Newbie question re: USB quality

You're probably right, Cerrot, my "rig" may not be as revealing as yours. My system is still a virgin, doesn't keep a diary, and won't even consider its own Facebook account. I'm sure lots of other systems are much more revealing. My system chooses to remain private - it's very introverted, but I guess you just have to take the time to get to know it.

Alesis Masterlink into a good DAC is a nice alternative. I had one modified by TRL that worked nicely. Just wish the HD held more music.

Back in 2005 I had a recording gig where I recorded Jerome Harris for a live show. I used a computer based system running at 96/24 and a Masterlink running at 96/24. For the computer I ran a Grace Design converter and the Master link used the internal converters. I had a kludge spdif/firewire system set up for the computer system. The computer based system beat the Masterlink. I have used the Masterlink as a two track back up on occasions afterwards. I don't find its converters to be on part with other outboard gear.

Up until a year ago I always used firewire as an output from my computer, converted to spdif to my dac. This sounded best to me and when mixing large mult rack projects gave me the best idea of what I was doing. Async usb sounds very good to me, so much so I no longer go firewire spdif but just straight async usb. I also prefer async usb over a cdp. Howere, that wasn't true before async usb. Although my firewire spdif conversion bettered my cdp. Ymmv

Mapman, I don't see any reason why USB to S/Pdif converter couldn't do good job. Interface has nothing to do with it since it only delivers data and jitter does not apply (no timing yet). Converter buffers this data then outputs it in S/Pdif protocol creating timing from internal clock. It is only matter of quality of this clock/converter. Am I missing something?

Kijanki, it might work just fine if needed if one right,

Always preferable to avoid converting/adapting protocols up front in general I'd say, if possible, just in case it is not done well.

But sometimes you just do what you gotta do. Nothing inherently wrong with that.