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DDC Sound Improvements???

I'm trying to put off buying a new streaming transport.  Of the Hifi Rose RS130, Innuos Stream 3, and Matrix NT-1; the NT-1 was clearly the winner to my ears with a greater sense of clarity/transparency, sound stage width and depth, and neutrality that it presented.

I currently have a moded BS Node with LPS that has been hard to beat thus far.  Will the new Gustard U26 DDC truly improve sound quality with the blacker backgrounds and sound stage dimensions.  The DDC would also allow me to use i2S.

$1,000 for a DDC vs $4,000 for a transport is pretty tempting.  In my head this additional filtering in the DDC would give me the sonic improvements of a great streaming transport.

What are your thoughts and experience?  

stillbuyingtoys
gkelly's avatar
gkelly
1,027 posts
 

What were the conditions that you were listening to the Innuos? Also What is the rest of your equipment consist of speakers, preamp, etc.? 

soix
11,233 posts
 

It’s really impossible to answer how close the U26 with the Node/LPS will get to the NT-1 — too many unknowns/variables so best would be to try the U26 with a trial/return period or if you can buy through Amazon or something as that’s the only way to know for sure.  I’m using an iFi Zen Stream w/ upgraded power supply to answer your question. 

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
15,050 posts
 

I use a low cost Douk  DDC  with a galvanic Jackusb isolator (with dedicated low cost  LPS+buffer and filters for each link)  all at peanut cost... Each addition was audible improvement... I am very happy because i cannot fault my system/room if i take into account  his working performance limits anymore...We can always upgrade a system/room for sure but i dont feel the need to change the room and the system, i invested in time one year to optimize it...

A DDC is mandatory for me...

kingbr's avatar
kingbr
483 posts
 

One of the biggest improvements in my system was when I added DENAFRIPS Hermes via I2S to DENAFRIPS Pontus II 12th. My streamer at the time was Eversolo DMP-A6 Master with TP SE power supply. The TP power supply made a noticeable improvement but adding Hermes took it to a level I wouldn’t have even thought possible…

 

FWIW I have Bluesound Icon with Gustard U18 DDC going I2S to Gustard X18 in a second system. Magnificent! I won’t ever go without a DDC in any system. 

gdnrbob
4,520 posts
 

@stillbuyingtoys ,

In my humble opinion, you are limiting your sound reproduction by using the Bluesound as a DAC. 

The Matrix NT-1, looks like a very nice streamer, but you need to give it good information in order to get quality sound. I can understand not wanting to spend a fortune, but adding a Gustard, in my opinion, would be adding another element of distortion to the signal.

Have you looked into other DAC's? The Ayre Codex is pretty inexpensive, and has a very good sound. The Ayre QB-9 is another move. I owned the Schiit Gungnir and liked it, too. The worst part of this obsession, is that it takes a lot of money to achieve sonic Nirvana. You can try to add things that reviewers say are great-like the Gustard, but when it comes down to it, you are just spending money that could be better applied to equipment that does the job it was designed for. 

Bob

 

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