Six DAC Comparison

@ Soix

Clocking is just one of the many factors.

Re-clocking doesn’t fix corrupted data. 

And as I stated, it is not the accuracy of the clock that matters, but rather how little clocking noise it produces that pollutes sensitive analog components in the audible spectrum. 

So you can have the ultimate low-noise clocking in any number of components in your digital signal chain and then have your digital data corrupted or your analog signal polluted because of the clocking inside of your DAC.

Every link in the chain matters.

Think of the analogy of taking a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy.

How much of a difference would it make if you used all high res scanners and printers in the chain but one was low res?

All you would end up with is a very accurate reproduction of the worst scanner and printer in the chain. 

Or what would happen if you had all high res scanners and printers in your chain but then your last scanner and printer was low res?

@ SNS

Your DAC can have a very advanced USB input.

But if the output from your digital source and your digital cables are not equal then you cannot make a fair comparison between USB and I2S. 

All the inputs and outputs on any component are not equal. 

Companies who are promoting I2S are making sure that their I2S inputs and outputs sound better than the other inputs or outputs.

USB may not have been created for music but it was created for component-to-component data transfer. 

I2S was not created for component-to-component data transfer.

Can anyone name a pro audio component that is used in professional recording studios that uses an I2S input?

On the other hand, USB is used in professional recording studios.

What does that tell you?

@fuzzbutt17 I'm using the same usb chain with both I2S and usb, so usb>dac vs usb>Denafrips Gaia DDC.I2S>dac.

Neither my Musetec or Laiv dacs promote I2S as superior, Musetec specifically promotes their custom build usb board, again, this one of the best I've seen. This build based on what they had learned via Amamero usb board used in prior model dac.

What pro's use not necessarily always superior. I'd not want a pro system for my home system. And based on mediocre and worse sound quality on so many recordings pro's not generally my reference for best sound quality.

Finally, I'm not stating I2S is universally superior to usb, it is superior in my setup, many other report the same.

Can anyone name a pro audio component that is used in professional recording studios that uses an I2S input?

On the other hand, USB is used in professional recording studios.

What does that tell you?

It tells you nothing. The pro audio world also use cheap (compared to audiophile level) well measured and flat response studio monitors, how many audiophiles use those kind of monitors ? They also use Belden xlr interconnect - what percentage of audiophile use Belden in their setup ? They also sit in front of their mixing table with their ears and head in a vice, 4 ft away from the monitors - how many audiophiles do that ? And their are many more....does it matter what the pro audio world uses ? Their environment, purpose, use case are completely different than audiophiles. 

They do not listen to the music as we do - our purpose is to enjoy the music and to transport ourselves in that venue, their purpose to create that venue.

In seems like you keep bringing the pro audio just to justify the lack of i2s in your dac. As @sns also alluded, I have not seen any manufacturer claim one input is better than others. You have your design, other manufacturers have theirs - what sounds best is finally determined by the consumer in their listening chair.

@sns +1

Have another comparison currently in process with an Aries Cerat Helene DAC.  Must say, this one requires consideration during set-up and I doubt I am done yet. Not the least of the considerations are the size and weight - the thing weighs 88 pounds!  It has three tubes and a user adjustable bias that does indeed change the presentation.  Cables matter too since it is really a single-ended unit and is said to sound best with single-ended output cables.

All I can say for now is that IMO this is a real contender in my system.  I am not surprised that it doesn't totally change the sound of my system compared to other DACs I have had here, but it does do some things very nicely.  Here are a couple of links to additional information (link 1) and some great pictures (link 2).