Would a DDC (Denafrips Iris) improve my system?

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.

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.

Easy.....no.

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.

I purchased my  Gaia through @audioman58 

I  see Hermes DDC used for almost $1100, I sell them New for not much over $1100

I can't comment on some of the other equipment mentioned, but I recently added a Pi2AES Mercury V3 streamer between my tweaked up Mac Mini and my DAC.  The elimination of grunge and a bloated soundstage is addictive.  I'll never go back to USB.

Following.

Going from an extremely optimized usb chain to I2S via Gaia was a profound change for the better. I2S has a number of inherent advantages vs. usb and those advantages should become manifest with the proper I2S setup.

I'd suggest at least the Hermes, I believe the OXCO clock in the Gaia is largely responsible for the much greater analog like presentation vs what I was getting with usb. I had tried various improved clocking schemes with usb, none provided what I'm hearing with the Gaia via I2S. Point is getting a ddc with a better clock than I2S clock within dac means one syncs/slaves to the higher quality ddc clock. Going in this direction one gets the benefit of  inherently better I2S chain, to this add improved clocking. I previously owned Singxer SU6 which was just ok, Gaia is a game changer. assuming one has a system and streaming chain capable of exposing these advantages.

As for the direct impacts Gaia/I2S/Tubulus Ximius I2S cable made in my setup vs usb. Greater resolution, transparency and as mentioned previously the more analog like presentation. As mentioned previously, I2S has been a profound change for me, went from very high quality digital presentation to something akin to my pretty nice vinyl setup, music flows much like the vinyl setup along with superior resolution/transparency. I can't say enough about how I2S has been a game changer for me.

There are a couple of Hermes units for sale in the Audiogon marketplace for something like $1100.  I’ve not heard the Iris so I have no idea if it’s worth the extra $600 to you or not.  I feel that mine was worth the money though and would happily do it again.  

@trivema thanks for the info, sounds very worthwhile for me to explore.

@audioman58 not sure if I should thank you… now I want the Hermes instead of the more reasonably priced Iris… thanks for the info, appreciate it.  I’m sure I’l be trying one of these DDC’s in the near future. 

I’m running USB from a fan-less miniPC (ultra quiet) with optimized MS settings as my streaming source w/ Qobuz to an IRIS then I2S to a Pontus II 12th anniversary. The IRIS made a distinct improvement (~20%) when I put it in the system. The IRIS clock is temperature controlled, one step up from the Pontus clock. The Hermes is another step up to oven controlled. 
 

I first got the IRIS when I had a Topping D90 LE in my main rig knowing that I would replace with a Pontus at some point. ASR measured the Topping at -123dB SINAD, the highest ever at the time, if you believe measurements mean something. The Topping is as transparent and “clean” as any DAC on the market. Yet the IRIS improved the “black” silent background, increased details slightly and made the soundstage much larger with greater instrument separation. 

Now I have the Pontus II in which is a better match for my integrated tube amp and 99dB sensitive Klipsch Forte IIIs. I would highly recommend a DDC if you’re running a USB input. Hermes or IRIS depending on your budget. 
 

Yes the Iris would help but much more dramatic would be the Herms with the oven clocks 

Yes, that was one of the reasons I got the Hermes.

@jastralfu thanks for the helpful info,  are you using the i2s output?

The Hermes I put in between my MacBook Pro and my Pontus II 12th made a noticeable difference.  The Hermes is one step up from the Iris.  I suspect the Iris will make a noticeable difference.  The Hermes gave me a wider deeper soundstage and better imaging.