there are plenty of references out there that will show DACs sound better when fed a higher quality signal with lower noise/jitter, which is largely what a DDC does. Just because you (or I) don’t understand exactly why that is the case doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, and the fact that both you and I (and scores of others here) have experienced positive benefits from adding a DDC is pretty darn good evidence that feeding a DAC a better signal has material benefits. If it’s not because the DAC works/sounds better with a lower noise/jitter signal from the DDC they why else would that possibly be?
I completely agree with the first part, I said several times that I agree a DAC can sound better fed from a DDC
What I said was .... your conclusion that it does so because it doesn't have to work as hard or has to do less processing has no factual basis so stating that these are the reasons has no basis in fact.
I never had any problem with the conclusion that it sounds better. My problem is your statement about WHY it sounds better.
As you alluded to, it really doesn't matter why as long as it does, so why do you keep defending the reasons you stated when they are indefensible especially when you agree you don't know why?
the end.