DDC Recomendations

I don’t think that’s true that the Hermes only works with the Terminator.  If you want to sync the ddc with an external master clock you can do that.  If you are saying that you want to sync the ddc with an internal clock on your DAC then you might be correct.

Are you sure? The clock inputs on the Hermes show 45.1548MHz  and 49.152Mhz and it says connects to the Terminator. I wanted to use it with a CD Transport. Sync the CD Transport, DDC and DAC. The CD Transport and DAC state 10MHz.

No I am not sure.  I recall a video from Alvin Chee at Vinshine where he discusses using an external master clock with the Hermes but he may have been talking only about the Denafrips master clock.

Laiv Harmony coming out with what you are looking for. Check Vinshine for pre-order info. 

I have Denafrips Gaia, also confused as to whether clock inputs work for any external clock. In any case I don't feel the need for any further clocking in my setup, sync/slaved to the fine OXCO clock in Gaia provides me with a wonderful analog/vinyl presentation, can't imagine a less digital presentation.

My experience lends me to believe it possible to overclock a streaming setup. At one point I added audiophile switch to my network, the whole presentation became too precise, far too delineated image outlines, YMMV.

I just got notification on the Laiv unit, could be a winner although it only has Femto clock vs Hermes OXCO.

Thanks for the heads up on the Laiv Harmony uDDC. That looks like exactly what I'm looking for.

The Laiv has a switch mode power supply.

I have spotted one downside. The external clock output only works with i2s and USB. Not coax which is what I really need it for. I emailed Denafrips about using an external clock with the Hermes.

@bulbous_blues 

I believe you're looking at the uDDC footnote under "External Master Clock Input" referring to *For USB and I²S inputs only.

That footnote is for sample rates, and is unrelated to the external clock input. See the * for sample rate...no * related to clock input:

High Sampling Rate Support

• PCM: Supports resolutions up to 768kHz*

• DSD: Handles formats up to DSD512*

External Master Clock Input

• Seamless integration with an external 10MHz master clock for precision synchronization.

*For USB and I²S inputs only.

ah okay. Great because this little baby would be exactly what I'm after.

For anyone who’s interested Denafrips confirmed with me that the clock inputs on the Hermes can only be used with 49 and 45 MHz clock inputs, basically only the Terminator dac.