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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.

alvinnir2
vthokie83
1,227 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
204 posts
 

NO!

desktopguy
456 posts
 

I have an MHDT Labs Orchid DAC in my main desktop system. For years I ran it off the digital coax signal from a SPDIF converter. A couple years ago I decided to try a DDC. Ended up buying the first generation Matrix Audio X-SPDIF converter. I installed it in the system in place of the SPDIF converter (using the same coax cable), and immediately heard small but worthwhile differences in soundstaging and the focus/palpability of notes. That's the only DDC I tried, and it's a keeper.

knever's avatar
knever
18 posts
 

When the usb input stopped working on my dac and I learned that the amazon seller that I purchased from was in China and would not help me with a repair, I discovered goldensound's write-up on using a DDC. I had a Bryston DDC and hooked it up to my dac with a Requisite D3r coax cable. As a result, I am not going to get my usb input fixed. Everything sounds a bit better than before, especially on live recordings of classical music. Yet, I have used the Bryston DDC and the Eitr with several other dacs and found them to add a hooded and boring quality to recordings that was not present when listening through the usb input of the dac.

dolfan
109 posts
 

I am using a Denafrips Hermes 12th DDC. I needed a way to tie in a Lumin U2 Streamer and a Bluesound Node N130 w/Linear Power Supply going out Coax to my Gan 1 amp. I use USB from the U2 and Coax from the N130. The upgrade in sound quality from the N130 is very big. This was a very good upgrade for my system. Make sure to try different power cords on the DDC.

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