Apple Thunderbolt better for audio, guaranteed.

[Superdad]

Please confirm that this is the Belkin product you are referring to: Thunderbolt

 

Please tell us what devices you are simultaneously attaching to the Thunderbolt hub. Are you attaching to it both your Firewire>S/PDIF converter (Weiss INT202) and a USB hard drive for music storage? What DAC is the Weiss INT202 then connected to?

 

And with the Devialet's USB input from your computer, are you using the Belkin hub at the same time as having the Weiss INT202 attached? Sounds like you have two DACs.

 

Lastly, are any of the devices taking power from the Belkin hub? I think the Weiss INT202 has its own separate PS, but if you are also attaching a hard drive, where are you powering it from.

 

Most importantly, what model of Mac are you using? (Internal chipsets and buses differ between some.)

 

Thanks and regards,

 

ALEX C.

[Superdad]

I have iMac 21, 2013, Audirvana Plus, Weiss INT202, Devialet 170 with USB input (XMOS chip and more ..), Apogee DA16X Firewire, Apple Thunderbolt/Firewire Adapter, Belkin Thunderbolt Dock.

Weiss INT202 with external power supply and Devialet are simultaneously connected with Belkin TB dock, Devialet sounds via USB better than Weiss INT202 to Devialet via AES, when I connect Devialet directly with iMac via USB, Weiss INT202 via AES is clearly better.

 

Interesting, thank you. I am guessing that the Devialet's USB input may not have the very best isolation between the XMOS and further DAC stages. That is the most likely reason for the results that you report.

Still, it is good to know that such good results can be had with a Thunderbolt dock.