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RE: Me too: I use both

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In Reply to: RE: Me too: I use both posted by AbeCollins on January 12, 2020 at 14:21:00

Dave, my question about connecting USB from the Mini directly to the Ayre Codex was triggered by my previous experience with connecting USB from the iMac to the Ayre DX-5 DSD. That connection seemed to provide excellent sound quality. My overall goal for the two setups would be to sell the QX-5 Twenty and use the DX-5 DSD in my primary setup and to replace the Codex and Ayre C-5xeMP in my secondary setup with a second DX-5 DSD, for a net saving around $4K based on Audiogon's Bluebook numbers.

Abe, I generalized from my favorable experience with USB from the iMac to the DX-5 DSD to assume I might get similar sound with USB from the Mini to a second DX-5 DSD. Obviously the Ethernet connection results in something like USB, an external attachment for the microRendu to the Codex, and an internal process for the QX-5 that takes Ethernet in and outputs analog. But is Ethernet necessary? Reading the Ayre literature suggests they envisioned computer audio as the wave of the future, so paid great attention to the USB port of the DX-5 DSD.

Follow Ups:

RE: Me too: I use both - AbeCollins 10:32:20 01/13/20 (1)
IMHO there is not a huge 'sonic' difference between well implemented USB, SPDIF, or whether Ethernet is introduced. So in my view, one uses what works best for the situation at hand.
For example, I would not run 100-feet of USB cable but running 100-feet of Ethernet is perfectly fine on an Ethernet network. And if there's no need for lengthy Ethernet there's nothing wrong with a couple feet of USB or SPDIF.
So no, Ethernet is not necessary. As an example, if your setup consists of one 'music server' and one DAC in a common one room setup, I see no need for Ethernet. Just use USB or SPDIF (or TOSLINK or I2S over HDMI or AES/EBU or Thunderbolt, or legacy Firewire).
Now if you want to split audiophile pubic hairs over 1ps of jitter vs 10ps and 1uV of noise vs 10uV of noise with Ethernet galvanic or optical isolation vs USB or SPDIF, go right ahead! You can go that route but I personally approach systems with a more practical approach first - then split hairs later if you find it intriguing.
Since MY music resides on a NAS, Ethernet is the standard method of connection into a NAS. Since my commercial microRendu 'streamer' has a USB output, I use USB between it an my DAC. Since my Raspberry Pi 'streamers' have SPDIF outputs, I use SPDIF to my DAC. But both of these get their music data over Ethernet so I obviously need Ethernet as well.

Edits: 01/13/20
- RE: Me too: I use both - dbphd 18:44:08 01/13/20 (0)
  Rereading the reviews of the QX-5 Twenty answered my original question. I'll continue to use the Ethernet input, and forget about selling my QX-5 Twenty.

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