[Byronb]

  Without.  Then if you change your mind later, you can send it in to Schiit and have them add the USB function.

This is so easy to do, that I would loath to recommend sending it in to have it done. Just order the part when you are ready and there are plenty of videos showing how to do it.

 

[Nada190]

Any benefits of usb over optical? Aside from optical cables looking cooler.

 

[Billheiser]

Any benefits of usb over optical? Aside from optical cables looking cooler.

No.

 

[Nada190]

Do all optical cables transmit 24/192?

 

[Billheiser]

Yes.

 

[Defiant00]

  Do all optical cables transmit 24/192?

 
Not all optical outputs support 24/192 though, for example, most Macs max out at 24/96 through optical.

 

[Nada190]

Anyone know if the creative zxr daughter board can output 24\192?

Also what about the tossing cable? Do they all transmit 24/192?

Thanks everyone!

 

[madwolfa]

It all depends on the output, really.

 

[Mark-sf]

  Do all optical cables transmit 24/192?

The answer is a definite NO for all cables. Typical plastic core cables are bandwidth limited to 5-6MHz which will only support 24/96 in stereo. To go to 192 you need in excess of 9MHz in bandwidth which is only available in glass or quartz fibre-based cables.  Looking at the math without even allowing for headroom to adjust for speed one finds 24 x 8 x 2 x 192KHz = 9.2MHz. 

 

[madwolfa]

I can't get 24/192 from my Realtek ALC898 with either cheap and longer plastic (POF) cable or very expensive and short Wire World Supernova glass optical cable. With either MF V-DAC II or Bifrost at the end. So I assume it's mostly an S/PDIF source limitation.

 

[Nada190]

Okay thanks Ill go with the USB bifrost then.

 

[madwolfa]

Okay thanks Ill go with the USB bifrost then.

 
I'd choose USB over optical any day. It's currently the most robust and jitter-proof way of connecting the consumer audio devices (if USB implementation is right, as in Bifrost).
 
I only use optical when I need to get rid of the ground loop hum (when my source and DAC/amplifier are connected to different power outlets).

 

[tehsprayer]

I just got a used Lyr and was wondering if there are any ways to get the volume knob to be smooth? It seems to be stiff when twisting it. Is there any way to do it without opening? The screws are stripped, spray some WD40?

 

[Tuco1965]

I'd contact Schiit to be honest.  I doubt anything other than replacing the control will fix it though.

 

[tehsprayer]

  I'd contact Schiit to be honest.  I doubt anything other than replacing the control will fix it though.

Sadly that's not possible, I'm the 3rd owner of it now.