To StanD- here are the words strait from the horses mouths at Schiit.
So, what the heck is this little thing? Well, it’s either the world’s most expensive and limited USB hub, or it’s the key to eliminating sticky USB audio problems. Simply put, it cleans up your USB connection, eliminating noise and glitches caused by crappy USB power or USB port power management.
The Cure for Noise and Glitches
Have you ever heard strange noise from your USB DAC? Or have you had it “drop out” after the computer goes to sleep? Or does your computer have trouble recognizing your DAC at all? It could be due to noisy USB power, or USB port power management (very common with Windows 8 and Mac Mavericks.)
I use an Imac to run my sound and to me I did hear more resolution and clarity as well as a narrowed soundfield which, to me, is an acceptable trade off.
As far as my preference to upgrade my power cables it works like this- I live in an apartment that the voltage and amps change alot and i want to protect my gear as much as possible so I run extra insulated power cables, power conditioner and voltage ups unit to manage the voltage. All of the above will improve the noise floor to near silent. even running a tube amp like the Lyr.
Now RCA cables and upgraded USB cables are a completely different animal. I highly recommend buying USB and RCA cables through monoprice.com. The cables are very inexpensive and high build quality. I choose to buy custom cables because Im after a certain tone quality and RCA cables will affect timbre and tone greatly.
On Last comment- I am a Berklee trained musician with relative pitch- my ears are very very sensitive. Most people cannot hear the changes I notice- its a blessing and a curse. Please continue to question everything in the audiophile world..There is ALOT!! of smoky mirror products and too many people have snake oil to sell you. It is very addicting to be an audiophile but the fundamental question we must ask is "how perfect does my sound system need to be."
Happy hunting
