LAIV Harmony

Just as an aside, at one point was running  Auralic Vega dac and some other streaming devices off battery PS, lower noise floor, lost dynamics.

I have custom build streamer assembled by some of the leading members of that forum, I added JCAT Optimo ATX LPS. This was their top end diy design prior to the Taiko Extreme clones. Unfortunately, I2S output at the level of Gaia not possible, real estate issue. The XDMI interface in new Taiko looks to be a game changer.

With all the accolades I’m reading about the Harmony with i2s, I am trying to understand why companies like Aurender and Innuos do not offer i2s output.  Are they assuming that if you are spending $6-12k on a Streamer that you will also purchase a DDC?

@audiostick I thought the Innuos Next Gen would have i2s, but the Zen Next-Gen only has USB.

I’m using a DDC with my Zen Mk3.

Seems streamer manufacturers led the way on adoption of usb as 'de facto' interface. Seems logical to me dac manufacturers would prefer the I2S as the interface of choice being the native protocol for d to a conversion. So we have all these convoluted schemes for optimizing usb in dac, and then we have to convert that to I2S,  seems like a real lack of utility here.

Have the same issue with lack of optical conversion within streamers. My dream streamer would have optimized optical, I2S, this means top level clocks and power supplies, forget about all the other digital outs, don't need onboard storage hard drives. All this universality only adds unneeded cost and complexity.