Solo streamer

@rvpiano 

If you set up a simple Mesh Network, a Mesh access point with ethernet ports can facilitate using wifi to connect to a component that does not support wireless.

@moonwatcher

Just an fyi that I2S is synchronous.

With I2S the clock in the streamer will be the boss clock.

And unlike AES or Spdif, where the clock and data transmissions are multiplexed, with I2S the clock and data lines are separated from each other within the cable.

@old_ears

Whatever the digital connection, synchronous or asynchronous, both the source’s clock and the DAC’s clock will both be in play. There will be a handshake between the two of them. It’s just a matter of which clock will be the controlling or “boss” clock for the interaction.

With synchronous connection, such as via I2S, AES, or Digital Coax, the source clock will be the boss clock.

With asynchronous connection via USB, the DAC clock will be boss.

But either way, both clocks will be in play.

@old_ears 

Your welcome  

Glad to be of service.

On a more serious note. The advantage of I2S via HDMI is that the clock signal and the data are maintained in separate lanes within the same cable, and that I2S speaks more directly to what is native to the DAC (i.e. less conversion required).

By contrast, with AES or digital Coax the clock signal and data are multiplexed, and more translation is required on the DAC end.

That being said, so much is system dependent. What is your DAC best optimized for, and how best does it play with the source. And quality of the cables and system synergy are also very important pieces of the puzzle.