@rsure - your proposed system will be quite different from mine, but feel free to pm if you want to discuss something AN, as I don’t think the brand generates much interest here.
Just Get A Better DAC?
I see that many of you are adding clocks, DDCs and whatever other boxes for better digital. To those of you who have done this, do you think it would have been a better investment to just buy a better dac? I realize that it may be financially easier to add pieces one at a time, but I was wondering what those who have done it think. Plus, less boxes and cables, which is a blessing, IMO. I guess this would also apply to those putting boxes in front of their streamers.
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I recently changed my streaming system from Innuos Zenith Mkiii -> Merason Reuss via USB, to an Antipodes CX -> Bricasti M3 via direct Ethernet. I will not be returning to USB or SPDIF anytime soon. I have compared this with the Bricasti connected to the Zenith with USB, the direct Ethernet connection is clearly superior. Lots of apples to oranges here, I know, but just thought I would weigh in with my recent experience. |
@yyzsantabarbara All pin configurable ddc like my Denafrips Gaia will work with any dac with I2S input, dac doesn't need to be pin configurable although I think most are.
Per interfaces, there are some proprietary interfaces out there, Wadax, Taiko, Auralic are a few, limitations of usb well known. This doesn't mean usb can't provide quality sound, I was content with a variety of optimized usb interfaces over the years, this until high quality implementation of I2S. Also, with all the variability available with interfaces not all I2S will be superior to usb, thing is I2S requires absolutely no optimization within dac, I2S is native signal path in dacs, usb requires much optimization within dacs to perform to it's highest potential.
As @ghdprentice pointed out streamers extremely important component in streaming chain, some claim it more important than dac. I wouldn't argue with this, safe to say both extremely important. As for streamers importance for interfaces, the output from streamer equally important to input on dac, crap out will defeat the purpose of any optimized input. This part of the appeal of a ddc, some also help to optimize streamer outs.
Some manufacturers love to brag about galvanic isolation with their usb implementation, this is bare minimum for optimized usb, clocking and power supplies to those clocks is of utmost importance with any interface.
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