What Digital to Digital Converter Do You Use? Why?

I have an iFi Zen Stream and am considering using a digital to digital converter to convert the iFi's USB to i2s into the May Holo DAC.

I guess the question that arises is if this approach is sonically better than USB directly into the DAC.

So, who can offer some advice based on personal experience? Yes, I do realize that your DAC and streamer differ from mine.

vonhelmholtz08-22-2022 1:35pm

r042wal Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 73 posts 08-23-2022 at 03:12am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I use a Matrix between my Aurender N100H and my PS Audio DAC. The DDC allows me to feed DSD128 and DSD256 directly to my DAC not that I can really tell the difference. The 5 volt rail is the weak link with USB because it has the potential to pick up noise from the source. With the Matrix, if you connect an external linear power supply, it isolates the 5 volt rail from the USB source, and in theory should improve the SQ because the LSU is used as the power source. I've read on other forums where some people have said the external LSU makes no difference and others that have said it made a big difference. It occurred to me that everything is dependent on the noise being generated at the source. For example, the USB out on a PC might be more prone to noise compared to the USB out on the Aurender music server. Does this make sense to anyone? BTW, good topic!