Digital Output of a Source

[housetech]

Does the quality of the source outputting a digital audio signal- a TV, any streaming stand-alone device, etc, (Toslink or Coax) signal going into the DAC matter?
I understand a CD/DVD player's transport can effect the digital signal but comparing streaming music only. The DAC does the all the work decoding, adjust timing, sample rate reading etc. but if we're using a high quality DAC, would we hear any difference using a different input device playing the same exact file?
(not asking about Toslink vs Coax)
Thx

[RichGuy]

With my HTPC there is definitely a quality difference in my music going digitally from my the PC to my stand alone DAC by using different and various methods between them.

I've used different sound cards, USB, COAX, TOSLINK and definitely have had my preferences between them. My favorite I have used is using my Matrix X-SPDIF 2 USB digital interface, connected to my PC by USB and then using its digital AES/EBU by XLR cable out to my DAC.

Before having my Matrix X-SPDIF 2 my favorite was digital COAX cable out from my ASUS Xonar Essence ST sound card.

Even using digital outputs I've noticed a lot of difference between different sound cards, COAX, TOSLINK, USB, etc.
Without the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 I have always preferred COAX over TOSLINK or USB, but the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 connects to my PC with USB.

Here's more on the Matrix X-SPDIF 2

www.matrix-digi.com/en/products/314.html

Anyway there are definitely sound quality differences by different digital connections.

[housetech]

Thanks for the reply RichGuy, what I'm trying to find out is- does different digital toslink sources make a difference going into the DAC.
Where am I going with the question?
Let's say I stream from a cheap smart TV toslink out to the DAC versus a high $ network streamer toslink out (bypassing it's dac) to the same DAC, is there a difference in sound? Let's ignore all the bells & whistles of an $1100 streamer, would it sound better than the cheap smart TV toslink out? I stream Amazon HD and my all FLAC server.

Most of us use our Pre/Pro as the control hub of our A/V system to control everything and the TV as a monitor, with audio options of Coax 192kHz & USB up to 32-bit/384kHz giving higher bitrates than toslink.
Today's smart TVs are being used as the control hub by many, though toslink limits bitrates to CD quality 48-96kHz but it's "good enough" for a secondary system.

I totally agree with you about quality DACs.  I'm very happy with the Burr-Brown DAC in the XMC and the ESS Sabre SE9010K2M DAC in the Cambridge and both have USB inputs to the DACs also. I haven't run the Linux HTPC into the Cambridge via usb yet to test, just network streaming.

[garbulky]

I use all the connections on my DAC except for the AES connection. I've also used multiple different coax and toslink sources too. Honestly, there was no real difference I could say I was hearing.
My PC uses BNC (and also used Coax digital in the past).
My firetv used optical. Then my newer firetv required an HDMI to optical extractor.
I used two blu ray players that did coax digital.
I have not tried a toslink direct from the TV though. I hate the idea of routing something as important as my audio through some afterthough feature on a tv. But it'll probably work fine. The only thing I would be concerned about is if there was some resampling going on or if the signal was bitperfect.

Probably the only variable digital source was USB. This was in the early days USB audio and on my XDA-1 the sound was just not as good. I'm sure things have improved remarkably but I find myself having no interest in testing it out when I have trouble free stable connection options.

[housetech]

Nov 6, 2021 8:49:34 GMT -5 garbulky said:

I use all the connections on my DAC except for the AES connection. I've also used multiple different coax and toslink sources too. Honestly, there was no real difference I could say I was hearing.
My PC uses BNC (and also used Coax digital in the past).
My firetv used optical. Then my newer firetv required an HDMI to optical extractor.
I used two blu ray players that did coax digital.
I have not tried a toslink direct from the TV though. I hate the idea of routing something as important as my audio through some afterthough feature on a tv. But it'll probably work fine. The only thing I would be concerned about is if there was some resampling going on or if the signal was bitperfect.

Probably the only variable digital source was USB. This was in the early days USB audio and on my XDA-1 the sound was just not as good. I'm sure things have improved remarkably but I find myself having no interest in testing it out when I have trouble free stable connection options.

Thank you garbulky
I had similar thoughts of resampling or if TVs send bitperfect data. The engineer @ PS Audio who does YT videos to questions was asked if a dedicated streamer was necessary today. His answer was "No, unless you want the other bells & whistles that they provide." He uses Mac Mini.
We streamed Amazon HD last night from a Vizio TV toslink to the new Cambridge CXA81 integrated amp and it sounded pretty good. It's a completely different system, so I can't compare it to XMC, XPA and/or Sony X800 bluray player, Roku and M.A. speakers.
What is enjoyable with the outside patio system is 'no wall reflections' to deal with. Hope the neighbors enjoy our music selections- no complaints so far. 

[RichGuy]

Nov 6, 2021 8:49:34 GMT -5 garbulky said:

I use all the connections on my DAC except for the AES connection. I've also used multiple different coax and toslink sources too. Honestly, there was no real difference I could say I was hearing.
My PC uses BNC (and also used Coax digital in the past).
My firetv used optical. Then my newer firetv required an HDMI to optical extractor.
I used two blu ray players that did coax digital.
I have not tried a toslink direct from the TV though. I hate the idea of routing something as important as my audio through some afterthough feature on a tv. But it'll probably work fine. The only thing I would be concerned about is if there was some resampling going on or if the signal was bitperfect.

Probably the only variable digital source was USB. This was in the early days USB audio and on my XDA-1 the sound was just not as good. I'm sure things have improved remarkably but I find myself having no interest in testing it out when I have trouble free stable connection options.

I'd disagree, testing and comparing the various digital outputs available on my components I have usually found differences and I usually preferred one over the other. In my early systems I often used digital Toslink when it was available. But when I really started comparing things I found most often I preferred the sound when connected by digital coax. I've also never preferred USB until using it with the Matrix X-SPDIF 2, it makes a nice difference.

I've also even noticed a big difference using digital coax out with different sound cards, something I didn't expect until I compared them in my HTPC and heard the differences. All digital does not sound the same, there can be differences because of the different components.

[housetech]

I preferred coax over optical, but liked AES/EBU best.
I only use toslink from CD players and TV to preamp, but coax ("true" 24-bit 192kHz) from BlueRay & Hi-Res.
Wasn't Toslink limited to 96mhz (now 192mhz)and 7.1 surround?