Use of Denafrips Iris 12th DDC with computer

Go all in, treating as an important source component or keep as pure utilitarian tool.

@sns Big +1. 

Again thanks to all for the input. I feel I need to clarify a few points. 

 I am not thinking of using the Iris in my primary system. I would use the DDC in my secondary system which is composed of a Rogue Sphinx V3 integrated, Musical Fidelity M3SCD DAC/Transport, Esoteric MG10 speakers. I can output from the DDC via SPDIF coax. I misspoke about running out from USB.  I have considered getting a Node Streamer and should I do so I believe the Iris would serve it. Several posted that it made an improvement with it.  

Prior to making any purchase I must first get past the point made by @sns regarding treating as a main source component or a utilitarian tool.

@deep_333 +1. 

This was the central point behind my earlier message, but it was not described as succinctly as you.

I have spoken to 2 individuals who tried moderately expensive name-brand streamers to replace a music and TV room set of operation similar to what I have.  Both told me that if there was any difference in sound quality it was too small for the expense and loss of all the convenience with my current operation. 

@sns 

"Using general purpose computers for critical listening in high end audio systems totally defeats the purpose of having a high end system."

I totally disagree with this statement.  IMO, that is like saying using CDs, not vinyl,  for critical listening in high-end audio systems totally defeats the purpose of having a high end system.

@deep_333 +1.

This was the central point behind my earlier message, but it was not described as succinctly as you.

I have spoken to 2 individuals who tried moderately expensive name-brand streamers to replace a music and TV room set of operation similar to what I have. Both told me that if there was any difference in sound quality it was too small for the expense and loss of all the convenience with my current operation.

@firstonetallguy .. Many of these guys may not know how to build a audio optimized PC or have knowledge of computing hardware/software. I think that’s where some of these false belief systems arise.

This is all it takes....

- A high quality, very low ripple, etc PC power supply (seasonic platinum, ~200 bucks) or other...

- small ITX board (without any overclocking frills, ~150 bucks)

- some higher core Ryzen APU, ~200 bucks (i.e. no discrete noisy graphics card involved)

- Put it all in a HTPC case like these ones made by Silverstone (~100 bucks) and it will like a stereo amplifier sitting on your rack, have the same form factor.

You can undervolt these things so it barely sips any power or generates any spurious noise...or not..doesn’t really matter that much. Use ASIO or Wasapi with your player (like foobar2000) so you lock out any interference from the rest of the OS.....and you’re good to go.............But, when one doesn’t know, he’ll shell out 20k to some vulture for a 1-trick pony that doesn’t sound any better. I can open some of these vulture priced streamers and show you the same 150 dollar itx board tucked away inside. The chassis will be fancy though, to apparent audiophile standards, i.e., justify a pricetag of 20k.

Or....if one’s a PC hardware noob, forget the PC hardware research and custom PC build....Just get a Beelink pre-built mini pc (~300 bucks) fresh off Amazon with a Ryzen 5800H, about the size of your palm) and power it with a high quality linear power supply. Despite its diminutive size, It’s a full blown computer and you can even play some less demanding games on it, not to mention everything else in life you wanna do with your wireless keyboard+mouse sitting on your couch. Since USB doesn’t rely on the streamer or PC’s clock (like toslink, coax, etc), everything just depends on how good a external dac you may have...and how good the DAC's ASIO driver is, who wrote it. It is important to use ASIO or WASAPI with your PC’s player however.

I’ll eat my hat if someone got much better sound out of his 20k streamer or 40k streamer when plugged into the same dac, whatever dac that might be.

Many years ago, I started streaming Tidal with a dedicated laptop. Besides the laptop itself being tricked out, it also had Fidelizer Pro software*, a USBe Perfect, a dedicated LPS - with a custom DIY umbilical cord, a dedicated power conditioner, a dedicated DDC - all with quality power cords.

@sns spent years sharing his knowledge & experience of improving his streaming quality with posts on Audiogon. I listened to his advice. Bought a pre-owned streamer to try out. Within 5 minutes of listening, I put the laptop in storage. Haven’t looked back. Now my streaming SQ has surpassed my CD transport/DAC combo. I discovered that using the DDC with the streamer - improved the SQ even more.

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* Fidelizer software turns off PC functions not needed for audio. Besides the Pro version, they have an introductory version that can be downloaded for free.