Denafrips Iris DDC Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- The Denafrips Iris DDC (digital- to- digital converter) is designed to clean up the USB output from your streamer or computer, re-clock it and send it to your DAC. It is supposed to improve sound quality. More audiophile snake oil? I take a close look.
Link to global distributor Vinshine Audio
Link to my Patreon
Time stamps:
Intro 0:00
Design & features 2:10
Technical insights 3:20
Sound quality 10:55
Setup & partnering equipment 13:09
Conclusion 14:18
In ten minutes, you managed to explain the basics of jitter, electronic noise, galvanic isolation, an asynchronous connection, data buffering, the SPDIF, USB, and I2S formats, coaxial and optical connectors, master and word clocks, and temperature compensated and oven controlled crystal oscillators in a way that even a technically illiterate audiophile as myself could easily grasp. That was, hands down, one of the best technical presentations that I have ever listened to.
Thank you kindly Jonas. It is great to get feedback like that 😊👍
Brilliant review Cheers Tarun, the day you mentioned DDC I was waiting for your take on this product.
Thank you Atri. Much appreciated 😊👍
Fantastic video, Tarun. Thank you. This has given me some things to think about before I splurge on a DDC.
Thank you buddy. Much appreciated 👍😊👍
A fantastic explanation of the wizardry of digital audio. A great review Tarun, thanks for the time and effort you put into making these videos.
Invaluable to anyone interested in gaining knowledge about improving their listening experience.
Thank you Richard. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 👍😊👍
Thank you sir for another entertaining, interesting review. Always appreciate your technical explanation and especially that you compare the sound of the component you are reviewing with similar products. By far the best reviews on YT.
Thank you my friend. I appreciate all the support and encouragement you give me 👍😊👍
As always great informative review Tarun. Thank you!!
Thank you buddy 😊👍
Great info and review. I really enjoy this video. You seem to have a knack to answering all my would be questions. Cheers
Thank you buddy. That is very kind 😊👍
I thought this was a good video the first time I saw it. But I was new to a lot of those concepts back then and I’ve seen it twice since. Not a lot of TH-cams that warrant being viewed several times. Very informative, thank you very much, amazing work.
Thank you Rob. That means a lot 😊👍
Very nice explanation of i2s, was going to research how it works, but you made it very clear!
Thank you Marten 😊👍
Thanks Tarun ... Always look forward to a Review worth watching ... 😎
Thank you RM. Much appreciated 😊👍
Briiliant, comprehensive review. Not just the specs but what systems and what configuration would benefit from this device. Thank you !
Thank you Paul. I appreciate you watching and your support 😊👍👍
The Iris paired with the Pontus 2 is a big upgrade, voice , instruments , lower noise floor , etc. Way above my expectations. I use the Jays Audio I2S cable. Willsenton R800i , Rel T5X combo. Yes to get max benefit from the Iris , the ancillary equipment must be there. I was quite shocked by the improvement, was very discernible. Thks Arun , great review.
Thank you for watching and sharing Robert 😊👍
Hello from Montreal, I appreciate your videos on everything audio and some of these newer digital products. You clarified further the issues of the digital signal. I have fallen down the rabbit hole and understand the need for a good source both analog and digital.
I started with CD player when they came out and always bought physical music and never used a laptop for music storage. So when streaming became a need I looked for a component that streamed and could handle my cds. That’s where the Bluesound Vault came in. It was a streamer but it could rip and store music. Brilliant.
Now I have upgraded to a higher level incorporating an Innuos streamer and reclocker with a Denafrips Venus Dac. The upgrades where done over time with noticeable improvements and yes cost. We know that hifi can be an endless journey, but we want the best sound quality so it won’t really end because within the digital relem choices are endless. So when you review a DCC like this, the hobbyist will see the possible need and it sparks an interest.
Sorry for rambling on… thanks from across the pond.
Hi David, I really enjoyed learning about your experiences. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
Hi Tarun, another great review showing your ability to explain things superbly, even if what you're explaining is a totally alien concept to this old analogue dinosaur.
Thank you my friend. Very kind and much appreciated 👍😊👍
Great technical breakdown. Definitely worth getting my head around it so I can appreciate my little Iris. Thanks too Tarun for finessing the best situations to use it for. You go a step or two further than others who just say it's great - it's good to understand 'why' also. My Ares 11 doesn't have 12S, but all the sound quality improvements you noticed also apply (but yes, I2S next !).
Thank you Max. I greatly appreciate you watching, sharing your experiences and your kind words of support 👍😊👍
Thanks for your comment. I have the Ares 2 as well and was wondering if this would pair well. Can you give a brief summary of the improvements you noticed and what components are in your system? Thanks!
@@smith2924 Yes it will pair well and be a noticeable improvement if my experience is to go by: tighter bass, more 'air' and especially clarity, better timbre/colour to voices and instruments, depth but not much if any change in soundstage width. Pretty much the same qualities Tarun mentioned (to my surprise!). My system: Project Stream box Ultra S2 streamer into the Iris DDC. Optical cable to the Ares 2 DAC. Hegel H95 amp. Audiolab CDT. My front end is now superior to the rest of my system so the B&W 606 S2's will be upgraded, and maybe a tube amp to follow..And remember the Iris can always work with higher quality DAC's via 12S if you choose to further upgrade....( but I think I'll stop here for a while!)
@@maxadams1298 Awesome thanks for taking the time to share your experience. Your system is impressive, I bet it sounds great!
