[olinko]

So my SMSL PO100 stopped working and I need to buy either a new one or something like that.
Trouble is it isn't really a category you can browse, I don't know where to start looking. A couple of Singxer products popped up.

Now, I'm sort of in a loop about what 'upgrading' would mean because I don't understand the actual process that goes on in there. To my mind, in the world of digital-to-digital, how much improvement can there be?
My use case for now has primarily been to keep my audio chain fully digital starting from my PC (foobar - WASAPI) to my active speakers (Swans D300) because my speakers have their own DSP and they do sound better when fed a digital signal rather than an analogue one.

TLDR, 1) any recommendations for a DDC, 2) any info on what makes DDCs vary so much in price range would be welcome. And whether I would benefit at all from upgrading for my specific use case above

 

[Loftprojection]

Will be following this thread with interest because I'm also on the hunt for a DDC to be fed by a Macbook. I read a lot in the last few weeks, originally tempted by the Matrix Xspdif but now on the fence between the Singxer SU6, Denafrip Iris and Gustard U18 and Audio-GD DI24, all in the $600-800 range.

Also I find it very annoying that DAC manufacturers do not include DDC electronics directly in their DACs so that we don't have to be cluttered by all these boxes on our desktop!

 

[olinko]

Will be following this thread with interest because I'm also on the hunt for a DDC to be fed by a Macbook. I read a lot in the last few weeks, originally tempted by the Matrix Xspdif but now on the fence between the Singxer SU6, Denafrip Iris and Gustard U18 and Audio-GD DI24, all in the $600-800 range.

Also I find it very annoying that DAC manufacturers do not include DDC electronics directly in their DACs so that we don't have to be cluttered by all these boxes on our desktop!

Exactly. How expensive can it be to add a digital out...

 

[kumar402]

Will be following this thread with interest because I'm also on the hunt for a DDC to be fed by a Macbook. I read a lot in the last few weeks, originally tempted by the Matrix Xspdif but now on the fence between the Singxer SU6, Denafrip Iris and Gustard U18 and Audio-GD DI24, all in the $600-800 range.

Also I find it very annoying that DAC manufacturers do not include DDC electronics directly in their DACs so that we don't have to be cluttered by all these boxes on our desktop!

Why do you want DDC inside DAC?
Best is small streamer with Coax, AES and I2S out to avoid clutter.

 

[iFi audio]

Depending on your own needs there is this little GEM...

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Inte...1&psc=1&mcid=0a10d8f81be83d7681094463c45858ac

The discussion here on Head-Fi...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dou...or-an-affordable-clean-digital-signal.958462/

This is what started me in the DDC realm, I now use the Singxer SU-2

https://apos.audio/products/singxer-su-2-usb-digital-interface

Your SMSL came out after the success of the DOUK, you can get different versions (Clocks) of this unit but only through that auction site.

Components and build can be cited as the main reasons for the price difference, also the quality of the clocks (Crystal) and the amount of outputs all affect this.

Good Luck in your search!

Cheers!!

 

[Loftprojection]

Why do you want DDC inside DAC?
Best is small streamer with Coax, AES and I2S out to avoid clutter.

Because I, probably like many others, like the convenience of using a portable computer or an iPhone as source. I personally dislike having to use third party user interface, wether it's a DAP, a streamer, etc.

I've been using Apple Music for far as as I can remember and I like to work on my Macbook or iPhone and just plug them in my transportable kit (iDSD and Woo WA8) or my desktop DAC-AMP directly by USB. Now I do have a Bluesound streamer plugged coax into my desktop DAC and it does sound better then using the USB connection from my Macbook but it's not as convenient and I can't go sit anywhere in the house with the Bluesound streamer like I do with the Macbook feeding the Woo WA8 directly.

 

[olinko]

Depending on your own needs there is this little GEM...

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Inte...1&psc=1&mcid=0a10d8f81be83d7681094463c45858ac

The discussion here on Head-Fi...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dou...or-an-affordable-clean-digital-signal.958462/

This is what started me in the DDC realm, I now use the Singxer SU-2

https://apos.audio/products/singxer-su-2-usb-digital-interface

Your SMSL came out after the success of the DOUK, you can get different versions (Clocks) of this unit but only through that auction site.

Components and build can be cited as the main reasons for the price difference, also the quality of the clocks (Crystal) and the amount of outputs all affect this.

Good Luck in your search!

Cheers!!

That Singxer looks tempting, I gotta say... heh. Just don't know if I can justify spending 5x the cost of what I had previously if I don't have the vaguest idea where the extra money is going towards haha

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

There is also Singxer F-1 w/ enclosure. A solid performer. Built like a tank.

