I realize this is old hat but do any of you do that? I find that sticking an external hard drive (EHD) to my plain old PC (not a MAC anything) with its stock cable and then streaming this to the Bridge on my DS DAC wirelessly via an Xfinity router/Gateway just plain sounds clean, accurate and I think the best connection I’ve tried so far. Never did I2S because I don’t have that kind of machine. It’s also been a while since I dragged the laptop over to the DS DAC to try that either via USB.
But with all the file types that I’ve tried, it just sounds the tops. Clean is the word I keep coming to.
Just could be my tired old ears but this is my preferred connection. Second, and very close, is an SSD to my Oppo 105D to the DS DAC via coax.
If it’s making you happy then be happy. No one here or elsewhere can tell you it’s better or worse from a post. I use a server and I can tell if the manic is from an external hard drive but not playing over the bridge . Now that does not mean it’s bad as the bridge is very good froma server and not worse NIR better than USB . Both are better than the pwd though. Enjoy it
Joe, not quite sure I understand the pathway … “EHD to PC”; presume this is a USB HD and so connected via USB. “PC to Bridge via wireless”; the PS Audio Bridge is receiving the data wirelessly? Didn’t know it could do that. Did you mean PC to router is wireless? My PC has the capability to go wired or wireless. For some reason it defaults to the wireless connection, but that is prone to dropouts, so I shut it down. Now the PC only sends on wired connection. I didn’t notice any significant difference in sound between wired and wireless, but I’m mainly sending internet radio through the Bridge. And finally, “then Ethernet to the DS DAC”; since you mentioned the Bridge already not sure what you mean by this, I’m thinking the alternative I proposed for the Bridge connection, i.e., PC to router via wireless, then wired from router to Bridge/DS. By the way, the Bridge is an I2S connection. Having said all that, and repeating what Al said, if you like it, go for it!
pmotz said
Joe, not quite sure I understand the pathway ... "EHD to PC"; presume this is a USB HD and so connected via USB. "PC to Bridge via wireless"; the PS Audio Bridge is receiving the data wirelessly? Didn't know it could do that. Did you mean PC to router is wireless? My PC has the capability to go wired or wireless. For some reason it defaults to the wireless connection, but that is prone to dropouts, so I shut it down. Now the PC only sends on wired connection. I didn't notice any significant difference in sound between wired and wireless, but I'm mainly sending internet radio through the Bridge. And finally, "then Ethernet to the DS DAC"; since you mentioned the Bridge already not sure what you mean by this, I'm thinking the alternative I proposed for the Bridge connection, i.e., PC to router via wireless, then wired from router to Bridge/DS. By the way, the Bridge is an I2S connection. Having said all that, and repeating what Al said, if you like it, go for it!
Yes, the external hard drive is connected to my PC via USB. And yes, the files are transmitted wirelessly from the PC to an Xfinity Gateway (the router) and from there via Ethernet (Acoustic Revive Ethernet cable and Acoustic Revive LAN isolator) to the Bridge (original model) into the DS DAC.
Was just saying that although the DS DAC seems to be relatively indifferent (in terms of sound quality) to how you connect to it, I find the Router/Ethernet connection to work best in my system. The 105D via coax to the DS DAC is a close second especially when the 105D is fed by an SSD as opposed to external hard drive.
I continue to be impressed almost a year later with how good the DS DAC is in my limited experience.