Usb or spdif connected to bda-2

[Ollie]

What is the general consensus within the audiophile circles using USB or spdif as the preferred connection method to the bda-2?

I thought USB was now better but Karl Schuster claims that spdif is still the way to go.
Quote
"However, in order to unlock the full potential of the BDA-2, one must feed it from a superior source. In every conceivable parameter, the BDA-2’s performance took an unequivocal leap forward when connected to the SPDIF output of the ESI Juli@ sound card in my desktop PC"
Unquote

Since the latest Mac mini has no spdif I can't test this, and I always thought the Mac was better dealing with sound over a windows pc. Now I am not to sure?

You can find the full article here.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...verter/?page=2

[Pider]

I thought the Mac Mini had s/pdif TOSLINK incorporated in its headphone out connection. Just get a cable from Apple.

[Ollie]

Thanks Pider, actually you are correct, I hadn't realized that the jack for the headphone was in fact also doubled as an optical output. I just need to get a mini toslink plug that connects to a standard toslink cable. I am still curious though, will it be better than a quality USB cable connected to the bda-2? Toslink cables are widely rumored to introduce jitter.

[James Tanner - Bryston]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Thanks Pider, actually you are correct, I hadn't realized that the jack for the headphone was in fact also doubled as an optical output. I just need to get a mini toslink plug that connects to a standard toslink cable. I am still curious though, will it be better than a quality USB cable connected to the bda-2? Toslink cables are widely rumored to introduce jitter.

HI

The advantage of the USB out is it bypasses the soundcard in the computer and the quality is then controlled by the Bryston DAC and can do 192/24 resolution.

The Optical out will use the generally much poorer soundcard in the computer and usually will be limited to 96/24 depending on the built in soundcard.

james

[Ollie]

Great, thanks James for clearing this out.