[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.