For Gustard R26...which bang for the buck: DDC or LHY OCK clock?


I've been enjoying this dac for several months now. I have tried USB and COAX and now I2S.

There is a noticeable improvement in each of these inputs. I have read many of the discussions here regarding both DDC and external clocks. I am wondering which of these would give more bang for the buck. The Gustard goes very well with my tube amps.

I am considering the LHY OCK 1 or 2 for clocks and undecided for the DDC.

peareye

For those who use the OCK-2 for their R26 (or any of the other Gustard DACs) is there any preference for the square or the sine output?

@lollipopguild A couple of forum members recommended sine wave earlier in this post, so I went with that.  I haven't tried square wave.

I read some other posts on the internet and a few guys preferred square. Something along the lines of it being more detailed and sine being smooth. I'm getting good detail with sine and I suspect that I wouldn't like square (reading between the lines). Maybe I'll try it some day. 

@kereru @pindac   Stupid question.  If I'm streaming (innuos Zen MK3 by USB to Gustard U18, Gustard U18 by i2S to R26), should I have DSD Direct turned on (on the R26) so that the internal interpolating FIR filter is off?   Would I turn it off if I'm using my Denon DCD-1700NE as a transport via coaxial digital?

It's working fine with DSD Direct turned off.  

If it matters, I'm using the LHY-OCK2 (connected to both U18 and R26).

Well, I answered my own question.  I turned the DSD Direct on and felt that the sound was better.  It sounds really good.  To confirm, I flipped it on and off with my remote.  I have the benefit of being old, so I couldn't remember what setting it was on.  lol.  I chose what I felt sounded better and checked the dac.  DSD was turned on. The display on the Gustard is so tiny, that you can't see it from the listening position.