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 using a Sonore Optical Rendu usb to a Sonore Ultra Digital converter which sends i2s out to my Musician Dac. I'm very pleased with the results. 

@soix theres a growing tale that musician has always made Denafrips gear but there was a spat between them and musician decided to release its own line of almost identical gear. You can read about the drama on head-fi 

I recently bought a Sonnet Morpheus with both the USB & i2S modules since I currently have usb out from my Innuos zen, but buying a demo Denafrips Hermes from Rob at Audio Art, so I can use i2S on Morpheus (or AES, but every Morpheus user says i2S is best)

but like you said and I’ll add… outside of the Holo as I’ve not hear one, almost every DAC I’ve heard or knew some preferred AES or i2S. Not one of them thought usb was best. 

Plugged in my Audio GD DI-20HE DDC over the weekend.
Also added a new modded network switch, USB cable, and ethernet cables.

The sound was 'jaw dropping,'
At some stage will evaluate on its own, but as part of a whole, brilliant.

Tim Conners at Kitsune Hifi..US distributor for Holo said that USB and I2s were equally good with the May DAC KTE.

He also suggested that many high dollar USB were not ideal and suggested the lower priced Premium USB at this link: