DDC With I2S in and Out

@996turbo911 Your omitting the most important advantage of using a quality ddc which is the I2S clock and power supply to the clock, and don't forget optimization of whatever input chosen. I very much doubt any streamer with I2S output has an equivalent clock, power supply to that in a quality ddc. If one is going to all the bother of using I2S they should ensure it's implementation, meaning clock and power supply is superior to master clock in dac. In other words one should hear sound quality improvement using ddc clock vs dac internal clock, this means syncing to ddc clock. 

If you subscribe to specs as the final arbiter of sound quality get the SU6, if you subscribe to sound quality as the final arbiter get the Gaia. During my ownership of SU6, being somewhat unhappy with it's performance and quality I researched upgrades,modding power supply was commonly cited, Gaia doesn't need a thing. 

People just need to quit using computers as sources and get a good streamer WITH I2Z

@sns My Rockna Wavedream NET server does have I2S out which I feel outperforms the Gaia or any of the Singxer models I've owned. As it should for the price. I've got a friend who uses a more affordable Audiobyte Superhub with trickle down tech from Rockna, and I'd say that outperforms the Gaia as well. 

@ericrhodes1 I think they have their place depending on the situation. There are a lot of great music servers and streamers out there that don't have I2S outputs, but they do have really excellent USB outs. Then again many DACs don't have a very good USB input so a DDC is perfect for that. 

@996turbo911 I could simplify my setup via Pink Faun I2S PCIE card for my custom build atx server, thing is the Gaia in my present setup offers reference sound quality for a person who's long term reference for sound quality has always been mega expensive vinyl setups. 

By far the most important element of adding Gaia and/or quality I2S interface was elimination of the last vestiges to what I'd refer to as 'digital' sound. Timing anomalies have long been acknowledged as a contributor to 'digital' sound vs analog. Digititus has been a long occurring result, long listening sessions may bring about a slight irritation. Digital sound in general has made great strides in minimizing this over the years, and I know this from direct experience. With the Gaia I finally reached this plateau where my digital met my analog reference for sound quality.  I don't know if the Gaia or any ddc/I2S interface is the defacto reference, all I know is it delivers what I've long been seeking. At this point I have no plans or intentions of changing out a thing in my streaming setup.