What might pair well with a combined Laiv Harmony uDDC and Laiv DAC?

I have a Transparent Power Conditioner which removes noise from the power supply, but I confess ignorance about the various power supplies people recommend. Others have also recommended that particular LPS, especially in regards with these components. Tim

Thanks for your ideas. I am looking forward to learning more about this realm and getting started!

Not much data out there yet but what I am reading is that the DDC cleans up the signal coming to the DAC in a noticeable way. It is intended to connect to the Laiv DAC via i2S and with its own multiple inputs it allows non-i2S outputs to connect to that i2S input on the DAC. But it is said to benefit the sound even when the signal is coming to the DDC i2S input. I imagine I will find out soon enough!!

Thank you Mitch for these suggestions. Apparently I shall be hustling to avoid tariff-related cost changes, if ordering items made (and still in) China. The Laiv components (Singapore is now subject to a 10% tariff) were already in LA at a west coast distribution facility, so I dodged that bullet this weekend. For other imported components, there is a great deal of uncertainty.

  "You should take a look at this review."

I could tell that the reviewer was born in Germany! As Mark Twain said many years ago, “..mastery of the art and spirit of the Germanic language enables a man to travel all day in one sentence without changing cars.” Or, as he put it in another way: “Whenever the literary German dives into a sentence, that is the last you are going to see of him till he emerges on the other side of his Atlantic with his verb in his mouth.”

In other words, not an easy read to get to the point!

Tim
 

My technoLust for a Pure Streamer shows me the following so far (not including Rose products which I started out looking at) after some of your input:

Lumin U2 MINI Digital Transport/Streamer - $2,400

Lumin U2 Digital Transport/Streamer - $5,000

Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 Streaming DAC - $859

Eversolo DMP-A8  Streaming DAC - $1,980

AURALiC Altair G1.1 Digital Preamp/Streamer/DAC - $3,249

Aurender A20 music server - $15,000

Aurender ACS10 Music Server with CD Ripper - $6,500

HoloAudio – Red – DDC & Network Streamer - $798

Matrix Audio Element S - $1,500

Volumio Rivo Plus - $1,400

iFi Audio NEO Stream - $1,299

I admit to being attracted most to the last 4 units. Does anyone here have experience personally with these and how they have functioned for you?[edit - experience with any of these units, not just the last four]

Tim

"Continuous updates, User forums, and incredible customer service."

That sort of stuff is not always easily determined by just reading reviews. Thanks!

Tim

To sns, Thanks for those clarifying comments. I like the uDDC frm Laiv, as it allows several differnt sorts of inputs to go to the Laiv DAC via an i2S output (the connection from the DDC to the DAC comes with it and is very short). That makes is more intriguing to consider streamers without an i2S output as still compatible with the Laiv DAC, plus benefiting from the cleanup of that particular DDC.

The information on the clock/power supply issue is also helpful. I have already purchased the Laiv uDDC as a starting point for me (at about $875 it seems pretty reasonably priced). My hope was that it would work well with the Laiv DAC as it had been designed specifically for it (though not only it).

To Audioman58, I am coming to that conclusion about the Innuos line also. The ability to have a CD ripper as well is also appealing, though not as vital to me.

Thanks all. Time to unbox my just-arrived DAC!

Tim

For now, I am going to go with a used iFi Audio NEO Stream from ECHO Audio in Portland, and then likely change it to the Laiv NET2 when it is released. I am strongly considering the Laiv preamp and, when they are released, their 200 W monoblocks as well. In for a penny, in for a pound...

Otherwise, I may yet go to a Rose RS130. In my delving into many of these fine recommendations, I discovered that Innuos is quite back-ordered for the Zen MK3 (months) and I am in fact concerned about the tariff war brewing, wherein EU products may go from 10% this week to 20% tomorrow. Buying used has it's place in this world! But not much in the way of used Laiv products are to be had so far.

And (for now) paired with my Bluesound Node in streamer-only mode, the Laiv Harmony DAC is really very detailed and warm and presents an immediate and notable improvement in the sound stage and depth.

Tim

Thanks! If nothing else I will get to compare different models!

Tim

I might just have two DACs, in addition to the Node, now to compare. 

And for two used streamers, still no tariffs, so I got that going for me.

 Tim 

Or, perhaps my offer for the Innuos will be ignored!

 Not sure if I did it wrong but no response from the seller (the offer was not that much of a lowball).

 The used iFi came yesterday and the Laiv uDDC comes today so comparisons can commence!

To @soix @bassbuyer @toneranger58 and any others who recommended the Innuos - thanks!

 Thanks for the recommendation for that Innuos Zen MK3 streamer. I bought it and am sure glad I did. 

The iFi Neo feeding to the Laiv Harmony DAC was not as rich or detailed a sound as the Bluesound Node 2. It was absurdly difficult to get up and running and then rather disappointing to listen to.  

So I moved on to the MK3. The directions were easy to follow and it quickly paired with the Laiv DAC even identifying it by name in the set up (using my iPad mini which is set up to control it all - what it can control that is).

The Sense app didn’t work at first but the trouble shooting instructions worked perfectly (I had to update the streamer software). I then was able to access all the music that the seller had left on it for me. A direct head to head with an album on my TT it is every bit as rich and detailed. I shall carefully photograph the iFi and repackage it and sell it to someone who will like it, I hope. 

Thanks to all again. 

Tim