Just Get A Better DAC?

@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. 

Need to amend above statement in regard to I2S implementation within dacs. Not all dac equal in regard to master clock and power supply to those clocks. This also means variable outcomes using external master clocks via ddc or the few streamers offering I2S output. Point is to compare clocks and power supplies, all dac manufacturers should specify in detail their implementation of master clocks and power supplies, few do. DDC manufacturers much better in this regard. 

Streamer manufacturers should also be much clearer about implementation of interfaces, some come directly off motherboards, not a good thing.

@audphile1 +1 Agree, wondering how many here used cheap USB with cheap streamers and dac’s. Tossing the baby out with the bathwater. Love all the armchair design and electrical engineers.... implementation is key. DDC is just more crap in the chain but if your dac, streamer are not optimized for USB then you need these band-aids. Save your money and buy a quality well optimized DAC and Streamer, otherwise keep using your i-phone. 

A lot of "better" DACs have better clocks, galvanic isolation, walled off power, toroidal transformers, etc.  And they sound better too!

Clean up, filtered ethernet is key too.

@chayro Great question, upgrade a DAC vs DDC to get away from USB.

My opinion is get away from USB. 

I have an Innuos Statement Nextgen with both USB and Ethernet output.  The Ethernet is hands down superior even with a FTA Sinope USB Cable.  I sent my Lampizator Goldengate back to Poland for upgrades including the new USB board, the S/PDIF is still superior with a relatively inexpensive BNC cable.  I am trying a Network Acoustics AES next week and expect it to be even better.

To get from the Statements Ethernet output to BNC input on the Goldengate I convert the Ethernet to Fiber with a Sonore OpticalModule then convert the Fiber to USB with a Sonore SignatureRendu then the USB  to BNC with an Antipodes S20 and then BNC to the Goldengate DAC.

It is easily better than direct USB from the Statement to the Goldengate.  I have tried the USB from the Statement to the Antipodes DDC and it is inferior to the Ethernet chain.

The Statement is touted to have a very good USB and the new USB on the Lampizator is supposed to be much better than their old USB, but neither can beat Ethernet out or BNC input.  

I have used I2S with mixed results, it was worse than USB in one system and better in another.  Like USB there are both good and bad implementations.  I found the IS2 cable really mattered and spent more on it than the Iris DDC I used to use, but overall was never really satisfied with the sound of the I2S set up on the Iris.  I regret never trying the S/PDIF on the Iris to the TerminatorPlus DAC.  I am happy with my set up now but if and when I need to change I will audition a direct Ethernet between Streamer and DAC.