@@maxadams1298 Hiya. Have you tried a good coaxial cable instead of the optical? You should certainly try a good one.
Perfect video. I learned a few things, thank you! have a great weekend
Thank you. You too my friend 😊👍
Vinyl-centric audiophile here. I learned alot today, thanks! Enjoying your channel.
Thank you buddy. Great to hear that 👍😊👍
Fab review - thanks for the in depth explanation. 👍🏻
Thank you Mike 😊👍
Awesome! Very detailed and informative. I plan to use my Iris with an nvidia shield and Soncuz sgd 1 dac with coax output to my Yamaha receiver. Many thanks for the work you do. Cheers.
Thank you Orin. I appreciate your support 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314
Your indept review of the Iris was spot on. Cleaned up the sound from the Soncoz DAC handsomely. Here's a video I did which highlights how well it has helped with vocalization. Sounds much better in person than via TH-cam 🙂. Thanks again and stay safe✌
th-cam.com/video/nflGmrqMTtE/w-d-xo.html
The Sound Artist speakers in the background sure look nice. Looking forward to the review!
Coming soon 😊
Thank you for your explanation of the working of a DAC in a clear and easy way. I knew some things but you made it far more clear for me. In fact I wondered each time why people choose to have a separate DAC. In my opinion when you buy a CD player in the price range of about 700 euros (I have an exposure CD player, the entry level who isn’t made any more) you are ok. I connect my CD player with my Arcam AV receiver using the analog output and my av receiver in the direct mode. My speakers are Audiophysic Tempo and that combination sounds good. For streaming music from,my IPad to my Hifiman Sundara headphone I use a dragonfly cobalt dac with Spotify premium. At first I had no external dac but since I have the dragonfly the sound is much improved and that I could understand because the IPad is a small computer.
Thanks for your explanation.
Greetings,
Ludo
Belgium
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Ludo 😊👍
Thank you Tarun. Just when i saved enough money and was ready to pull the trigger for Pontus you made it clear to me why i should go for a Venus i can't afford lol
Sorry buddy. This is a cruel hobby sometimes 😂👍
Definitely recommend the Venus II. Upgraded from the Pontus II and couldn't be happier.
Hi there! I own a venus II and I did find an enourmous diference adding the iris to my system using a Rpi4 as transport. Then I changed the transport to an Allo Usbridge signature, a much better transport, and sound did not improve as much as it does if you remove the Iris. That means the iris is doing a great work concerning SQ making it less transport dependant. I have a quite revealing system by the way and I totally agree that’s the big point (electrocompaniet aw250R and ARC ref 3 with usher big loudspeakers).
Thanks a lot for your vídeos and keep up the great work! Cheers from spain!
Thank you Pablo. I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍
Great video! I learned a lot, you convinced me a device like this might make a difference. 😁
Thank you Eric. I appreciate you watching 😊👍
Appreciate your clarity and subtlety of delivering information. Enjoy watching your educational videos.
Would you please consider making a video about system synergy, pointing out best path to put together a well balanced system, starting from source all the way to speakers and room, could be perhaps broken down in episodes ranging from components selection, cables, transducers while pointing out common denominators of a synergetic setup
That would be a first and much needed guide for both new and mature listeners, thank you
Thank you Alessandro. I appreciate the suggestions. I talk about putting together a hifi system in a recent podcast 😊👍
th-cam.com/video/LnCXj4M3BJI/w-d-xo.html
Good evening tarun, a very in depth review of a quite unique piece of equipment, the speakers in the background look very interesting, dual concentric perhaps? Thanks for another great review and looking forward to seeing another review soon.
Thank you Paul. Well spotted. They are dual concentric, the Sound Artist SC8B 😊👍
Perfect review! I have the Pontus2 linked to the Hermes over i2S and it works perfectly. a completely black background with space between left and right, lows and highs. Source Innuos Zenith MK3 and amp PrimaLuna Evi 400i with EL34 valves
Sounds good
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Bert. I appreciate your support 😊👍
This was great, really nice to know where the Iris makes sense and where it does not! I also was not aware that I2S has a separated clock that serves as a master 👍 Guess a really nice source with native I2S would be even better.
Thank you buddy. My next digital transport needs to have a I2S output 😊👍
Thank you. It was very informative & educational.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
thank you for a great video. i like your content because you are very informative
Thank you Darrin. Very kind of you to say 😊👍
Hello Tarun, I own and use an Iris for well over a year now and have it setup between my Mac Mini and my Sugden DAC 4.
Connection between the DDC and my DAC is by coax cable.
The Iris is compact, well built and reasonably priced.
A highly recommended product from me,
Brian
Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Brian 😊👍
hahaha love the honesty hey i just spilled something and screw it im not redoing this video. keep up the great work love what you do!
Thank you for forgiving me 😂👍
Thank you first of all for your expertise and thought you have put into your channel and videos. I have found your suggestions to be excellent. I have an iris now before my pontus II and it immediately opened things up. I have found cabling to be as important to getting the best sound, I currently have the best wire world starlight 8 as a usb between my innuos zen mk 3 and the iris, and an AudioQuest vodka hdmi between the iris and the pontus II via I2s. The Wireworld especially makes a huge difference. I am also grateful for your "tweak" that suggested washing machine rubber feet for the subwoofers, they also make a huge difference, putting them under the stock rubber feet that came with the subwoofers made a large and positive difference. Thanks again, I would ask that you investigate and try perhaps the Schiit Lokius, and, or, the JL audio CR1.
