Improve my sound

[RadioClash]

'F the Toslink, I'm focusing on a good coaxial cable. USB a complete waste of time for audio.

[scslite]

It depends on how USB is designed and implemented. Currently have my Rpi4b+ connected to a Chord Qutest via USB (Acoustic BBQ "Full Rack" cable) and it is sublime!

[pkfox]

'F the Toslink, I'm focusing on a good coaxial cable. USB a complete waste of time for audio.

I feed both my Chord Qutest and DAVE via USB and find it works flawlessly - it depends how it's implemented on the board.

[foxesden]

In my experience playing around with DACs is not the way to go. If you do properly level matched blind listening tests you will have to resort to tricks to hear the difference between any DAC that is not broken. So look at features, aesthetics and price. There is a lot of subjective guff on the internet, most of the reviewers are just expressing an opinion and are not performing any form of controlled listening test.

Essentially you need to get your speaker and room interaction right and room treatment and or digital room correction (DRC). DRC can be done for the cost of a cheapish measurement microphone and quite a lot of time. For me the results are worth it, got rid of bass boom and overall clarity has improved.

[Zombie]

In my experience playing around with DACs is not the way to go. If you do properly level matched blind listening tests you will have to resort to tricks to hear the difference between any DAC that is not broken. So look at features, aesthetics and price. There is a lot of subjective guff on the internet, most of the reviewers are just expressing an opinion and are not performing any form of controlled listening test.

Essentially you need to get your speaker and room interaction right and room treatment and or digital room correction (DRC). DRC can be done for the cost of a cheapish measurement microphone and quite a lot of time. For me the results are worth it, got rid of bass boom and overall clarity has improved.

Word!