[Turnandcough]

My current setup is a SB Touch/EE DAC connected to a PC using a 30ft cat6 cable.
After reading a lot of positive feedback I'm tempted to give the PC/JPlay/USB/Audiophilio/EE DAC configuration a try.
Is there any way I can connect the PC and DAC, which are currently in separate rooms 30ft apart, via USB without compromising the end result?
For now a PC, even a laptop, in the living room is out of the question.
Thank you

[srb]

USB 1.1 Full Speed and USB 2.0 Hi Speed both have a cable length spec of 5M (~16.5 ft.).  That doesn't mean it won't work if it's over that, but at nearly twice the recommended length, there would likely be data and/or timing errors.
 
Some solutions might be
 
1. Use a powered USB hub in between two 15 ft. USB cables
2. Use a 30 ft. active powered USB cable
3. Because you are talking about using the Audiophilleo USB to S/PDIF adapter, you could locate the adapter at the PC and use a 30 ft. coaxial S/PDIF cable (which is within the S/PDIF spec) to the DAC (even though the Audiophilleo is often intended to connect directly to the DAC)
 
Steve

[Turnandcough]

Thanks for your response Steve.

I hadn't thought of option 3 but unless I use a really cheap cable it would probably be cost prohibitive.

Can using a powered hub or powered cable introduce any noise in the signal?
I don't know how good it is but this one is affordable.
http://ca.startech.com/Cables/USB-2.0/Powered/30-feet-Active-USB-2-A-to-B%20-able-Male-to-Male~USB2HAB30AC

[django11]

I use about 20 feet of Usb cable.  I actually had to plug two together.  I didn't know it could cause issues.  I can't say if the sound would be better with a shorter cable as the test would be quite a hassle and I am happy with the setup.  USB cables are fairly cheap, you could always try it...

[mhconley]

I use a 1/2m USB cable, a Musiland Monitor 01 USD USB->S/PDIF converter and a 50' RG6 S/PDIF cable to feed my Citypulse 7.2xII DAC.  Sometimes I use a laptop and a 15' S/PDIF.  I eventually plan to build a C.A.P.S. 2.0 music server eliminating USB and the converter entirely.  The sound, even using the 50' S/PDIF cable is fantastic.

Martin

[wilsynet]

I'd use a generic 16 ft USB cable and a 16 ft SPDIF cable from Blue Jeans.  I bet that'd be better than a powered intermediary USB solution.

[Turnandcough]

The Audiophilleo is not cheap considering that I'll probably want to get the battery PS module.
Fortunately a terminated 16ft BJC is only $25 and a 30ft one is only $35.

[One and a half]

USB Class 2.0 at 192/24 rates is pretty quick to push through data for audio. There's a practical limit of 2-3m, above that and you really start to round off edges. Audiophilleo state you can use a lot of 5m cables strung together, but I don't follow that and have a 1m cable between Mac and A2.

for 30' you can use USB extenders that can either use CAT5/6 cables or FO. Make sure they are capable of accepting devices for High Speed USB (480MB/s).

See also http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/USB-Extender-Solves-Cable-Length-Limitation

[art]

The reason is the transit time is limited, so that any reflections will die down, before the next packet. I believe the magic number is 26 nSec, for the "slow" speed one. (Up to 96 kHz.)

And there are reflections!

BTW........not all cables exhibit the same transit time.