Newbie question re: USB quality

I find your choice of descriptive words interesting, "dinosaur". Hmmmm..............................

I find his alternative even more interesting :)

I think it's ironic that it's argued above that USB done right is awesome...in context of converting it back to S/PDIF :)

To the OP, yeah, two paths - one would be a USB-SPDIF converter from Mac to Oppo (loads of them around now). Another would be to double-down on improving the USB from the Mac with stuff like iFi iUSB, iFi iPurifier, a better USB cable.

It still comes down to what the Oppo seems to do better with. Try to do some comparisons across the different inputs to see if you can detect the baseline preferences it may have between optical, coax and USB.

It's ironic but not illogical.

SPDIF isn't the most reliable way of transmission and all we are doing is making the conversion from PC to SPDIF in the best possible way. Most PCs and internal sound cards are prone to noise/jitter and other issues. Using the USB merely takes that conversion and handles it outside the box.

Ok, I'll open my mind and consider all possibilities, including Cerrot's. Let me tell you what I currently have, please tell me if there's a better way for me to transfer data:

- My listening room is my office, a room about 12x12.

- My PC is connected via Belden USB cable directly to a Peachtree Grand Integrated X-1 integrated amp with built in ESS9018 DAC, which powers a pair of Wilson Benesch Arcs. It sounds pretty incredible, though I've not tried Cerrot's suggestion to connect the components using a piece of string - that does seem like an inexpensive solution, as long as my cat doesn't try to run away with the string ;-)

- The Peachtree has the onboard X-1 update, with the XMOS chip, 24/192 capability, asynch, galvanic isolation, for what that's worth.

- My PC is not ancient, 2012 purchase I think, and it has USB, Optical toslink, Firewire and HDMI outputs. It does not currently have a coaxial/spdif orange connector, hence the reason I currently connect via USB.

- I was told by Peachtree that I need not bother with the optical output since it was limited to 24/96.

I confess to not being as technically inclined as many of you, though I think I know enough to be skeptical of using string, but given the equipment I have should I be trying to find a way to install an SPDIF PCI card in my computer to allow that connection, or are their better connections available using Firewire (or HDMI through a converter box?), or am I not likely to be able to improve upon USB given the capabilities of the particular Peachtree that I have?

All joking aside, thanks in advance.