Ethernet vs. USB for Streaming

The Sonore SOtM (Soul Of the Music) sMS-100 is an excellent Network Music Streamer that connects via Ethernet and outputs Aysnchronous USB to your DAC. It supports Vortexbox/LMS SqueezeLite, Apple Airplay, DLNA, and MPD.

In the past those of us streaming digital source material to our music systems have used S/PDIF via Optical or Co-Ax (in fact many still do from CD Transports where resolution is only 16/44 – 16 bit 44 kHz). In more recent years there has been a move to USB as the preferred source for streaming into external DAC (Digital-analogue Converters) devices or Amplifiers and AV Receivers with built in DACs. This has been due to the rise of Asynchronous USB support – and improvements in computer O/S (operating Systems) serving the source data to the DAC. However one question now is whether Asynchronous USB is still the best, or whether network streaming across a (cabled) Ethernet network (or even a high reliability Wi-Fi one) is now the better option?

A Meeting With Devialet

NZ Devialet Conference, May 2014 - Day 2 Workshop

Devialet (pronounced Dá ve-a-lay or pretty close to that - they don't seem to be too concerned if you get it right or not) is a French company that is taking the Hi-Fi world by storm - their radical new technology and approach is without doubt the future of Hi-Fi appliances. Last weekend I was lucky enough to be involved in a Devialet Conference & Workshop held here in New Zealand with Andy Kennard, Devialet's General Manager for Asia-Pacific.