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Do I really Need a Digital to Digital Converter?

Over the last few years I have continued to upgrade my digital front end and currently use an Auralic G2 (with upgraded power supply) and a Musician Pegasus R2R DAC. Some of the (mostly Asian) DAC manufacturers also make digital to digital converters (like the Denefrips Iris and Hermes).

So my questions are, if what these DDCs do so important, why aren’t they built into into DACs or Streamers in the first place. Are they only incorporated in higher end digital gear but not gear at the level I am using?. What will adding one of these bring to the table or should I just upgrade my DAC or Streamer to get the same result? Do I really need another piece of gear and another set of cables to clutter up my rack?

Appreciate input from anyone who as direct experience with these DDCs in their audio journey.

128x128alvinnir2

Showing 2 responses by vthokie83

vthokie83
665 posts
 

alvinnir2,

You do not "need" a DDC, but if your DAC will accept I2S (which yours does) it can greatly improve your sound quality. Just make sure to use a nice HDMI cable (I use an Audioquest Vodka 48 8/10k $400 or an inexpensive Supra cables 2.1 HDMI cable $79)

The Iris will optically and galvanically clean the signal from your streamer, and then reclock it with a higher quality clock. You then use I2S HDMI to output to your DAC. I have a Bluesound Node 130 into a Denafrips Iris DDC then I2S into a Denafrips Pontus II DAC....adding the Iris DDC and I2S was not a subtle upgrade, it was a very noticeable upgrade in SQ.

vthokie83
665 posts
 

anzaanimalclinic,

I have often thought that at some point, the USB might be as good as I2S as I move through future upgrades. More expensive allows for higher quality throughout the chain. The Terminator Plus has an oven controlled (OCXO) crystal which is better yet than the temperature controlled (TCXO) crystal in the Iris....and the firmware update appears to improve the USB to a point where the DDC becomes redundant.

I look forward to that day, but until then I'll remain exceedingly happy with the Iris/Pontus combo

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