EverSolo DMP-A8 with Denafrips Pontus 15th, both have i2S

@jastralfu @tom899 my understanding as well is that USB and I2S interfaces are clocked by the DAC.

A DDC between source and DAC is normally for “cleaning up” and improving USB input, most often from PC as streaming or SSD source. While a streamer like EverSolo is also a computer inside a box, streamers are designed for one purpose and don’t have same noise levels as a PC feeding a DAC by USB. From what I’ve read, EverSolo is an excellent product, likely well designed and implemented, so I doubt a DDC clock in between would make much of an audible difference.
 

Clocks, from good, better to best are FEMTO, TCXO, OCXO. I have a Pontus II 12th (FEMTO) fed by an IRIS (TXCO) via I2S from a dedicated fan-less silent miniPC via USB. I can tell a pretty significant difference with the IRIS in the chain, call it 10-15% better. Darker background, more soundstage depth and detail.  It may be confirmation bias, but I was also able to discern a difference (better by 10%) when I had a Topping D90LE (FEMTO) in the chain.  The Topping was best in class SINAD when released, a very transparent, clean, no coloration presentation. I don’t consider darker backgrounds, details and soundstage depth to be color, bur definitely improvement!  

However, like you I prefer the sound signature of the Denafrips R2R NOS. The Denafrips website states the Pontus 15th has LPNO crystal oscillators (don’t know where that fits in the good, better, best!) that reclock the signal to reduce jitter.  So I think you’d be getting better clocking than from the EverSolo, even though the source usually conrols timing, at least with USB input.  Also, it doesn’t look like the Pontus 15th has world clock inputs, so I’m not sure you could synch the  Pontus 15th with a world clock DDC like you can with the Venus or Terminator. 

Conclusion, I think you’ll be very happy streaming the EverSolo bypassing its DAC to the Pontus 15th! 

@kairosman i don’t think that is true.  I run I2s from my ddc into my dac and the ddc clocks the signal.  That’s, among other things, what the ddc is for, much better clock than my dac.  Given that scenario, I believe the A8 is clocking the signal.  There is certainly the possibility that which clock is used is configurable within the A8 but I have no experience with that configuration or the A8.

One thing to keep in mind — i2S was not designed to travel distance and the signal degrades rapidly so you want the HDMI cable to be as short as possible.  Optimally it should be no more than a foot, but if you have to go longer go as short as possible. 

Yes, I have a DH Labs 0.5m (1’7” or 19”) cable on order. Hope this is short enough