASIO4ALL)-> iBasso D2 Boa -> Edge Amp->HD600

 

[leokennis]

Audio-wise there shouldn't be a problem; digital=digital, so compared to a dedicated USB port, with a hub you either get the same signal or no signal at all.

There could however be a power problem; some USB devices will only run from a dedicated USB port, I guess bacause of certain power requirements.

 

[dantztiludrop]

Can't hurt to try....hook her all up & give it a listen. Then report back to us with your findings.

 

[obobskivich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturnal310 /img/forum/go_quote.gif if i connect my DAC to a similar kind of hub with other devices...will it affect the sound quality? ..will i hear more pops n clicks? will its performance suffer?

unless the DAC is powered by the USB port, so the hub PS can influence things, you should not have any interference from the hub

I wish people would stop assuming that if you have a USB D/A and a USB HD (don't even get me started on external HD's) the comptuer "doesn't exist" between the two, everything has to go to the primary computer (CPU if you prefer, no I don't mean your "entire laptop"), be computed, and kicked back out

so assuming the hub follows spec correctly, the D/A isn't powered via the hub, and other things (in other words "people did their stuff right", which is rare with crap accessories like USB hubs), there will be no difference

oh, and http://www.livemocha.com/ is only a click away

 

[slwiser]

A lot of out board USB devices regretfully do not work unless plugged into a main computer's USB instead of an external HUB and it does not matter if it was powered or not. I don't really know the reason for this but I have experienced this many times. Don't think a powered external HUB will solve all your issues with USB.

 

[obobskivich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif A lot of out board USB devices regretfully do not work unless plugged into a main computer's USB instead of an external HUB and it does not matter if it was powered or not. I don't really know the reason for this but I have experienced this many times. Don't think a powered external HUB will solve all your issues with USB.

this should never be true, each true USB connection (don't take this to mean "oh I have 8 ports on my computer, I have 8 connections" as this sometimes isn't true) are capable of 127 devices being connected, and the hubs merely give you more physical connectors

what devices are you having trouble with, in particular?

 

[slwiser]

Yea, I know the spec and the PR but reality comes up short sometimes and this is one of them.

Anything that I have had with a pcm270* converter chip has had issues. So I just don't even attempt it anymore. Maybe things have gotten better. Most products that I have had when having issues I have contacted the manufacturer and they all have said if you have connection problems please plug the device into a main board USB and do not use an external HUB.

 

[obobskivich]

see, I'm not a big believer in "things just refuse to work", theres always a reason

one thing that may be an issue is software (wouldn't surprise me), I take it you tried all of this from, Windows?

 

[slwiser]

Windows, yes...

Specifically the devices I have had issues with are my M-Audio USB Audiophile (self powered) and my HagUSB devices (USB powered). Both of which apparently demand to be plugged into the main computer USB HUB.

As I say I have not even attempted this in so long as to not be sure this is still an issue with other devices such as my Nuforce Icon Mobile or my Headamp Pico that I have gotten in resent months. Maybe I should take a little time with both of these to check them out.

 

[obobskivich]

if its free to test, and you have the time, why not? but if it works as it is, why bother with it?

I wouldn't be surprised if the M-Audio had issues going via a hub, probably bandwidth restrictions (no idea on the HagUSB device, although noting that its USB powered makes me wonder if the hub simply wasn't up to it), as the M-Audio will be sending data in and out (latency issues, potentially, and whatnot)

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif if its free to test, and you have the time, why not? but if it works as it is, why bother with it?

That has been my take on it as well..why bother since I now have them working and configured to work. Others might not have the same issues but I just wanted to highlight that this may be a problem since I experienced it.

 

[obobskivich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif That has been my take on it as well..why bother since I now have them working and configured to work. Others might not have the same issues but I just wanted to highlight that this may be a problem since I experienced it.

and in responding to you, I did think of latency/delay issues caused by the hub, and that does seem like a pretty logical point (unless someone can objectively prove me wrong here), that and powered hubs usually have awful PSUs (compared to the SMPS in your computer)

still, I'd leave well enough alone, if it works, why fight it?