Thank you James. I appreciate your support. I hope to review some Schitt gear in 2022. Thank you sharing your experiences 👍😊👍
Another clear review, both educationally and as to the amount of benefit one could get from adding it. Recently you asked for suggestions as to equipment we would be interested in. As you seem to find it hard to match the quality of your ProAc speakers. You thought that one would have to spend a couple of thousand £ more to achieve this. Surely, it would be worth reviewing ProAc Response D2 or D2R speakers at £2900.
I recently mentioned that I found that my old Castle Howard S2s were a good match for my Atoll IN200 signature amp. Since then I dug out an old ISOTEK system set up disk that came as a freebee with hi-fi+. That has helped me fine tune the location of the speakers further and taken the sound to another and higher level. I would gladly have paid quite a bit for a tune up disk to achieve this level of improvement. To get it for the cost of a magazine......
Thank you Daniel. Speaker positioning is so critical to getting good sound in a room. In fact it is probably the most important thing to get right. Unfortunately, ProAc only send their products out to reviewers they have dealt with historically 😊👍
🥰 I didn’t even see the video yet and I’m going in the kitchen to make me some popcorn and getting ready to watch👍
P.S. i’ve been waiting for this review ever since she talked about it
I hope you enjoy it 😊👍👍
Another eminently useful review. Denafrips continues to go from strength to strength. Can't wait for a review of their Apollo amp, though at a 100 pounds I guess reviewers might not be lining up!
Thank you my friend. I am planning to review their amps soon 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 if you can get the Apollo that would be great as i am seriously considering it.
@@michaelmityok1001 I will probably start with the smaller amps and work myself up to the Apollo. That way I can comment about what extra the Apollo brings. Also, time to get to the gym if I am lugging that sucker around 😂👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 understand, most people will be interested in the smaller more affordable ones, purely selfish request on my part. Need to get to the gym as well if I am going to buy the Apollo!
@@michaelmityok1001 I would like to review the Apollo though 😊👍
Immaculately conceived presentation on DDC. It just shows that you need to be very informed before you purchase a ddc or more generally, to know how to achieve optimum hifi performance with the right component and connection configuration.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Deserved!
Well done review 👍
Thank you buddy 😊👍
My iMac --> Pontus II --> Decware Pre --> Decware Zen amps (monoblocks) system is also much improved by inserting the Iris even though the cost of the Decware amps is not approaching that of your amp chain. So the improvement must depend on the source and on the amp quality, not necessarily its price... Thanks for the review.
Thank you for sharing your experiences Scott 🙂
good to have you back dude:)
Thank you Mr J. Good to be back 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Looking at your channel you were only away for a few weeks.. What a funny world youtube is.
A week gone by and no video? Is he dead?!?
Let me check my pulse. No, still alive and kicking 😂👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 :D
Great review Tarun. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about the IRIS paired with different types of Dacs (chip/fpga) to see if the benefits/Synergies are the same.
Thank you ML. If I get time, I wouldn’t mind doing that 😊👍
This is superlative. None of the many references I have seen to DAC issues like USB and clocking have offered any explanatory information - only opinions. Now I am able to proceed with an informed layperson's understanding, thanks to Tarun's lucid explanation of this challenging material. Other reviewers tell us how equipment sounds to them, but Tarun offers invaluable advice on the level of associated equipment that one should put together in order for this purchase to make sense. Kudos.
Thank you Howard. This was a tricky topic to cover as it gets quite involved as soon as you delve in. I tried to keep it as simple as I could without throwing the baby out with the bath water. Thank you for your kind and generous words of support my friend 👍😊👍
Hi Taron
Excellent review as usual, even though I have to confess I didnt understand all of it! :)
If you dont mind I have a couple of comments on Sources.....
You rarely mention which sources you use in your reviews of amps, speakers etc. I think people would be really interested in that, and certainly know I would.
I would also really love to see you review some source components. These days there are thousands of new streamers on the market, for instance, and I really think people would appreciate your insight into those. And as an old vinyl-head myself, I'd love to see you have a look at a few TTs from "the dark side" :)
Keep up the excellent work.
Steve
Thank you Steve. I appreciate your support and the suggestions 😊👍
This is a very nice technical explanation, nice to know what is out there. But I will have to upgrade quite a bit of stuff before this becomes relevant to me. Never the less, specifically the jitter I can see making a difference, more so than the noise.
Thank you Hugo 😊👍
Great review, I think you somewhat understated how complex audio transfer via USB is, it's not just a few signals being muxed together, there is also a truckload of handshaking and other stuff that goes into USB, as it is a universal interface, not just for audio.
As for the external clock inputs - wow, I'm used to 10MHz type reference clocks, so these ... odd.
My biggest trouble with audio is Microsoft Windows, I need a decent audio playback solution, all I've looked at are either expensive subscription tie-ins, or just don't do proper bit perfect.
Thank you Paul. I was trying to keep things fairly accessible 😊👍
Very well explained! Nice device. It's funny how "digital" was supposed to solve noise, tape hiss, rumble, hum and whatnot, and still it reminds more of the old-fashioned record player than those promises. Let me digress a bit because the global village.
Something that ought not be a problem in the UK, but can be in continental Europe and the USA, is that our AC plugs can be put into the outlet in two ways, thus switching live and neutral. As audio devices tend to make ground connections via their chassis over an audio link, swapping live/neutral between devices can give a significant voltage differential and energy flow between devices. This can cause a lot of edginess in the audio. The reason I bring this up is because I presume that the galvanic isolation works at the level of the bit-stream, but not at the level of inter-device grounding. And I may be wrong here. If my presumption is right, then this problem could only be solved with an optical connection (not my favorite), or by making sure that all audio devices are "phase correct" relative to each other.
