Bob -
The question I was addressing was, "...to what device do you stream to get the best sound quality?" My short answer could have been, "a DAC". My reply had nothing to do with the best connector for signal transfer.
Regardless of the potentially irrelevant, non-music purposes that USB cables have served, it is worth noting how many audio devices are now equipped with USB ports. The article on USB/SPDIF converters at the link here is also worth reading: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/07/when-should-you-use-an-external-usb-spdif-converter/
As noted in the article and in my earlier response, these converters are not always essential with more recent implementations of USB mediated digital input. Where a bus-powered converter is used, the issue of power related noise is easily addressed by using a two headed USB cable with separate leg for a non-computer power source.
I was certainly not attempting to argue USB was the best method for signal transfer, though it does seem to work just fine for me. I only provided details of how I do it because, like you, I use a MAC product for streaming. If you are able to implement Cerrot's approach and enjoy a superior listening experience, wonderful. I am curious how easy it would be to upgrade the sound card on a Mac...might be a more attractive option on a Windows-based machine.
Hope whatever you do enhances your music listening.
The question I was addressing was, "...to what device do you stream to get the best sound quality?" My short answer could have been, "a DAC". My reply had nothing to do with the best connector for signal transfer.
Regardless of the potentially irrelevant, non-music purposes that USB cables have served, it is worth noting how many audio devices are now equipped with USB ports. The article on USB/SPDIF converters at the link here is also worth reading: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/07/when-should-you-use-an-external-usb-spdif-converter/
As noted in the article and in my earlier response, these converters are not always essential with more recent implementations of USB mediated digital input. Where a bus-powered converter is used, the issue of power related noise is easily addressed by using a two headed USB cable with separate leg for a non-computer power source.
I was certainly not attempting to argue USB was the best method for signal transfer, though it does seem to work just fine for me. I only provided details of how I do it because, like you, I use a MAC product for streaming. If you are able to implement Cerrot's approach and enjoy a superior listening experience, wonderful. I am curious how easy it would be to upgrade the sound card on a Mac...might be a more attractive option on a Windows-based machine.
Hope whatever you do enhances your music listening.