i2S clock question
So, I’ve recently added a Denafrips Iris DDC to be able to feed my Musician Pegasus R2R DAC via its i2S input via its HDMI i2S input, and compared to feeding it directly from an SPDIF or USB input the positive results are significant and very apparent. While I’m aware of the separate internal paths of the i2S connection versus other connections and despite many searches, I can’t find a definitive answer as to how the clocking works in the end. I know the Iris re-clocks the data and sends it via a separate line within the HDMI connection to my DAC, but I can’t find a clear answer as to how the re-clocking of the DDC works in conjunction with my DAC. Does the re-clocking of the DDC override the re-clocking of my DAC with an i2S connection, or does it just feed my DAC a cleaner signal that allows my DAC to work better and more efficiently given its own re-clocking abilities? Am I subject to the re-clocking of my DDC alone or is it a combo of my DAC and the DDC working together with an i2S connection? Thanks for any thoughts and experience!
@soix The Iris re-clocks the signal it receives from your source, reducing jitter and converting the source signal to I2s, AES, Coax etc. It does not slave your DAC. The Iris can also be connected to a Terra or Aether clock to further reduce jitter. However connecting a clock IME to your source would bring the greater benefit. I forget your source component. |
@soix Before you connected the Iris your DAC’s USB input and card most likely took over processing duties from your Zen. However that is not possible with the Iris connected. As i said earlier the Iris is not a clock, it’s a re-clocker, so it re-clocks the incoming USB signal from the Zen and passes that cleaner signal to the DAC. I2s will generally sound better because it’s far less prone to jitter than other digital connections. RJ45 will probably sound better than HDMI. Please remember this is USB being converting to I2s so although it’ll sound good it’s never going to sound as good as native I2s direct from a source component, streamer, CD/SACD etc. |
@designsfx That should be easy to ascertain by using just the USB with and then without the Iris. Apples for apples. |
