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Would a DDC (Denafrips Iris) improve my system?

Hi, 

In reading various threads, stumbled across those recommending introducing a DDC to a digital chain when using USB.  I’ve got a U2mini with S/Booster feeding a PS Audio Direct Stream MKii.  I flip between using a USB connection and AES connection between the Lumin and PS Audio MKii.  Many say the best input stage for the MKii is the i2s which my Lumin doesn’t offer. 
 

Any advice on if something like the Denafrips Iris would provide a noticeable improvement?  The option of being able to try the i2s input on the MKii with out having to change my streamer is what’s intriguing to me.  Flip side is the Lumin and PS gear are both solid prices of gear, I would be surprised if they “needed” the Iris in the middle of the chain to scrub, further clean up the USB signal but I’ve got no knowledge or experience with that so might be off base with that thought. 
 

Thanks in advance for some advice, guidance. 

mm1tt77
sns
3,258 posts
 

I purchased my  Gaia through @audioman58 

mountz's avatar
mountz
133 posts
 

I started with the Denafrips Terminator, then the Avatar transport, and last month aquired the Gaia from audioman58. Agree with all the comments on improved resolution and a more analog presentation in my digital chain.  Using a common clock with two clock cables has reduced jitter and noise in my system. The Denafrips streamer is not so hot, so I will stop there and probably move to a lumin next year. Digital is creeping closer to analog, but great vinyl or R2R is still my preference.

skinzy's avatar
skinzy
180 posts
 

Easy.....no.

desktopguy
375 posts
 

I have 2 Matrix DDCs (one for each system in the office). Before this I used SPDIF converters for years, pretty much solely to get away from USB direct to DACs, the sonic effect of which was quite variable, depending on the DAC’s USB implementation. I started out >10 years ago with a high quality toslink cable, then switched to digital coax, which sounded immediately better (both toslink & coax sounded better to me than USB straight in). I later upgraded to better coax cables, with small but worthwhile sonic gains each time.

When I put the first DDC in my main system in place of the SPDIF converter, I heard small but distinct improvements in image solidity, black background, and soundstage/image specificity. DDCs, at least in my systems, are all gain & no pain. And these DDCs can be run by a good LPS. I have one but haven’t yet installed it.

Finally, Matrix DDCs permit use of a DAC’s I2S input (if it has one). My current NOS DACs don’t have this, but if/when I get a DAC that does, the user-configurable pin-out feature of the Matrix DDC makes it a no-brainer choice. Thanks to these DDCs, I am future-proofed.

joshindc's avatar
joshindc
31 posts
 

Hi.

I used the Iris in front of a Denafrips Pontus II and Venus II taking the USB output of a Ifi Zen Stream to I2S output. Definitely made an improvement. But, I think if you find a high quality streamer with I2S output built in, the Iris wouldn't make much difference (speculative). I now have a PS Airlens that I put into my Venus II and it sounds at least as good as the Zen Stream + Iris configuration but without all the hassles of the Zen stream and additional boxes and cables.

My two cents.

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