My experience is streamer is more important than DDC. Gaia DDC via I2S to both Laiv Harmony and Musetec 006 icing on the cake, this vs optimized usb. I've been through at least six streamers, streamers right up there with dac as most important streaming component.
DDC or Better Streamer?
I’m trying to decide which would provide greater reward, adding a DDC or moving up to a better Streamer. What am I looking for? Just better everything including bang for the buck.
DDC – I’m a LAIV fan, but the Denafrips Hermes has optical inlet and would allow me to use it with both my OPPO (toslink) and Bluesound (digital coax).
Streamer – Am I better off just cutting to the chase and looking for used $3k Streamer (which would be more than twice the price of the Hermes)?
Will the better $3k Streamer be the better value over the $1.2k DDC?
Thanks for your input.
Room - Essentially 18'x18'x18' (ugh)
Power - Furman Elite 15i
Transport - Oppo UDP-203 with Glass Toslink
Streamer - Bluesound Vault 2i with Ice Age Ulitmate C7 Power Cable, Nordost Silver Shadow Digital Coax
DAC - LAIV Harmony with Shunyata V10 NR Power Cable, Kimber Cable Silver Streak RCAs
Amp - Music Fidelity M6si with Shunyata Black Mamba HC CX C15
Speaker Cables - Cardas Quadlink 5-C
Speakers - Martin Logan Motion 60XT
Subwoofers - Dual SVS SB-2000 with Blue Jeans LC-1 Cables
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- 38 posts total
What of a streamer that is also a DDC? @audiostick
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@baylinor Are you saying $5k new or used? When I say $3k used, I'm thinking something like Aurender N150 or Innuos Zen Mk3. @kofibaffour When you say Streamer that is also a DDC, are you referring to Streamers with i2s inputs? I was hoping LAIV would bring their NET2 to market at price point and performance level of Harmony DAC, but now I'm wondering if they will be bringing it to market at all. Regardless, a Streamer with i2s input would be nice and would remove temptation to add DDC, even though I've heard it would help OPPO as well. |
- 38 posts total