What is the best digital source

[wildfall]

The way air works is great, but how about the sound? with USB connection, is it better and more stable?
I saw the poll lot of guys are having white noise problem, I guess with USB connection it should work perfectly?

[samurai7595]

I voted "Music server via SPDIF or AES/EBU" but that's because I run my Bryston BDP-2 digital player via the AES/EBU input which (to my ears) sounds better than the SPDIF input or Analog Phono.  BTW, it's also what Bryston recommends for their digital player.

However, I'm sure that if I were to upgrade to the Aurender X100L music server, I would have voted "Music server via USB".

[Music or sound]

My new SDTrans384 is now by far my best source but I can not change my initial vote to other! Still my CD transports beats any computer implementation.

[paul.oorbeek]

What are the opinions now regarding wifi/usb/eth in SQ?

Sent from my COL-L29 using Tapatalk

[Music or sound]

I have now given up my CD transport as I ripped all my CDs with my Innuos Zenith II which sounds much better via USB. Still my SDTrans 384 is by a small margin better sounding but it is so difficult to use that it is presently not connected.
I find that Qobuz streaming is sounding as good as ripped CDs (or even better if Hires). I think that is a big change as owning music media in physical disks or digitally is not anymore necessary to get the best sound (as long one has a good internet service)!

[Finn]

I rip all my cd too innuios zen mrk 3 , connect too devialet ,via USB and it Sound very good , use app to control innuos , very easy and for me perfect.

[Bruno]

Between the three sources I’ve been able to compare ie 1- roon macbook and synology nas via usb, 2- naim Hdx via optical toslink and 3- Rega Apollo via spdif, Rega is a winner, then Hdx quite close. roon/Macbook was so disappointing that I didn’t renew my subscription. I have to admit though that I didn’t take the time to try some tweaking with the roon setup so my opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt. Actually the Hdx is more convenient than any other solutions but I have no clue how to improve the system.

[anan]

Another innuos fan. As a source it sounds better than my original mac mini source, particularly with respect ripped CDs. I use ethernet more than the USB connection. They sound about the same to my ears. Waiting for the innuos upgraded USB clock add-on to come out, and I might be a USB convert.

[audio_engr]

My best digital source is my Roon Nucleus, powered using a Linear Power Supply (my own DIY using Choke filtration) & AudioQuest Z3 powercord. The Roon Nucleus is connected to my 440-Pro using AudioQuest Diamond Ethernet in a completely isolated IP address away from the DHCP that the Nucleus streams using my Router. It is Roon RAAT connection. This was possible with the kind help from @David A .

My next best source would be my CEC TL-0X CD Transport with AudioQuest Z3 powercord hooked to my 440-Pro using AudioQuest Diamond AES/EBU XLR. 

The Nucleus source wins over my CD Transport with lower noise levels. My CEC TL-0X CD Transport, Roon Nucleus & its LPSU are on IsoAcoustics OREA Bronze footers.

[monitor]

Yet another Innous fan with my music ripped on a Zenith Mk3. I was using USB but have now gone over to Ethernet since Roon came to my 440. It is a direct connection using AQ Diamond Ethernet with Roon RAAT. USB is now used to feed a dedicated headphone amplifier.