Laptop/battery/USB/toslink/jitter

[atomheart]

Hey neighbo(u)rs-

 

Here are jitter measurements from three reviews that can provide a little insight into how a battery-powered source (i.e., laptop) can help fight the war on jitter...

 

Scroll down to the jitter measurements of each page.

 

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/cambridge_audio_azur_dacmagic_da_converter/index3.html

 

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/wavelength_cosecant_v3_usb_digitalanalog_converter/index5.html

 

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/ayre_acoustics_qb-9_usb_dac/index6.html

 

Switch-mode power supplies, typical of most for laptops, are the worst culprit; but even 120 hz (and/or other 60 hz multiples) can creep into jitter as well using non-SMPSs, unless carefully designed.

 

I use these...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103979

...when having to listen to the laptop in non-battery-powered mode.

 

Chris