In the way, learned friend, you say, paraphrased, that people in some cases can better upgrade their amplifier before thinking of this device, people in parts of the world better sort that AC thing out, before they upgrade anything. I went as far as to replace some of my local standard "Schuko" wall outlets by French ones. The French design doesn't allow you to switch live/neutral and Schuko plugs exist that are compatible with the grounded French outlet. Another thing is that we listen to our AC. In the way this filter needs to reclock and clean the bit stream because of minimalist implementations, the power stages in our analog amplification devices are simple. They generally are designed on the assumption that AC is clean and a simple rectification is enough. And then all the devices in our homes pollute our AC lines and the grid too.
Thank you JP. Fascinating to learn about your experiences and thoughts on this topic. Thank you for posting 😊👍
Great review! I've been into Computer Audio for a number of years, it takes a lot of trial and error to get great sound from a PC. In my experience laptops sound dreadful, regardless of the argument of low power/ battery power. A powerful PC with a dedicated USB card (SOTM etc) would give any streamer a run for its money. Add in that you can add Dirac to your setup and sort the bass out in your room, I reckon it's hard to beat.
Thank you DG. I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍
How much of a change did the sotm usb pcei board help? $350 is a lot of a cheddar for a separate usb board
Hello Tarun! There aren’t many transports worthy of consideration short of one, the Project RS 2 T. This transport utilizes a Pioneer based transport which has been heavily modified. There are other transports and opinions on this vary. I say use what suits your needs and budget. The Project RS 2T is the first transport I saw using an I squared S output. It’s pricey, but so are the others that have the I squared S output. Digital equipment can be real fussy about power quality issues internally. Equipment which can lower this noise floor yield big on the output of your system. The Iris will not turn a mediocre system around. Only an upgrade in component quality will render that into reality. It’s worth the investment to upgrade any components which bring you closer to your own happiness in listening. Happy ears, happy life Tarun! Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😷
Thank you Mark. Great to learn about your experiences with the ProJect RS2T 😊👍
I had to come back and revisit this review or shall I call it - "an education
relevant to I2S". The reason is that since I originally viewed this some
months back, I have pretty-much decided that the Pontus2 is the DAC
I want. Yes, the reviews offered are basically all quite positive but as well,
it is the I2S feature that I have decided is a must (to use) if I am going to
invest in the Pontus2. The Iris DDC, as I now understand it, is going to be a
must to partner with the Pontus. (and the cost, to me, is reasonable)
Audio has always been a great joy in my life. My initial fascination began
back in the 50s when a relative in Seattle played some opera on what was
then, a state of the art mono system powered by a big tube amp. Now,
obviously things have progressed and I have always tried to keep abreast
of improvements but at the end of the day I am the type of person that likes
to understand the inner workings or science within my audio equipment.
I know what I like to hear and I know what I can afford to hear. In manifesting
sound equipment over these many years I can honestly say that it has
been a lot of fun, not to mention, rewarding. As said, I do like to understand
my equipment at the deepest level possible. Tarun's TH-cam channel
has enabled me to become a much better learned student of this ever
evolving world of audio equipment. If you have taken the time to read this
then please peruse his other TH-cam offerings ... when it comes to
getting an audio education a on what is new and to a reasonable degree -
how it may work - this guy is gold. 'nuff said 🇨🇦
Thank you Charles. I am extremely grateful for your support. I am sure you will enjoy the Pontus II with the Iris 👍😊👍
Great video and I appreciate the extra in depth explanation! A quick question if I may, do you reckon that using the Iris with a Michi P5/S5 would bring an increased quality?
Thank you Venish. I don’t believe the S5 has a I2S input. It depends on the quality of your digital transport and I am assuming you are not using an external DAC. I would stick with USB from it directly into the S5 😊👍
Very deep, very interesting
Thank you Richard 😊👍
Great DAC reviews !
If you get the chance to review a Metrum NOS DAC …
I use the entry level ‘Flint’ model next to my Hugo and it’s definitely a remarkable device !
It uses Metrum’s own ‘Transient’ DAC chips, and no digital filtering.
Created and produced in Eindhoven NL, the home of Philips and the birthplace of the CD 😃
That you for watching and the heads up Giuseppe. I will check it out 😊👍
Great explanation., give good insight on i2s signal which was originally only intended to be used inside a device and not for connecting 2 devices. It still looks like a niche product though, wonder if there is market for these kind of products. At some point I let go of the technical perfection pursuit and put musical enjoyment first.
Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍
Hi Tarun great video I've actually been considering the Gaia which is further up the food chain in the denafrips line. My DAC is a luxman da-06 apart from coax, toslink, USB, it has AES/EBU. I'm not sure whether I would get an advantage given the digital inputs on the DAC. ID be interested in your thoughts.
Thank you Shane. That will be interesting. I would predict that the clock and isolation on the Gaia will be superior to the DA06. In the absence of the I2S, I would use the AES/EBU. How much difference the Gaia will make will depend on the implementation of those input on your DAC. If you get to find out, please let me know 😊👍
Thanks Taran for the advice and l will let you know 🎧🙂
Really like your videos! Have you reviewed the MiniDSP SHD Studio? I wonder how it affects your system in comparison.
