Are all asynchronous USB inputs similar?

Certainly listening is the best way. I offer 30-day money-back, less shipping, so the risk is minimal.

I was just commenting that one vendors review is not as good as many customer unbiased posts.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

They both have trial periods. But given the complexity and the pretty different approaches not sure comparisons are that easy. One is a computer and one uses a computer you have.

The issue is which pathway offers the best sound quality. Baetis eschews
USB in favor of dedicated high quality SPDIF connection vs Steve's high
grade USB products approach. Someone with a computer and Empirical
Audio USB parts compared to Baetis with SPDIF using the same music
source.
Charles,

I welcome such a comparison. I have not lost in a fair shootout yet.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

From my research I am not convinced taking the SPDIF output from the motherboard is the best approach, and I was never convinced USB was either, although I have used it extensively in the last 6 month because of the convenience. Not that guys like Nugent and Rankin do not know what they are doing, they do in my opinion.

From my perspective I would fundamentally agree with Cerrot that a well designed sound card should provide the best option, but I do not really feel there are any worthy of trying, not even the Lynx which I have heard extensively. Forget Juli@ as well, although it is reasonably priced versus others I have seen.

Overall, the best I have heard in my system is where the digital output of the transport is slaved to the DAC. Right now I just started running Ethernet into my Resolution Audio Cantata and have to say I am quite impressed. Wonder why more people do not do this. If I was going to use a SPDIF interface I would be more inclined to try the Sonore Audio Ethernet to SPDIF converter than the Baetis in my system at this point.