(19-Nov-2015, 21:43)Womaz Wrote: Is the choice of output really that critical.?
No. I think a while back Devialet were reported to say that the AES/EBU input is "qualitatively best", but these things are very marginal. If you consider that the Melco N1Z is in the option of some the very best source for a Devialet, and this uses USB, then there is not too much to be of concern regarding the USB input. Indeed, when you consider that our very own Guillaume has posted that the N1Z (USB) is maybe a fraction better than his own Totaldac D1 (AES/EBU), then there can't possibly be anything lacking in the USB input.