Optical vs. HiFace USB converter vs. FireWire on MacBook or Mini

[HiFiInsider]

Has anyone compared the sound quality of those three outputs? I've dines Firewire vs. Optical to Apogee DAC. Optical won in every test. I now wonder if the HiFace USB converter is any better than the built in optical out.

 

[20hertz]

I am going thru exactly the same process, and have asked a couple of question here http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/bbs.html it seems implementation is the key. I hope more info on the Legato comes out also. http://www.analogresearch-technology.net/LEGATO.html Possibly reclocking is the improvement whatever the input.

 

[ferenc]

I like HiFace much more than the optical output of the MacBook, running to Lavry DA10, Mytek, Altmann Attraction, Weiss DAC2 and now Naim DAC. I like Hiface more than using a TC Konnekt as Firewire - SPDIF converter too. However using Weiss DAC2 as a Firewire - SPDIF converter seems to me a bit better than the HiFace, using the same DACs. YMMV . I think it is not about the format but implementation. You can live with any of the different connection methods easily for the rest of your life, the difference is not night and day.