DDC or Better Streamer?

@mdalton The LAIV uDDC does not have an optical input but the Hermes does.  I have 3 systems with Bluesound Streamers and Oppos in them, and none of the Bluesounds have USB outputs.  Therefore, I require SPDIF and Toslink inputs in a DDC to get the most bang for the buck.  Another reason why I'm considering the DDC over new Streamer is that I can move it around to other systems when/if I decide to upgrade Streamer.

When I saw that the LAIV did not have optical input, I stopped comparing other features like clock, power supply, etc.  I bet that there are others here though that can tell us differences other than the $450 price.

This is just a suggestion.  Take a look at Pi 2 Design's Pi2AES or Mercury streamer/DDC's.  See review below.

https://goldensound.audio/2022/06/03/pi2design-mercury-streamer-server-measurements/

DDC or a new  streamer; different road end with different experiences. My node as been upgraded with the lhy psu kit and a external lps. I also have a Lhy sw6 switch, and to be honest, if I knew at the beginning that I would get more and more into listening, I’d have probably bought a better digital transport first, but I didn’t know at the time I would buy all separate. I still think the (upgraded node) is good to begin with. Now, with my Pontus 15th, some will say just buy a ddc and use the i2s. Others, go with better digital transport where no noise is better than trying to hide it with a ddc. 

Guess both solutions are good, it depends on how much we really want to improve our game and where is our end goal.  Guess, I’m not there and I’m looking at innuos, lumin and aurender. Let us know what you’ve finally end up buying ! 

This morning while trying to educate myself about streamers reading audiogon posts that you may or may not need a DDC if, your streamer of choice has a clock (or is it a reclocker?) I typed in google,

the benefits of streamer reclocking, audiogon.

And this forum popped up. 

A lot of us here on audiogon don’t have the budget that some of you have and members here sharing your post are invaluable.

I too will be going with the Laiv Harmony DAC versus the Laiv harmony µDAC not only for the all the reasons I gleaned from audiogon but specifically per @sns’s noted response of the Laiv Harmony DAC’s power options far outweigh switching wall warts and the fact that I have a 聖Hijiri Nagomi power cord I’m not using right now I suspect it will make an improvement on the DAC’s overall performance. Not to mention my LTA Microzotl MZ3 preamp only has unbalanced inputs and the Laiv Harmony DAC have both balanced and unbalanced inputs

I have another of that same power cord on my LTA Microzotl MZ3 preamp and the improvements were immediate, even while not fully being burned in. 

And using that same logic I probably will not be purchasing the Laiv harmony µDDC, but I will leave that option open as I DO like the fact that it has both I2s input and output. 

@audiostick, before I purchase a DDC, I’m going to wait and see the if Laiv NET2 will make it to market for sale. Laiv shows (teases) us with an almost done picture of a NET2 prototype. Also because of the amount of money Laiv spent on research and development, I’ll give them some time.

Yeah, they’re probably trying to get all the proverbial bugs out but I can’t help but wonder what type of clock it will have? And that give me pause to wait and see.

Thanks to all you guys (and gals) here on audiogon. We and I here at audiogon could not do this hifi/audio thing without you.

I should have written 'the Laiv Harmony DAC have both balanced and unbalanced outputs'.