USB vs Optical input for external DAC

[RedTalon19]

I'm looking at getting a new external DAC and it has connectivity options of both optical and USB. I'm curious if one medium has advantages over the other, in terms of audio quality.

 

[B00nie]

I think the optical input gives a more lucid and bright sound as where the USB connection produces very general and universal datastreams of the identical data.

Optical cables break easily which may be a downside on them.

 

[guitarslingerchris]

I think the optical input gives a more lucid and bright sound as where the USB connection produces very general and universal datastreams of the identical data.

This is nonsense. Digital signals people, they're identical. That said there are usually some differences for other reasons such as using optical usually means you are on a separate power source from the PC which can help with grounding issues and EMI. They both can have jitter problems but they present in different ways and neither should be in any way big enough to be noticeable in most applications.

Optical cables break easily which may be a downside on them.

This is truth. If you're going to be moving stuff much you might consider buying a couple spare optical cables on the cheap or simply go with a USB implementation.

 

[B00nie]

Obviously I was joking on the descriptions of the 'identical datastreams'.

 

[spaceman]

Now? Usb is generally superior bc you don't use the onboard optical. Just a cleaner signal imo.