What Digital to Digital Converter Do You Use? Why?


I have an iFi Zen Stream and am considering using a digital to digital converter to convert the iFi's USB to i2s into the May Holo DAC.

I guess the question that arises is if this approach is sonically better than USB directly into the DAC.

So, who can offer some advice based on personal experience?  Yes, I do realize that your DAC and streamer differ from mine.

 

vonhelmholtz

I’m rethinking the SU-6 now after reading more about the Denafrips Iris that is only $542 and seems to share a lot of the same design aspects with the SU-6, and in this review it seems to generate similar results as well. Not sure it’ll work with my Pegasus and have some more research to do, but the Iris looks promising so far and I could put the extra $200 toward a better HDMI cable. Never ends.

https://theaudiobeatnik.com/review-denafrips-iris-ddc-digital-to-digital-converter/

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i have a CEDAR DCX and CRX [declicker/decrackler] which are digital-only devices, and to get analog sound through them in the process of digitizing old phonograph recordings, i use a Phillips ISP a/d converter to put it through the CEDAR pair, then a Mission d/a to convert back into analog for recording onto a Tascam SD recorder so i can put them onto my hard drive for further editing. 

I use a Matrix X SPDIF 2 between my Innous Zenith MKII streamer and PS Audio Direct Stream DAC.  For I2S, I use a .7 meter Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 HDMI cable.  I get a very noticeable SQ improvement via I2S as opposed to USB from the Zenith directly to the DAC.  

I'm sure there are better DDC converters than the Matrix, but I'm quite satisfied with it in my system.

I purchased the Denafrips Iris DDC (installing later this week), but I will be outputting to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC.....which has configurable I2S inputs as well. If you're considering the Iris to the Holo Audio, I'd reach out to Alvin Chee of Vinshine to check on compatibiltiy