DDC With I2S in and Out

@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.

What I’m trying to achieve--- I have two sources, one coax/spdif out, the other AES out, both into the Gaia/Aether combo, then I2S into the DAC. I have a new, third source with I2S out. Hence the need to juggle all these outputs into a single I2S input into the DAC.

At this point I’m considering running the new I2S device into a microDDC/SBooster LPS combo, and manually changing the DAC inputs depending on the source used.

I wonder if an HDMI switcher is available, so two HDMI connectors in, and switchable to which one is output. But uncertain if this might this affect sound quality.

At this point I’ve done more research and am pretty sure no device exists that has all the inputs I need (coax, AES, I2S).

I heard back from Denafrips support that they will relay my feedback to add an I2S input to the Gaia, for whatever that's worth.

At this point I’m considering running the new I2S device into a microDDC/SBooster LPS combo, ...

That was my original pitch, but since you had the Gaia, how can you be sure the Micro DDC will live up to the already high expectations?  Maybe it is a risk worth taking given all the hype there.

Doesn't the Laiv unit do exactly what you need as far as inputs? It can take your coaxial, AES, and I2S signals on the inputs side, and send out a single I2S to your DAC. Seems like it is worth a try and probably much better than any sort of switcher you might rig up. That seems like a good way to lose sound quality.