Do I really Need a Digital to Digital Converter?


Over the last few years I have continued to upgrade my digital front end and currently use an Auralic G2 (with upgraded power supply) and a Musician Pegasus R2R DAC. Some of the (mostly Asian) DAC manufacturers also make digital to digital converters (like the Denefrips Iris and Hermes).

So my questions are, if what these DDCs do so important, why aren’t they built into into DACs or Streamers in the first place. Are they only incorporated in higher end digital gear but not gear at the level I am using?. What will adding one of these bring to the table or should I just upgrade my DAC or Streamer to get the same result? Do I really need another piece of gear and another set of cables to clutter up my rack?

Appreciate input from anyone who as direct experience with these DDCs in their audio journey.

128x128alvinnir2

I think that you can only benefit if the company making it does it better than the company making your DAC/Streamer.  

So in your case, I'd say no.

All they really do is expand input capabilities to your DAC from a USB. Other inputs might sound better (or worse.)

 

Might not.

I had an Ares II fed by an Iris and when I added the Iris, there was a noticeable improvement .

*note - my Ares II didn’t even have I2S and it was still and improvement.

Also, when using my 30 year old California Audio Labs Sigma II tube dac, the Iris helped it in a few ways.  (1) It stopped the relay from triggering when skipping tracks while I’m streaming and (2) more importantly , it just brought more clarity and detail in the sound.  

All that said, I sold both the Ares II and the Iris and now I’m just running coax Spdif into a Border Patrol dac from my streamer and I’m happy as a clam.

@j_andrews

... would you share which streamer it is, and if you stream high res audio >44,1 / 48 kHz? 
Cheers!

@medon78 

It's just an Ifi Zen Stream ...fed ethernet by an Uptone EtherRegen via a Triode Wire Labs "freedom" ethernet cable.

The Ifi Zen is powered by a 12V LHY linear supply.

Output from Ifi Zen is Triode Wire Labs coaxial Spdif into the BP Se-i dac.

Streaming Qobuz via the "JPLAY" universal app.

I've limited the resolution within Qobuz and JPLAY to top out at 24/96 since that is what the BP dac can handle.

When I use the old CAL Sigma dac, I have to limit it to 16/44.1