What is USB galvanized separator???

[Sonic Guild]

What the hell is USB galvanized separator? 

 

[Energy]

USB Audio contains both DATA and POWER.
 
1. Data

1. The data line contains bits of information (1's and 0's) that is sent to a DAC or DDC (Digital to Digital Converter) for processing. With good implementation, a receiving unit will most often times have an asynchronous board that gathers up data efficiently before being converted.

 
2. Power

1. The power line located in USB implementations are not very clean as they connect high noise between your computer and the DAC. Some cheaper level DAC's will actually use this noisy 5V output 5V from the computer to power up it's unit. As you progress towards better performing DAC's you'll start to notice that they have their own independent SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) or LPS (Linear Power Supply), but often times, the ground/computer noise still slips into your end unit. To prevent this there are units that come in between that offers full "galvanic isolation" from the computer, thus eliminating the noise that it emits. If you move into even higher DAC's, they have this implemented internally.

 

[jeffenle]

Old thread but hopefully being watched. I just bought an audio gd di24HE that will take my usb audio from Eversolo DMP A6 and feed my DAC. Is the DDC doing this type of isolation for me or do I still need a USB isolator or filter? Thanks

 

[Energy]

It’s up to you.

I believe a dedicated streamer feeding USB into a DDC (Audio-GD DI-24HE) will sound better than a streamer with built-in DAC.

That’s because the circuit is built to where it’s PSU has to supply sufficient power to the rest of the board which can have negative noise influences.

Usually people opt to get a network switch to galvanically isolate the streamer over Ethernet then use a DDC into the DAC preferably the I²S (HDMI) connection as it’s balanced and superior than the RJ45 (Ethernet connector). Either I²S method is best kept short where it’s cable should not be comprised of multiple wires for the same signal run as this can cause reflections within the cable which becomes jitter (loss of imaging and clarity).