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Do I really Need a Digital to Digital Converter?

Over the last few years I have continued to upgrade my digital front end and currently use an Auralic G2 (with upgraded power supply) and a Musician Pegasus R2R DAC. Some of the (mostly Asian) DAC manufacturers also make digital to digital converters (like the Denefrips Iris and Hermes).

So my questions are, if what these DDCs do so important, why aren’t they built into into DACs or Streamers in the first place. Are they only incorporated in higher end digital gear but not gear at the level I am using?. What will adding one of these bring to the table or should I just upgrade my DAC or Streamer to get the same result? Do I really need another piece of gear and another set of cables to clutter up my rack?

Appreciate input from anyone who as direct experience with these DDCs in their audio journey.

128x128alvinnir2
deep_333
1,355 posts
 

I have a high resolution room+speakers+amps. I use the Denafrips Hermes DDC+Venus combo. I don’t miss the Hermes all that much if l pull it out. On the other hand, i definitely miss the BACCH processor if I pull it out!!

 

"Spend in the right places", a wise man once said.

wturkey's avatar
wturkey
768 posts
 

Going back to the Audio Alchemy days, the answer was an absolute yes. As far as the latest and greatest things made today, maybe?

oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948
500 posts
 

To use i2s, I placed a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 between my Innous Zenith MKII streamer and PS Audio DSD DAC.  Streaming over a Wireworld Platinum Starlight HDMI cable as opposed to a Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 USB cable, the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 provided a significant SQ improvement.  

rhg3
205 posts
 

Same. I got a DDC to connect my streamer to my DAC I2S. There was a noticeable improvement in sound quality. In the end, I got rid of it all. I couldn’t get past the idea that I shouldn’t need one more device in the chain along with its own LPS and digital cable to get decent SQ.

it’s all part of the journey though, It was a learning experience and I don’t regret it.

soix
9,456 posts
 

 

Same. I got a DDC to connect my streamer to my DAC I2S. There was a noticeable improvement in sound quality. In the end, I got rid of it all. I couldn’t get past the idea that I shouldn’t need one more device in the chain along with its own LPS and digital cable to get decent SQ.

@rhg3 What did you have for a DAC and DDC, and what did you change to?  Just curious. 

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