[BobM]

At the Audioquest presentation at the NYC show a month or so ago I thought I heard them say that using the "proper" USB port to connect your DAC can make a difference in the playback performance?

Does it really matter which USB port on the computer is used? If so, then which one is best and how do I identify it?

[randytsuch]

If so, then which one is best and how do I identify it?

The one that sounds best 

Sorry about that.

Seriously, I bought a Silverstone PCIE to USB card, and even stock I think it sounded better than the USB ports from my motherboard.

I modded the card, and it sounds even better now.

Paul Pang and Sonore both make PCIE to USB cards that are supposed to sound good.  Given my experience I don't doubt they sound better than a motherboard USB port.

Randy

[Charles Xavier]

Bob

 Google the well-tempered computer

[ttan98]

At the Audioquest presentation at the NYC show a month or so ago I thought I heard them say that using the "proper" USB port to connect your DAC can make a difference in the playback performance?

Does it really matter which USB port on the computer is used? If so, then which one is best and how do I identify it?

Some audiophile believe that the weak link is the USB port hence a lot of development work has gone into developing an adapter to interface USB port with either a SPDIF(*) or I2S output interface. This adapter has very low jitter clock hence better audio output. This kind of adapter is not expensive, you can either buy it from Ebay or specialist shops. There are 2 types of adapters:

1. Based on XMOS chipset USB interface and SPDIF/I2S output about $50-110 of Ebay depending the quality of crystal used.
2. Based on CM6631A chipset also with same interfaces as above about $60-80.

I owned both of these adapters the XMOS is the current fad and marginally better than CM6631A

* output goes to an external DAC you may already owned and liked. Some current DACs have this XMOS built-in, if you are looking for new DAC look for one with XMOS chipset. 

[BobM]

Bob

 Google the well-tempered computer

Thanks, I think I found my answer there. For others who may be interested (these are Win 7 instructions) ...

- plug your USB DAC into a USB port
- open Device Manager
- view Devices by Connection
- expand all USB controllers
- find your DAC and if it is on a USB port that is not shared with anything else (like Bluetooth, or your mouse controller or printer) then you are OK, otherwise move it to a different port and try again

[randytsuch]

Some audiophile believe that the weak link is the USB port hence a lot of development work has gone into developing an adapter to interface USB port with either a SPDIF(*) or I2S output interface. This adapter has very low jitter clock hence better audio output. This kind of adapter is not expensive, you can either buy it from Ebay or specialist shops. There are 2 types of adapters:

1. Based on XMOS chipset USB interface and SPDIF/I2S output about $50-110 of Ebay depending the quality of crystal used.
2. Based on CM6631A chipset also with same interfaces as above about $60-80.

I owned both of these adapters the XMOS is the current fad and marginally better than CM6631A

* output goes to an external DAC you may already owned and liked. Some current DACs have this XMOS built-in, if you are looking for new DAC look for one with XMOS chipset.

There is also the Amanero which had been available at a group buy at diyaudio but I think the groupbuy price ended.

I never compared the Amanero to the Xmos, but it is considered better by some, I've read the the xmos has some compromises  in it's design.

[firedog]

In regards to original question: It can. Some people find that different USB ports sound different. The apparent reason is that some ports get more electrical/noise interference.

[Don_S]

Bob,  Thanks for the info.  I use Win 7.

Thanks, I think I found my answer there. For others who may be interested (these are Win 7 instructions) ...

- plug your USB DAC into a USB port
- open Device Manager
- view Devices by Connection
- expand all USB controllers
- find your DAC and if it is on a USB port that is not shared with anything else (like Bluetooth, or your mouse controller or printer) then you are OK, otherwise move it to a different port and try again

[ttan98]

There is also the Amanero which had been available at a group buy at diyaudio but I think the groupbuy price ended.

I never compared the Amanero to the Xmos, but it is considered better by some, I've read the the xmos has some compromises  in it's design.

Looks like the Amanero is the latest Adapter I haven't tried, hopefully in the near future. Have you?

[*Scotty*]

Here is the Amanero board.
http://amanero.com/
Scotty

[randytsuch]

Looks like the Amanero is the latest Adapter I haven't tried, hopefully in the near future. Have you?

Yes, it is the ONLY adapter I've tried so far.

I have version 1 of this dac, and he compared a few of these, including the xmos and amanero
http://www.audiodesignguide.com/DAC32/

Although this one is more expensive, I was looking at it before, looks to have nice features
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=127689.0