Thank you for for watching and your suggestion Jay. I haven’t reviewed it as yet 😊👍
As always, another great review. Just so I get this straight. I have a Pontus II DAC, Jay's Audio CDT2-MK3 and a mini PC acting as my current network streamer. The CD and PC both connect to the DAC. If purchasing the Iris, only connect the PC to the Iris and NOT the CD transport? The CD still connects directly to the Pontus II, bypassing the Iris?
If that's the case, would I not be better off purchasing a "real" network streamer, possibly eliminating the need for a DDC?
The remainder of my system is a Luxman 507uXII integrated and Spendor D7.2s.
You could do what you suggest Doug. Iris between PC and Pontus II, CD direct. I would upgrade the streamer as the PC is likely to be the weak link in the audio chain. Thank you for watching 😊👍
This review is so good! It's like a school lesson and I've learned do much. Will you review the Gaia?
Thank you Nathan. I hope to review more Denafrips products including the Gaia 👍😊👍
Thank you for the review Tarun, my Iris is on the way... I shall report back. ;-)
Cool 😎 please do 😊
Thanks a lot for this review of the Iris DDC. I also have the Hegel H160 and i am using it together with the Ares II DAC. Do you think that it could be an improvement to use this Iris DDC connected before the Ares II ? But it wouldn't be I2S between Iris and Ares, coaxial or toslink then.
Hi Markus, I don’t know what speakers you are using but I would go for an upgrade in either amp or speakers. Then look for a DAC with an I2S input before considering the Iris 😊
Nice review as always.
I’ve a Mutec reclocker going into a Pontus 11. Is it doing, more or less, the same thing?
Thank you Jim. I appreciate you sharing your experiences 😊👍
Thanks Tarun, I am hoping the upcoming USB out of the BS Node is good enough to use with the Iris, then I will have super transport for not that much cash. Thinking about the Sonnet Morpheus for the DAC
I am not familiar with that DAC but please let me know how you get on 😊👍
Great evaluation and review as always. I am always blown away that someone as knowledgeable and technically savvy as you would eschew room treatment in the corners of your front wall for a wine rack and equipment rack . A pair of tube traps and corner traps 🤷🏻♂️ perhaps
Highly recommended! Keep the reviews coming. Some of the best audiophile related content available on TH-cam. Thanks!
Thank you Michael. I appreciate your kind words of support. The hifi is located in a family space and acoustic panels are not an option. I should do a video on room acoustics and how to get good sound in a room without panels at some point 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 love your work, in a field where there is so much nonsense, your work is simultaneously technically impressive and entertaining. That’s not easy to pull off! Keep up the great work!
@@michaelmartin3026 thank you my friend. Very kind and greatly appreciated 👍😊👍
Thanks Arun for a simple, understandable explanation of this complex topic. Just want to ask you if you think I will benefit from adding this Iris to my audio chain. Currently im using Ares 2 dac, KLH Model 5 speakers and SMSL VMV A1 amp. Thanks.
Thank you. I would keep it as is. The real benefit of the Iris comes when using the I2S output. As the Ares II doesn’t have an I2S input you will need to use coax or optical. It won’t improve things that significantly in that application 😊👍
Thank you for the pedagogical explanations and an interesting review!
I have been interested in the Denafrips R2R DACs for a while. But I now realize an important related question - how does all of this change if/when one uses a DSD signal to the DAC? I understand the importance of low jitter etc in a PCM signal. But, a DSD signal has a sampling frequency of at least 2.8 MHz (original SACD, DSD64) or higher multiples of that. This means that any artifacts from jitter will be centered around frequencies far off in the very high ultrasound spectrum. And these frequencies are filtered away by the DAC anyhow. Indeed, if I understood it correctly, one of the advantages of the DSD format is that it is technically much simpler to convert back to analog. Since it is only 1 bit resolution, no ladder of different resistors or accurately timed samples are needed, in principle an analog low-pass filter is all that is needed.
So my question is - is it true that DSD is much less sensitive to jitter etc? And therefor would benefit less from a DDC like this? And, if I use DSD (upsampled by Roon in my case), would I even benefit anything at all from an R2R DAC, or are those ladders not even being used then?
Thank you Daniel. The DSD inside the Denafrips DACs is handled by a proprietary FPGA implementation. I didn’t notice any difference in fidelity between it and PCM through the R2R ladder network. Not entirely surprising given that the power supply and output stage of a DAC have a significant baring on the overall fidelity. As for the reduced jitter performance through DSD? That is a very good question and would require further investigation 😊👍
"And, if I use DSD (upsampled by Roon in my case), would I even benefit anything at all from an R2R DAC, or are those ladders not even being used then?"
I would think not. R2R DACs natively decode PCM. If you are feeding them a DSD signal they will have to internally convert it to PCM first. I think think the Holo May actually has an entirely separate Delta Sigma segment for handling DSD, but then you'd be completely bypassing the R2R stage of the DAC anyway. I've not seen someone objectively test this but my intuition says that if you are serious about using DSD it would be best to stick with a quality Dealt Sigma DAC rather than going for R2R.
I noticed you adviced to upgrade the amplier before purchacing a DDC. I use an Exposure 3010s2d integrated with the Denafrips Pontus Dac, and I still decided to go for a Denafrips Hermes DDC. For my part it was a very good upgrade. The thing is, in my system it removed slight harsness in the upper frequencies and bloated bass, I think that is due to reduction in jitter. So I really don't feel the need to upgrade the amplier or source. I now more than ever enjoy this Exposure 3010sd2, and plan to keep it for a long time.
