USB is not dying at all. Like others have said it is getting better. That said, putting Ethernet right in the DAC can eliminate the Ethernet to USB converter that many of us are using (sonore, sotm, etc). I still see the initial stages of audio over IP being as problematic as USB though. As DAC manufactures implement IP with little understanding of how the protocol works, sort of like we saw with USB when it first came out.
Is USB audio dying?
It seems inevitable that USB audio will be replaced with TCP/IP network based audio, either WiFI or Ethernet NICs built into an endpoint/dac as a transport for the audio stream. I have a nice USB audio rig, DAC + USB NAA, but I cant help thinking that pure network based interfaces are a more elegant solution.
At the high end, Mytek has done this with the Manhattan and its network streaming card, as has BluSound with their BluOS products. Many other products are doing this in the more general consumer friendly space like Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer etc.
Are there any inherent advantages to handing off audio to the dac via USB?
At the high end, Mytek has done this with the Manhattan and its network streaming card, as has BluSound with their BluOS products. Many other products are doing this in the more general consumer friendly space like Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer etc.
Are there any inherent advantages to handing off audio to the dac via USB?