DAC options to consider for Innuos streamer

What improvements/sound characteristics are you looking for, what’s your budget, and are you looking for new or used?

I had decided to purchase the Pulsar but fell into a good opportunity on a Sonore Signature Rendu SE Optical. Those two, along with Auralic’s ARIES G2.2, were at the top of my streamer list.

Like the Signature Rendu, the Pulsar only outputs USB. DAC choices are personal and there are quite a few good ones out there. The only way to know for sure is to listen, preferably in your own system. One consideration before you begin your journey is to consider adding a DDC to your system. As one example, the Singxer SU-6 is relatively inexpensive and will accept the USB input from your Pulsar, reportedly reduce jitter even further, and then give you a choice of outputs to your DAC, which include I2S, S/PDIF via rca or bnc, AES/EBU, and Toslink. Including a DDC in your system can relieve you of the concern for which input sounds best with your prospective DAC choices, and you will not be limited to only DACs with USB inputs.

I’m also in the market for a Pulsar to pair with my Denafrips Terminator Plus, which I also recommend highly. Just a clarification to Mitch’s comments, Innuos will have different output modules available for the Pulsar very soon. At least that is what I’ve been told by Innuos. I’m waiting on the I2s module to pair with my Terminator and understand that spdif modules will also be available. So if you need or prefer something besides a usb output from your new Pulsar, options are coming.  I’d also be careful adding a ddc to the Pulsar, which already comes with a reclocker built-in.  Based on what I’ve read a 2nd reclocker could cause a problem.

I have the Pulsar and run it USB into a Lampizator Atlantic TRP.  The Lampizator just takes a smidgen of the edge off the focal Sopra 3 berillium tweeter.  It is rich with the toped sparkle.

Playback Designs MPD-8.