DDC Comparisons

The Matrix X+SPDIF 2 was one of the first. If your DAC makes the i2s interface sound better you would probably get better SQ with a different DAC.

I previously owned the Hermes and now the Singxer SU-6 (with a 9V LPS). The Hermes I had was glitchy and I couldn’t make it reliably work in my system. The Singxer does not audibly/significantly change the sound, either for the better or worse, but it has been operationally rock solid and it does allow me to use a variety of outputs. Also, its I2S output is adjustable for different pin configurations.

The SU-6 is currently on the sidelines, and I am running USB direct from my streamer into my DAC, with a Singxer UIP-1 (with Channel Islands 7V LPS) in-line to clean the USB signal. As with the SU-6, I do not hear anything particularly different with the UIP-1 in the chain, but nothing worse either. It sounds good, at least as good and maybe a bit better than with S/PDIF out of the SU-6.

The U18 has 4 different I2s settings. With my Gustard dacs I used the first setting (Gustard). With my new Audio Mirror Tubadour V, I use the #4 setting. That's the PS Audio setting which Tubadour uses. That feature alone makes the extra cost of the U18 plenty worth it.

In order for dacs and DDC's to have universal compatibility with one another they must offer 8 different pin configurations.