USB-S/PDIF Converter or USB DAC?

"-Isoncronous (isosyncronus?) data transfer.."

Isochronous means that the bandwidth and access is guaranteed. This helps eliminate underruns. Most USB controllers use this mode.

"-We also have the new DVD players with buffer systems to do the error correction,"

Errors are not the issue, jitter is.

"-then we get the external clocks like the BigBen or the DCS verona that enslave transport and DAC to the same clock, so no error from 2 clocks there, supposed to be great also!
Everyone claims to be the best..."

The Big Ben does a good job of asynchrnously reclocking the S/PDIF data stream and does reduce jitter. Only as good as the clock in the Big Ben though.

"What about a huge overbuilt transport like VRDS, CEC or Forsell..."

I've modded many of these to improve jitter, including CEC. Still much more jitter than a well-implemented USB or Wi-Fi interface, even with mods.

"I have yet to try the external clock and a USB DAC but I am getting less and less motivated by this findings..."

Again, it's in the implementation, the design. Computer audio has the potential to beat all transport-based systems.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer/modder

Thank you very much for your answers Steve and Hagtech!

Does the lower jitter correlate to better sound...I am dubious there...

How does the Squeezebox works? Is it bidirectonal? I know it has about 5 minutes of buffer, does that help with jitter? What are the jitter figures of the Squeezebox2?

I have compared the Squeezebox2 to a transport and it was not even close, yet the jitter is lower in the SB2... Again: Does lower jitter means better sound?

All the Best

Yes, the lower jitter equates to better sound.

Not sure about the SB jitter measurements. Most stock units have relatively high jitter IME.

Steve N.