Point 1) Wait, did I miss something? USB to I2S converter?? Why did you do that? You are supposed to be testing I2S vs USB? What you tested was a USB to I2s converter against USB. So, it can only be worse than USB, or at best, equal to considering you are already going through USB.
Point 2) I think that people are confusing the words "sounds better" as opposed to technically better. I agree with Paul's theory that removing unnecessary multiplexing from a signal should be better, but what he didn't articulate clearly was that you may introduce new problems with clock timing over distance (he mentioned it without explaining it technically). I respect Paul but he does have a vested interest in I2S in this case. As a technical purist, I see technical benefit in I2S, but I would never claim to be able to perceive it with my aging ears.
Point 3) I absolutely respect this site for its attempt to quantify what has been subjective, but by now we have gone beyond the ability to perceive these differences and are moving into obsessive purist ideals, and that is what the USB vs I2S debate is all about, which protocol gets the bits from A to B with the least errors.
Point 4) I would love for this test to be run again without a USB to I2s converter.
Point 2) I think that people are confusing the words "sounds better" as opposed to technically better. I agree with Paul's theory that removing unnecessary multiplexing from a signal should be better, but what he didn't articulate clearly was that you may introduce new problems with clock timing over distance (he mentioned it without explaining it technically). I respect Paul but he does have a vested interest in I2S in this case. As a technical purist, I see technical benefit in I2S, but I would never claim to be able to perceive it with my aging ears.
Point 3) I absolutely respect this site for its attempt to quantify what has been subjective, but by now we have gone beyond the ability to perceive these differences and are moving into obsessive purist ideals, and that is what the USB vs I2S debate is all about, which protocol gets the bits from A to B with the least errors.
Point 4) I would love for this test to be run again without a USB to I2s converter.