Yes, the USB cable matters.
What is your dvd-type cable? It should be as short as possible.
DDC Cableing
I have a new Denafrips Gaia DDC expected to arrive in a few days. My understanding is that except for converting the original input type (USB to I2S), the only real change is to clean up the incoming signal.
I plan to use a high-quality cable coming out of the DDC into the DAC (I2s over a DVD-type cable). But what about the quality of the cable from the source into the DDC? Does that have an effect on the final signal at all given the transformation put on the signal by the DDC?
(Is this a Digital or Cables post, the admins can sort that out.)
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- 9 posts total
In addition to converting to various output types, your DDC provides galvanic isolation to reduce noise over USB and also has a high quality OCXO clock to greatly reduce jitter among other things, and these are not small things and in my case with my Iris produced very significant improvements. As far as cables, my experience is everything in the streaming chain matters and is important, so I certainly wouldn’t skimp on the cable going into the DDC. I use this USB cable from LavriCables into my Iris DDC that’s got very high quality build/materials such as 5N silver and physically separate data and power legs but is still very reasonably priced (they make two higher models if you want more for your nice Gaia). https://www.lavricables.com/cables/ultimate-silver-dual-usb-a-b-interconnect-cable/ Incidentally, people here who have significantly upgraded their HDMI cable for i2S have reported relatively minor increases in performance, so you might consider not shooting the lights out on that cable. In fact, I’m using this $8 HDMI cable from Monoprice and am getting excellent results. I think this may be because the cable is only 12” long, and it’s critical that an i2S cable be as short as possible as the signal wasn’t designed for distance and degrades rapidly — 1 foot or less is recommended. Here’s what I use… https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24187 This one actually seems a little better and can be had in 6” length that’d probably be even better if you can use that short length… https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13574 I’d recommend getting one of these just for comparison purposes if nothing else to see what you’re getting (or not) by spending $$$ on a pricier HDMI cable — I have my doubts that it’s worth it and hopefully you can return the more expensive cable if it doesn’t deliver. Just my experience and thoughts FWIW.
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The I2S cable is important. I read a number of posters swear by Tubulus I2S cables. I just got one off of USAudioMart (Concentus) and just put it in and it is immediately apparent (this was used so broken in) how good this cable is. I'd say its contribution is as about as good and as much as the DDC. |
- 9 posts total