That is great Geir 😊
Well done sir.
Thank you 👍
i got a gustard u18 ddc and i am also very impressed by the effect of it. on my smsl vmv d2 is i²s not the right choice, but aes was perfect. on my schumamm ladder dac its the i²s whats most effectiv. the effect is the same as you discribed it on the iris. i cant imagine that a much more expensive ddc is bringen even better performance.
Thank you for sharing Heinz 😊
awsome video. So when we use I2S on raspberry PI dacs, the big downfall is the quality of the clock?
Thank you Paul. It can be as the clock in the Pi is controlling the data transfer as opposed to USB where the clock in the DAC is responsible 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you sir
Just curious, peeking over your shoulder, I noticed an interesting speaker stand hack. could you elaborate? Thank you again for an excellent “spot on” ;) video.
Thank you Kostas. I use acoustic foam between the stand and speaker and silicon/sorbothane feet. I helps to reduce resonance 😊👍
Thinking about purchasing a Gaia to pair w/ my Venus II. Would going I2S as apposed to AES/EBU benefit the sound quality? Only using an iPad Pro w/ Tidal connected with a USB B-C cable.
I tho I the AES/EBU is still a multiplexed signal so my money is on the I2S coming out of the Gaia. Please let me know how you get on 😊
Great video. Could anyone advise where one can buy pontus 2 in the UK, please?
Excellent vidéo as always! I'm using an Audiolab 6000CDT cd player with the Adi-2 dac. The Audiolab already have a tempered crystal oscillator. Considering I'm not using streaming, would a ddc make any difference?
Thank you. Stick with your current setup 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 that's what I thought. Thanks for the answer and keep up the good work!
Hi Tarun. Great review as usual. A question for you: I own the Terminator Plus and Gaia DDC. I believe Denafrips recommends using the TPlus clock to clock the signal in the Gaia via dual BNC cables. Would you agree that it is better to clock the Gaia with the TPlus or would you recommend having the Gaia clock itself with its own internal clock? Thanks from Chicago! Regards, RJ
Thank you RJ😊👍
I would have to look into it. I can’t see the point in using an external DDC if the internal clock in the Terminator Plus is better 🤔
The T+ clocks synced to the Gaia via dual bnc clock out is superior to using the Gaia’s internal clocks and feeding the T+ via i2s. I have this very setup, sound goes from very high quality 2 dimensional to 3 dimensional when setup using the clock out feature va dual bnc cables.
@@LJ-mp7ir Thank you LJ. My question would be, aren’t you better off just going direct from your transport to the T+? What function is the Gaia performing other than converting the digital source to I2S and feeding it to the T+? If it is not lowering jitter then perhaps the extra isolation the Gaia provides is the reason for the improvement you are experiencing 🤔
@@abritishaudiophile7314 have had the opportunity to try it in every possible configuration and have had multiple people over for back to back listening sessions, everyone has unanimously commented that the stereo image gains a palpable 3 dimensional sound once the Gaia is setup via the clock out from the T+ via the dual BNC. It doesn’t make sense as to why this is the case, but everyone prefers the depth and width as well as the weight and clarity that the Termintor + clock out to the Gaia provides. And to answer another question that one of your followers asked, I have the new melco n1z/ h50 streaming Qobuz with very high quality silver wiring throughout and the sound is still markedly inferior to playback at 16/44 via the Jays CDT2 MK3 outputting via AES to the Gaia. The Jays is bar none the best I have ever heard a Cd being played, it makes the highest quality music streaming files at 24/192 sound like you are listening to MP3. The clarity and weight of the stereo image is spooky with the Jays and high quality wiring.
@@LJ-mp7ir Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences LJ. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer for why something sounds better as I recently found out when reviewing cables. I appreciate you trying to shed some light on the mystery 😊👍
Hi Tarun,
Thanks for the informative videos, it has always helped understand before deciding.
Your inputs would be highly appreciated. I essentially listen to 2 channel music via Apple music streamed through my iPhone feeding into Pontus then Anthem receiver as pre feeding the 5channel parasound power amp driving the ATC SCM 11s. In my never ending quest to further improve the sound quality from my set up should I next invest in a good streamer transport like eversolo A6 or go for Iris?
Thanks in Advance!
Yes, transport first 😊
Thank you so much! 😊
Thanks Tarun. I can't afford to upgrade to Pontus as I got Ares 2 last year. I stream from my laptop pc to it on Denon 2600 and ma silver 8. I know you said only Pontus would be worth it but would I get any improvement adding this?
Hi David, I would NOT suggest to upgrade the Ares II for the Pontus or to add the Iris DDC. I think the Ares II DAC is probably the strongest component in your system. I would be upgrading amp and speakers first 😊
Very much enjoyed your review. I currently use a Node (N130) via USB to Ares II DAC, do you feel adding an Iris inline would further improve the sound quality?
I wouldn’t use it just to reclock the USB signal. The main benefit is when using the I2S output 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thanks Tarun. Output from the Iris would be to Ares II (coax). I may not fully understand your response…
@@trevorparmer5231 sorry, typo. I just corrected it 😊
great break down .. so i would go usb from streamer to iris and I2S from iris to Dac?
