Spdif, USB or coax?

[theveterans]

Can S/PDIF support non-PCM audio?

If not, how high quality DoP can I send over S/PDIF? DoP64? DoP128?

As long as it's DoP and the resolution does not exceed 24-bit 192KHz, you should be fine. I believe DSD 128 over DoP is still supported as might be still below 24-bit 192KHz.

 

[Roen]

I think that's DoP64 at the most, since DoP64 uses twice the frequency rate as DSD64.

 

[Draknodd]

Correct DoP64 at the most. Btw USB is asynchronous streaming while S/PDIF is synchronous. In this case USB output should have (in theory) less jitter because the clock on your DAC should be way better than the one on your motherboard.

 

[Niouke]

My head hurts, how in hell a cable type would transport music with better quality in digital assuming the bitrates are equal? If USB deformed the information transmitted along the way USB keys we use to store files would be fully corrupted! It's the same woo that produced overprices HDMI gold plated cables!

 

[DamageInc77]

If running out of a PC, I would take async USB over SPDIF (sync) any day of the week. If still scared of jitter, get an Audioquest Jitterbug to put your mind at ease.

However, running out from a dedicated CD player, it would be the other way around. Then SPDIF would be preferable.

 

[jrflanne]

I am perfectly happy with USB. Mini>wyrd>gunginir multibit. Mac Pro>bifrost multibit in office. I did have a problem with USB one time. I was using a very cheap USB cable and was getting noise (think r2d2). Tossed cable and hooked up another. Problem solved.

 

[chef8489]

I Picked up a 6' optical and usb cable to try both. Will order the vali 2 next week.

 

[taxman2]

Definitely USB connection is best. Sure you need a good usb 3.0 card like JCat or similar, usb isolator like Intona or similar and use Kernel Streaming.

 

[chef8489]

Definitely USB connection is best. Sure you need a good usb 3.0 card like JCat or similar, usb isolator like Intona or similar and use Kernel Streaming.

Why would usb be the best if you needed all the extra crap when you get a better signal out of spdif without it?

 

[taxman2]

SPDIF is limited to DSD64.

 

[chef8489]

Dsd is overrated and for the most part the pc is decoding most dsd anyhow.

 

[taxman2]

For you maybe... I have a great collection of DSD128 and like to listen to it natively.

 

[chef8489]

Guarantee you could not hear the difference between identical setups where where one was decoded vial pc and transmitted via toslink and one transmitted via usb. But this is nto the place for this conversation so I will drop it. Thanks for your input.

I am using both usb and optical for my setup and switching between so it is a moot point.

 

[taxman2]

Sure I can. I use KS not asio or wasapi. You can't do that in spdif can you?

 

[triodesteve]

I Picked up a 6' optical and usb cable to try both. Will order the vali 2 next week.

This is the right answer. No one can predict what each will sound like in your system. Not even the designer/manufacturer. The beauty of a place like Blue Jean cables is you can try them all relatively cheaply.
Then go crazy and get a better cable of which format you prefer. Trust your ears. Its really that simple.

Have fun.