I'm connecting an Innuos Zen Mk3 streamer to a U18 and to a Gustard X-30 dac by i2s. It sounds great, but I haven't done any comparisons.
DDC Comparisons
anyone compared the Denfrips Iris 12th to the Gustard U18?
what else is out there in this price range?
I'm looking taking advantage of the better sound quality of I2S and sending my external clock signal to the DDC, which will then in turn send the clock signal to my DAC (Gustard X26 Pro) via HDMI
or maybe I should just upgrade my DAC.....
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@soix The Denfrips is over $100 cheaper, but the ease of Amazon returns might make it a good possibility.... |
Something to consider is the pin out on the I2s connection. Your Gustard dac should have a pin out that matches the U18. I’m using the shortest version of the cable linked below. It’s designed specifically for I2S. You want to use a short cable. You could probably find a pin configuration that works with a Denefrips, but I'd look into it if are planning to go that route.
https://wyred4sound.com/products/hdmi-pcocc-premium |
@sls883 thanks for the tip - |
If planning to use I2S for the long run make sure both dac and ddc have pin configuration ability. With this you can use ddc with any dac and vice versa. As for ddc, I have Denafrips Gaia, wanted highest quality clock, power supply to that clock and usb optimization on input. I tried intermediate steps with I2S in the past, compared to my already optimized usb I2S was not an upgrade, adding the Gaia tuned the tables. However, not everyone is going to hear the full potential of Gaia with present streaming setups, Gaia for mature/fully optimized streaming setups.
Singxer SU6 is a nice mid price ddc, may find used or stretch the budget a bit. |
I previously owned the Hermes and now the Singxer SU-6 (with a 9V LPS). The Hermes I had was glitchy and I couldn’t make it reliably work in my system. The Singxer does not audibly/significantly change the sound, either for the better or worse, but it has been operationally rock solid and it does allow me to use a variety of outputs. Also, its I2S output is adjustable for different pin configurations. The SU-6 is currently on the sidelines, and I am running USB direct from my streamer into my DAC, with a Singxer UIP-1 (with Channel Islands 7V LPS) in-line to clean the USB signal. As with the SU-6, I do not hear anything particularly different with the UIP-1 in the chain, but nothing worse either. It sounds good, at least as good and maybe a bit better than with S/PDIF out of the SU-6. |
Nice gear. I would look at adding the Phoenix USB board to the Zen if you have not already. With that DAC and master clock, I would stick with USB and let that gear do the clockwork.
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@tonycorvette1 DDC doesn't fit your situation, and you already have fine clocking. |