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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
vthokie83
672 posts
 

alvinnir2,

You do not "need" a DDC, but if your DAC will accept I2S (which yours does) it can greatly improve your sound quality. Just make sure to use a nice HDMI cable (I use an Audioquest Vodka 48 8/10k $400 or an inexpensive Supra cables 2.1 HDMI cable $79)

The Iris will optically and galvanically clean the signal from your streamer, and then reclock it with a higher quality clock. You then use I2S HDMI to output to your DAC. I have a Bluesound Node 130 into a Denafrips Iris DDC then I2S into a Denafrips Pontus II DAC....adding the Iris DDC and I2S was not a subtle upgrade, it was a very noticeable upgrade in SQ.

soix
8,822 posts
 

+1 @vthokie83 And please note his excellent Pontus II shares a lotta DNA with the Pegasus as they come from the same factory with many similar parts and design principles.  Not identical to be sure, but definitely highly related.

rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
243 posts
 

After upgrading my Terminator Plus to firmware v3.7 I felt I2S was no longer better than USB. 

Before the upgrade my findings were the same as @vthokie83 "adding the Iris DDC and I2S was not a subtle upgrade, it was a very noticeable upgrade in SQ."  

I found that the power cord, USB cable and HDMI cable each had a strong influence on the quality of the sound from the Iris.  Using the clock out from the TP was helpful but not as profound as the cable.

I also used to have a W4S Music server and 2v2SE DAC.  The USB was much better than the direct I2S connection (using W4S cables for each). 

Point is I2S is not universally better than HDMI.  

vthokie83
672 posts
 

anzaanimalclinic,

I have often thought that at some point, the USB might be as good as I2S as I move through future upgrades. More expensive allows for higher quality throughout the chain. The Terminator Plus has an oven controlled (OCXO) crystal which is better yet than the temperature controlled (TCXO) crystal in the Iris....and the firmware update appears to improve the USB to a point where the DDC becomes redundant.

I look forward to that day, but until then I'll remain exceedingly happy with the Iris/Pontus combo

skinzy's avatar
skinzy
160 posts
 

NO!

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