Yes 😊
Hello Tarun, Thank you for the informative video. I am in the process of heading the Denafrips way, and I am using the Athena preamp and it has expanded the sound stage. I have purchased the Denafrips Avatar and it is on its way. I was wondering if you could please compare the output from CD transport with I2S and streaming the same song. I still find spinning CD produces better quality of music compared to streaming, I was wondering I may be wrong. You have all the Denafrips products at your disposal, so I was wandering if you could help out a fellow audiophile before I sink 6k on Denafrips Terminator 2. My system: Ayon CD 5S CD Transport and DAC (even though it is old has all the tech like I2S and very well reviewed). Pre Denafrips Athena, Power Amp Rogue Audio M180 Monos. Speaker Pure Audio Project Quintet 15 Horn 1. Thank You.
Thank you Ganesh. That is a very nice system you are putting together. I think Denafrips are doing some innovative things. I hope to review more of their products. I have 12,500 song on a 2TB USB drive plugged in directly to my Auralic Aries Mini. It should better than streaming Tidal on the same device 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you Tarun. Looking forward for more of Denafrips products review.
I keep hearing a lot of rave reviews on the Musician Pegasus that is supposedly made in the same factory as Denafrips dacs, better parts but lower price. Have also heard some negative about them as well. Would love to hear your thoughts on that if you come across with a unit.
Thank you Nicky. I have heard mixed reports as well. I don’t believe they are built on the same factory as Denafrips but I could be wrong 😊👍
I've now watched so many of your videos, that I dream of nicely arranged ladders of resistors and donut shaped coils of copper.
Sorry about that Danny 🤣👍
Hi there, what cable did you use for the I2s connection, is it just a regular HDMI cable from the iris to the Pontus? Is it just plug in and off you go or needs some tweaking? Many thanks.
I used one by QED 😊
Thanks for this, very helpful. Although you seemed to almost seems to low prioritise the sound part and yet is that not the most important thing after all. 😊
Thank you. Not intentionally. There was a lot of technical detail to cover but the sound quality is always paramount 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 😊👍
Hang on, won’t Roon convert a digital format to another digital format? I convert anything below 88Khz to DSD256
I think you can set up Roon to just play the native format 😊
My SMSL VMV D1se DAC has an I2S input, but I've heard not all I2S connections are compatible, even if the connector fits. Is there any way to check this? I am considering getting the Iris since I do not have a very high-end DAC (though it's pretty good for sub $1k price). Thanks!
You will need to check the HDMI pin connections on the Iris and VMVD1SE to see if they can work together. Emailing Alvin at Vinshine Audio would also be advisable 😊
nice video
Thank you Raj 😊👍
Okay so I’ve been using this DDC for a few weeks now and I can say with fact that this DDC for me has brought image to pin point center image, it’s outstanding just for that going into the Pontus II. Why it does this I have no idea but it truly is amazing. Did you find this to be true as well? Considering my system is very sensitive and reviling maybe that’s why. May not happen for other systems less complex
Yes, I found the clarity and focus improved noticeably. I explain what is does and how it works in the video 😊
Nice review. You laid much emphasis on Amplification. Do you mean that the pre/power amps must be the best in the chain ?.. Also is it very good dac and ok preamp or the other way. Thank you
Unfortunately, this video was some time ago so I am not quite sure that point you are referring to. A system is only as good as the weakest component in it. The objective should be to get everything to the same level 😊
I'd be curious to learn about how well the Iris would work with the Ares II? It is too bad the Ares II doesn't have the AES input - is there a way to use the USB input on the Ares II? Or more likely, it would have to be a coax connection.
I think the real value of the Iris comes in when using it’s I2S output. Unfortunately, the Ares II doesn’t have an I2S input 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Right, which is odd since it visually matches the Ares II.
Never realized that a ⏰ is so important. Always interesting. Thanks for sharing. But what about the amps without them?
Thank you 😊
Tarun have you reviewed any gear that incorporates Dirac room correction?
Yes, the NAD M10. It worked well 😊
Liked the video very much! What cable do you use with the i2s (lvds) input? I have a dac with the right input, but … I’m lost when it comes to the cable
Thank you Njâl. I used a QED HDMI cable 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 hdmi cable for your opinion is right choice for i2s input or you "compromise" on a hdmi cable
@@vaksilvaksil9939 I think you could use either connection but I went with HDMI and it worked well 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you! Do you think it will have a good effect on sound of my system streamer when put in between the Ethernet cable and the streamer? My system is the streamer and dac Matrix element I, amp is Peachtree Nova 300, and speakers are the Audio Physic Tempo 35. Njål
@@njalbrekke4861 what DAC are you using?
Since I’m streaming directly from my Roon Nucleus via USB to the dac in my Mcintosh c2700, I’m wondering if this would be a benefit?
In my opinion, only if your C2700 has an I2S input 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314
Thank u. I really enjoy your reviews.
@@ricosplace1 thank you 😊👍
Hi - will this do anything for a Denafrips Ares DAC? It doesn’t have the IS2 connection
It will but best used with the Pontus II which has I2S 😊
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I have always felt that my Auralic Aries Mini is the weakest link in my hifi system. The next better Auralic streamer is too much of a jump, therefore I decided to buy the Iris instead to upgrade the USB signal from the Mini. Now the different components of my system are more evenly matched (at least in terms of price). The improvements are just as you described.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Well, the Iris DDC arrived and I have it in the system right now listening to Grace Mahya, Last Live at Dug on the old OPPO BDP-83... Unfortunately that recording is running on optical to the Ares II, not able to utilize the Iris.
But! I did hear a a nice difference with the Ares II/Iris combo using the new BlueSound Node. It did tighten things up a bit, the bass was and is much more pronounced in a good way. The mids, female vocals were stepped up a notch or two streaming from Qobuz. It was a worthwhile purchase, and I would do it again without hesitation, I would probably upgrade to the Gaia if I was to do it again.
