do linux or mac play music better than windows?

[voodooless]

In conclusion, USB is very easy to use but needs to be avoided for high quality audio transport.

No, the conclusion should be, not to buy cheap, poorly engineered crap.

Wanna hear about AC1220? Here:

Incredibly bad ALC1220-VB Headphone out Noise and Distortion

I just learned the headphone source I used most for a year is so noisy and distorted. It's hard to believe based on reviews of similar motherboards and or even previous and more inferior on-board DAC/amps. This is the front headphone-out from a realtek ALC1220-VB from Gigabyte X570s aorus...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Or

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/alc1220-sound-issue.281239/

There is plenty more to be found. It can be just a noisy and crap if not well integrated.

98% or so of all the hundreds of USB DACs that @amirm tested had zero issues with noise noise or dropouts.

 

[somebodyelse]

@valerianf You've identified a couple of issues that can occur if USB audio is poorly implemented, then jump to the erroneous conclusion that USB has to be avoided for high quality audio. That logic would rule out every interface, because they've all been implemented poorly by someone.

Edit: Instead of looking at the worst implementation of each, look at the best. Performance is similar so long as not pushing bandwidth limitations.

 

[Audiofire]

In conclusion, USB is very easy to use but needs to be avoided for high quality audio transport.
Better use analog signals, SPDIF (optical/coax) or HDMI when available.

You would benefit from reconsidering the conclusion.

SPDIF has limited sample rate. HDMI used for video. USB used for audio for lack of a good alternative, and USB issues can be mitigated down to bit perfect accuracy.

 

[valerianf]

"HDMI used for video"
That is the point: HDMI is able to transfer 24 bits/96 khz which is sufficient for high quality music listening.
And SPDIF is far sufficient for computer listening: games, podcast, music video.

 

[voodooless]

"HDMI used for video"
That is the point: HDMI is able to transfer 24 bits/96 khz which is sufficient for high quality music listening.
And SPDIF is far sufficient for computer listening: games, podcast, music video.

By that logic, USB should also be fine…