@fthompson251 ...
... did you end up trying the DH Labs HDMI cable between your Denefrips Hermes and your Venus II DAC? Did you hear a difference over the connection you were previously using? I have Hermes DDC connected via I2S, using a 1 m DH labs HDMI 2.1. It is my first try using I2S, and I am interested in if your were satisfied with the DH Labs, or if you moved on and if you did ,why?