I will be ordering the Pontus II from Alvin when they are back in stock. I went all black with the Denafrips Thallo and Hades amps... Heck, the Ares II sounded so good, we had to throw in and go all the way, and damn glad I did. Best Hi-Fi dollars I have ever spent. Just call it, Audio Nirvana. ;-)
Speakers are the KLH Model 5, 10 AWG OFC cables I through together myself, I will be upgrading those to Mogami wire when I get a chance to build those, have the cable sitting in the box in the hall... The XLRs, all Mogami/Neutrick and AudioQuest Cinnamon digital cables. Monosaudio power cords on the Thallo, Hades and the two SVS SB3000 subs... Pangea AC 14SE MKII Signature power cords on the rest of the gear.
Everything I have thrown at this system sounds incredible! Well, not everything, my neighbor came over and he wanted to hear some ABBA, poor recordings, nothing could help that hot mess. Everything else, incredible! LOL!
Thank you Tarun! You and Jay were the motivation, glad I paid attention. ;-)
Thank you Michael. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Tarun, I went and purchased the GeerFab DSD breakout box to use via the HDMI output of the Oppo BDP-83 blue ray player. This breakout box, or D.BOB, it strips the unadulterated DSD signal out of the full A/V single being passed over the HDMI cable out to my TV, then sends that DSD signal via SPDIF coax directly to the Ares II DAC.
It is pricey, at $1000 US, but to my ear, it was worth it, as it enhances the sound of even older CD recordings. When I say enhances, it does not change the sound per se, but sends that clean signal out, the difference is noticeable in a good way. Everything is tighter, bass is better, faster and deeper, voicing is stepped up a notch or two in the midrange, then the detail, it really reveals much more, in a good natural way. Musical instrument separation is also better, again, in a natural way. There is no digital or clinical harshness in the process, you do not know the D.BOB is in the chain until you remove it.
Just thought I would throw this out there, as most folks have never heard of this box. I tried one of the Chinese inexpensive models, and it did not work. I did not want to wait another month, so I pulled the trigger on the GeerFab unit. I bought mine on Amazon through Audio Advisor here in Michigan, they are a licensed distributor.
What kind of speakers are those behind you? Thanks for the vid!
Those are the Sound Artist SC8B 😊
Very good explanation and up to the point. If I understand correctly, one of the conclusion is that Toshiba USB (JRiver) to Iris does not make much difference (in terms of sound quality and stage) while connecting to Pontus II directly; isnt it? (or) am I missing something.
Thank you. The Iris placed in between my Toshiba Notebook (running JRiver) and the Pontus II did improve the clarity. However when I used my Auralic Ares Mini connected (via USB) directly to the Pontus II the sound was better. More clarity, refinement and a bigger soundstage. Basically changing to a dedicated streamer makes more difference than using the Iris with a computer as a transport 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you so much for your reply Tarun. Since Auralic Ares Mini is discontinued, and the next in their line up costs more than $3000, which dedicated streamer (with a dedicated USB output) you recommend (in the absence of Auralic Ares Mini)?
@@wirelesssiteimpairmentanal8865 I would go for the Bluesound Note. It has a better user interface than the Lighting DS system developed by Auralic 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks once again Tarun for your valuable advice. Any thoughts on S.M.S.L SD-9? It got all possible digital input and all possible outputs (including I2S), and at half the price of Node 130. "On Paper" SD-9 seems to have more features compared with Node 130. May I please request your audiophile review on this unit?
@@wirelesssiteimpairmentanal8865unfortunately, I haven’t heard the SC-9 😊
Can I connect AUNE XC1 Audio 10M clock to IRIS DDC?
Hi Tarun, at timestamp 12:40, you spoke of improved sound quality with the iris between your computer and the Pontus ii, but not to the level of as your Auralic Aries Mini connected directly to your Pontus ii. Is there any benefit to using the Iris transport between the Pontus and a streamer like the Aries mini or ifi Zen streamer with an external SSD hard dirve connected to it?
You can never tell for sure unless you try but I would have thought that the clock in the Iris is a lot better than the one in the Zen. If using the I2S input there should be an improvement 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314, I'm sure the clock on the Iris IS much better. My question is this basically: Is there benefit to having an DDC (iris in this instance) between a non rPi streamer and the Pontus ll ? Thanks
@@johnd2843 that is exactly the scenario I used it in. USB from streamer into the Iris, I2S from Iris into the Pontus II. The improvement easily justified the outlay IMHO 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 - Thanks Tarun. I must have misunderstood your comment referenced in my original message. I understood you to say that the direct connection from your Auralic Aries Mini to the Pontus ii sounded slightly better. Now to match a streamer/transport to the Pontus ii
@@johnd2843 sorry, I don’t think it was that clear in the video. USB connection from streamer direct to Pontus II sounded better than coaxial or optical from Iris to Pontus II. The benefit in sound quality came when using the I2S output of the Iris to the Pontus II 😊
Did you use different coaxial cables? This VDH "the first" you showed, if it's the one you used, it a bit strange cable because of it's carbon construction. It has has very high resistance and an overly dark and smooth sound lacking in dynamics. VDH himself is not recommending it for digital connection, according to my dealer at least.
I used a 75 ohm digital coaxial cable. I used the VDH First just because for illustration purposes. The colour makes it stand out 😊