I tend to use every input it has. HDMI is very uncommon, I use an extractor when I have to take an HDMI signal.
Optical for TV and radio, SPDIF from DVD etc player, both currently into the Luxman D-05. Did use Chord Hugo that way, but simplified the system by using the Luxman for everything. If I ever need to use USB, then the Hugo will need to be plumbed in again, but I don't reckon I'll be doing that anytime soon.
Cd player (used as cd transport) -> Coaxial 75 Ohm Media player Mede8er -> TosLink Optical Media player Zidoo -> Coaxial 75 Ohm Laptop -> USB AB 2.0 TV -> TosLink Optical Dvd player Sony -> Coaxial 75 Ohm Mobile Phone & Tablets -> BlueTooth If I buy a separate cd transport, it will be -> AES/ABU
- USB to Coax converter (Resonessence Concero HD) from my Mac mini (Roon+Qobuz) to my DAC. I could use the optical out, but I'm 'afraid' of jitter. I could also connect my Mac mini directly via USB, but my McIntosh D150 DAC's USB interface is terrible (I have a lot of dropouts). - Coax from CD player - Optical from TV to DAC
Optical. Not that I have any belief that optical is the best type of connection. It’s the only output available from my TV.
I use optical, but only because my cd players don't have coax. I would prefer coax for jitter reasons.
TV-Optical SACD/CD/DVD-Coaxial & RCA I use the CD player internal DAC for SACDs or can be used for other CDs/DVDs Computer- USB to the WiFi transmitter - WiFi Receiver to DAC is Optical DAC is connected to the 2ch preamp with XLR Also my Marantz PMD580 is connected with XLR on the input side ADC for recording, Output is Optical to my DAC & XLR to the 2ch preamp to have two DAC options.
From my Bluesound streamer there were two options, optical or coaxial, I had both connected to my DAC and switched regularly. The difference was small but in the end we opted for the coaxial, it was a touch less..... digital sounding.
I believe very few devices in general have AES OUT connectors, unfortunately. Also, very few DACs have more than 2 AES IN connectors... and again unfortunately.
Top 3. Also, PC is connected to TV via HDMI so I can listen to the server/streaming that way as well.
I actually have my Cambridge CXN V2 (which has it's own internal DAC) connected to my stereo pre-amp via optical cable, unbalanced RCAs, and balanced XLRs, just to switch between the three inputs to see if I can notice much of a difference. Really can't.
For my streamer transport it’s USB because I do have DSD256 files. That’s the only reason why USB. For CDP just coax.
Mostly USB to a USB bridge that converts USB to coax, Toslink, etc. My CDPs connect via Toslink (optical).
Multiple sources: Ethernet, Digital Coax, Toslink (converted to Digital Coax on the way), and HDMI. Doug
I have two instances of Computer [USB, 192] > DAC > powered speakers (KAnto TUK, Kanto SYD) via analog. This subverts the speakers' own DSP, but I like how it sounds. I have another instance of Optical from iMac to powered speakers (Fluance Ai60), which does deploy the speakers' DAC/DSP. That works pretty well, too. Prior to all this, I just did optical—occasionally coax—to wherever.