 

[Loftprojection]

Depending on your own needs there is this little GEM...

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Inte...1&psc=1&mcid=0a10d8f81be83d7681094463c45858ac

The discussion here on Head-Fi...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dou...or-an-affordable-clean-digital-signal.958462/

This is what started me in the DDC realm, I now use the Singxer SU-2

https://apos.audio/products/singxer-su-2-usb-digital-interface

Your SMSL came out after the success of the DOUK, you can get different versions (Clocks) of this unit but only through that auction site.

Components and build can be cited as the main reasons for the price difference, also the quality of the clocks (Crystal) and the amount of outputs all affect this.

Good Luck in your search!

Cheers!!

Thanks a lot iFi, well that Douk is quite interesting considering it doesn't cost very much if it ends up being a plug and trash thing, I think I'll try it out!

This brings me back to my original thinking though, why don't manufacturers of DACs add the electronics that's in a Douk, or similar, into their DAC devices directly and so we don't have to add a box that doesn't have much value add, specially DACs that are transportable. We will endup with stacks that can't be called transportable anymore; Source to DDC to DAC to AMP, man think about the type of rubber bands we will have to start buying to hold all this together!

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks a lot iFi, well that Douk is quite interesting considering it doesn't cost very much if it ends up being a plug and trash thing, I think I'll try it out!

This brings me back to my original thinking though, why don't manufacturers of DACs add the electronics that's in a Douk, or similar, into their DAC devices directly and so we don't have to add a box that doesn't have much value add, specially DACs that are transportable. We will endup with stacks that can't be called transportable anymore; Source to DDC to DAC to AMP, man think about the type of rubber bands we will have to start buying to hold all this together!

I think it may come down to "school of thought", for instance, I know that even iFi is very proud of the "clocks and so forth" that are already in our products so it may be just a case of it sounding good to the designers without any of that going on. Of course, I am guessing but I could see that happening.

Even the introduction of clock inputs to devices is not a standard thing, even though most folks "mostly" agree they hear a difference when using one.

I myself was shocked when I "felt" a clock made a difference connected to the Singxer SU-2, always trust your own ears!

I still have the Douk and used it very much, and regularly from my Pi when I used that more. I would honestly say if you are not perceiving a difference with that, moving up "may not be" for you!

Cheers!!

 

[olinko]

I think it may come down to "school of thought", for instance, I know that even iFi is very proud of the "clocks and so forth" that are already in our products so it may be just a case of it sounding good to the designers without any of that going on. Of course, I am guessing but I could see that happening.

Even the introduction of clock inputs to devices is not a standard thing, even though most folks "mostly" agree they hear a difference when using one.

I myself was shocked when I "felt" a clock made a difference connected to the Singxer SU-2, always trust your own ears!

I still have the Douk and used it very much, and regularly from my Pi when I used that more. I would honestly say if you are not perceiving a difference with that, moving up "may not be" for you!

Cheers!!

Interesting, thanks for your take!
Does iFi have anything like a DDC? I know you have streamers, but that might just be overkill in my case

 

[iFi audio]

Interesting, thanks for your take!
Does iFi have anything like a DDC? I know you have streamers, but that might just be overkill in my case

No DDC currently, hopefully, one day in the future we will.

Cheers!!

 

[olinko]

No DDC currently, hopefully, one day in the future we will.

Cheers!!

I'm sure a lot of people here would go for a product like that, fingers crossed!

 

[Loftprojection]

No DDC currently, hopefully, one day in the future we will.

Cheers!!

Noooooo, please please please, not another box, just add the necessary electronics directly inside the DAC/AMP boxes, transportable or desktop ones, even if you need to make them slightly bigger.

I know manufacturers are there to make money, that's normal, but I think some manufacturers could distinguish themselves from others, by marketing a top notch reclocker, filter, cleaner... USB input inside their DAC/AMP instead of making new boxes we customers have to plug and stack (cable clutter, space clutter...).

 

[iFi audio]

I tend to agree, but alas I don't make those decisions and will pass along your thoughts to the HQ for sure.

The only problem I see is there is such a split between those that listen/measure/try new things, and those that say "I don't need that, things like this are not reality". Then there is the thought process that goes into products like that always ends up costing more money somehow than say the separate route.

And then they get considered to be a "Top Tier Solution" whereas going the separate route allows folks to try different things to see if they "hear" an improvement in their system.

The LAN iSilencer is an example of this, and also the Opti-box that now comes with the NEO Stream. I can easily see these products being incorporated into more products, and in the case of the Opti-box, that being made into a standalone unit as well.

I do understand what you mean, my desk is quite the mess myself, lol

Cheers!!