I did compare the USB vs coaxial. As far as I understand the USB path is a shorter one and it bypasses the internal sound card. In my setup the USB sounds very lean, flat,uncoloured,undistorted,may be too sterile in some systems. The coaxial sound has more meat on the bone with more colours, punchier drums,more distortion.
I prefer the punchier,thicker presentation with rich,colourful sound even if it comes with higher distortion-at least to my ears
I guess the studio engineers prefer the USB sound which is the more accurate/flat of the two.
Hope this helps
AG
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