Question about USB vs. TOS link

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by obobskivich /img/forum/go_quote.gif the Firestone Spitfire is an external D/A which accepts S/PDIF coaxial or TOS input I really have to ask, why are you making this so bleeding difficult for everyone else?

Is the S/PDIF coaxial or TOS a big factor in purchasing this particular DAC? I'm not going to use either, I'm going to hook up the DAC directly to my NHT PVC (Passive Volume Control) for the PC using standard 3.5mm inputs, but I just realized that the spitfire has no USB and I haven't the slightest idea what this whole S/PDIF to USB thing is.

What I want to know is if I'm buying a DAC to use on my computer, should I stick with the Fubar II because of the dedicated USB input or go for the Spitfire and hook it up through the TOS (or whatever that S/PDIF to USB thing is)?

Thanks,

I won't bump month old threads

god knows people here will start to convulse and the sky will fall down.

yes, I'm a newb and may or may not know what I'm talking about it (siding on the "may not" here)

 

[krmathis]

Short answer is that the input interface does not matter, as long as it have the interface you need to hook it up to the transport. Be it USB, optical S/PDIF or coaxial S/PDIF.

 

[roker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Short answer is that the input interface does not matter, as long as it have the interface you need to hook it up to the transport. Be it USB, optical S/PDIF or coaxial S/PDIF.

thank you,

I'm going with TOS then, since I don't feel like occupying another USB port

 

[FallenAngel]

Hope your computer outputs good quality S/PDIF. Personally, I always recommend coax over optical.

 

[.Sup]

How do I know if my cable is 75ohm and why and how is 75ohm better then the rest? It says "high performance audio cable" on it but no other info. Many questions I know

 

[obobskivich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup /img/forum/go_quote.gif How do I know if my cable is 75ohm and why and how is 75ohm better then the rest? It says "high performance audio cable" on it but no other info. Many questions I know

they're (generally) all 75 ohm, and it needs to be 75 ohm, specs exist for a reason


as far as S/PDIF vs USB, S/PDIF is the digital audio standard, TOSlink is a connection protocol for it (same as coaxial S/PDIF), USB is a data bus for PC's, some PC's have S/PDIF via add-in cards, or "on-board" (as in: on the mainboard) controllers, some don't, and users choose to add this functionality via USB (hence USB -> S/PDIF)

and the next time you're gonna quote someone out of context, I'd prefer it not be me

 

[krmathis]

You're most welcome!
Optical S/PDIF (Toslink) is fine. I use it all the time and have not run into any issues