I’d probably just grab an ifi then and see if that fixes it, if not then there are other options to try like grabbing a ddc to use coax in
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The ifi doesn’t necessarily need external power if my DAC is self powered, right?
No, but giving it its own power can be beneficial since it will replace the power coming from USB (which while it isn’t actually powering the dac, that power from the PC is still coming in, so adding a psu to the idefender will bypass the PC 5v and use the plug 5v. I’d try it on its own and see if that works, if not then try using a phone charger or something to power the ifi
I would want just data without power from my pc and use my linear power supply with the auxiliary power input on my dac
You could also try using an unpowered USB cable (basically a cable with no 5v line or those lines disconnected) to potentially solve your issue, but it’s hit or miss if the dac will actually work with one of those (for various reasons). Given your dac is self powered you shouldn’t need to use the psu on the ifi, but it’s just something you will have to try and see what happens. Even dacs with their own psu sometimes don’t take well to having no 5v coming in from usb (either because that’s just not what the dac expects and it makes it unable to communicate properly, or because sometimes the usb modules are powered separately from the rest of the dac so the usb input module might be powered by usb 5v and the rest of the dac powered by another psu, all depends on the dac at hand)
Hello,
which Dac do you actually have?
Is the Dac supplied with power via USB or a separate power supply unit?
I’m not quite sure, but I’d say that the USB port you have is connected to the power supply to provide power.
It’s possible that it’s not grounded with these USB ports that are often built into the front.
Try a USB port that comes from the mainboard that should be grounded as a rule.
And should actually remedy the problem.
The other cheap alternative would be to use a USB PC express card.
But you have to try it out to see if it will solve the problem.
The main advantage would be to reduce the load on the processor and shorten the signal path.
If it doesn’t help, you will have to use a galvanically isolated USB stick as @Mon said.
Do you actually have a 3 or 2 pin plug connected to the power supply of your PC or Dac ?
If you only have a 2-pole plug, that would probably be the reason why the PC or the Dac is not earthed and has ground noise.
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Ah yes if you haven’t tried other usb ports on the pc, try that and see if that solves the issue, sometimes it can help
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I’m using a SMSL Sanskrit 10 which can be powered by the PC USB or by an extra 5V USB.
hdmi to hdmi audio extractor to dac? no clue what sq you would get. others might know and be able to chime in. but the audio extractors are pretty cheap.
Those are terrible for sound quality. I think I’ll just get the ifi and use usb. Good usb to spdif Interfaces are more expensive than the ifi
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Hello,
I took a look at it and it does have 2 usb C ports.
And I think there was something about the history.
Try to power the Scankrit with the smartphone charger at usb aux and the other usb c port to the pc where the source material is located, then it should be gone.
And I think you have to switch off the 5 v in the settings of the port on the PC where it is plugged in.
Then I think the ground loop is gone.
You could also try the XMOS ddc @Pokrog did shill for awhile 
, that is if your DAC has a i2s or spidf input 
Just can remember the exact name of it
I think it was called the douk U2 Pro iirc
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Ahh our human audio gear library to the rescue 
XD
This is the cheapest USB isolator I found that supports UAC2 (480mbps): Nvarcher USB2.0 480mpbs high speed signal isolator DAC audio purification logic analysis virtual oscilloscope|Amplifier| - AliExpress
Most other cheap ones are 12mbps.
I have found a similar problem with my system setup. I have a Gustard X16/H16 desktop setup with my Willsenton R8 KT88 valve amp connected to the DAC and a pair of Triangle BR03`s. When using any headphones the setup is silent and when my PC is running a low load it is silent but when my son is playing something with a heavy load, like Escape from Tarkov, I hear the PC fan noise through my speakers and also other PC sounds like an old FAX noise.
I tried the Ifi option and sent it back as it had no effect on the problem. Neither did more expensive USB cables, or magnets for the cable, nor moving to another USB port.
I have reduced the problem, though not eliminated it, by using balanced XLR connectors from DAC to Amp then using the Preamp out of the H16 to my R8 amps Preamp In.
I believe the noise comes from bad or no shielding on the motherboard. I have an MSI Mag X570 Tomahawk.
I would be most interested to know how to completely eliminate this.
in my case I could hear a noise when moving my mouse and sometimes other random noises (different amp/dac/headphone combinations would either not pick it up or make it unbearable) currently I am running the Topping usb filter which I haven’t tried with everything but has helped way more than the ifi usb filter
another thing that also worked for me was adding a soundcard with a toslink out and feeding that to my dac
a usb reclocker should also help as long as you are using toslink (mine also has a i2s out but can’t test)
Hello,
Try a simple Pcie Express usb card that seems somewhat reasonable.
This not only reduces the load on the PC’s processor, but also shortens the signal paths.
In addition, the card should theoretically be earthed to the PC housing when it is inserted in the PC Express slot and screwed tightly, so that the problems are eliminated.
I would try it this way.
Otherwise, the only thing that really helps is a Matrix Audio Element H card, which is a hell of a lot of money to spend just to reduce noise, even if it is good.
But that would be the last way I would go.
Before that you should try other things, replace the mains plug if it is old.
Connect the PC separately somewhere, check the socket for corroded contacts, avoid cables with metal plugs from the USB cable.
Keep the devices a little more apart.
Experience shows that it is a multitude of small things or just one rough thing that causes this.
If you live in the USA, I would try a Nema 5 cable plug, which is protected against polarity reversal and also has a protective contact, the Nema 1 plug does not have this.
And try it on every single device and see if it gets better, if it does, you have the solution.
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Hm sounds like you get massive noise from the USB port and i think your right with the assumption of bad motherboard shielding
The PCI card @Deleeh did mention could help or a external ddc like the Doku XMOS DDC could help eliminate your noise problems
What may also could help is something like a ifi USB defender / purifier not sure how it was called
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Thanks for the replies, I have tried the Ifi Defender but it made no difference at all so it went back.
My next move will be to get a PCIe Express card as mentioned by Deleeh. so hopefully that will work.
It is not a huge problem and comes up rarely but knowing that I don`t have a clean connection to my DAC when I have spent so much time putting together my system bothers the hell out of me. 
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