For people that stack DDCs, do you use the same cables between each? Or do yall do like one USB in and a different one out (for any other reason than its just what you had laying around)?
USB in and USB out is not common since most DDCs don’t offer USB output. So more often than not you wind up with different (architecture) cables.
Stacking DDCs as a whole isn’t common, but I figured we have enough people here someone is probabaly doing it that can comment. Tbh this is more just a curious question anyways, so no biggie if no one has tried both
I get it, I mean the uncommon thing is because the lack of DDC that do USB in and then USB out. You can however use the USB cleaner and then a DDC and that’s more common. I’ve done that with a couple of devices along the way. In those instances I kept the same cable brand type just to no complicate things. (Relatively inexpensive WireWorld Starlight 8) Haven’t tried anything like that in a long while though.
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I mean, a USB cleaner is a DDC.
LOL yeah I guess! With a more constrained purpose. I guess I see the DDC as a cable standard change platform as well. USB to USB when I did it was to first isolate the USB from all the PC crap and give it a clean source of power, but you’re right some do reclock as well.
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Thats fair. While usb cleaner is absolutely a DDC in the technical sense, if its not often called one I didnt realize that. TBH I just assumed everything that was digital to digital (and not ethernet) was called a DDC colloquially.
Yeah, I am in a situation where I kind of stack a few various pieces on my HP only system.
So I have the Holo audio Titanus coming out of my SOTM USB reclocker feeding my Matrix DDC feeding my Pasithea DAC. Heck, I even have a Jitterbug on one of the outputs of the SOTM. 
I admit it’s my absolute favorite HP stack with a SQ that’s really good, highly resolving at the end product. I genuinely have no complaints but I’m also not as picky when it comes to HP’s as most of you guys, so any praise I give is worth little on this forum. The system overall is very resolving, and it has really good space and staging with most HP’s, with generally strong impact and slam too. 
I had all these spare parts around and I kind of just added everything to the chain to see what would happen and the end result was that I liked it so much I use it with pleasure.
My OCD gets to me though, I don’t have 2 high quality USB cables of the same make. That would be my preference over two disparate brands but the ones I use are too expensive to just give one up so I deal with it😤
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Got the Sonore DDC today, early impressions seems like there’s a big performance jump but wasn’t really listening critically yet. Nice surprise it came with a Monoprice HDMI cable but I’m using a AQ Carbon I had.
What pisses me off is I’m not sure this component is brand new (even though bought new from Small Green Computer), the torx screws seem beat up a bit and I can’t open it easily. It also says in the manual it comes default as PS Audio pin arrangement for the I2S but matching that on my Rockna sets it up flipped for left and right. When I set the Rockna to its default non ps audio setting it works fine.
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Emailed Small Green Computer to get an almost immediate reply from the CEO, pointing out there’s actually a torx driver in the box (!), I missed that when unboxing. He said his manufacturing people might have tightened the screws a bit but that it’s 100% new. Great service and a better start now lol
I need to figure out the pin stuff though, I guess that’s one of the problems with I2S.
First impressions though - way more low level information. Not sure if it’s the DDC or moving to I2S on the Wavedream but I’ll know soon enough when I get the Red here and compare different inputs in parallel.
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For a Yggy specifically do you feel the sound quality via Aes was worth it or you just use it as a convenience at this point?
Quick answer: Yes, it is worth it and I would choose that option first when available with the Yggy.
AES in my opinion with my setup is the best sounding input followed by the spdifs (coaxial/BNC).
What is better you ask? Staging - width and depth, plus a darker background resulting in improved dynamics, clarity and spatial orientation.
I should reiterate - with that setup the signal is coming out of the PC via USB and passing through a DDC then into the Yggy and that no matter what input I use, AES or one of the spdifs, it sounds better than just running USB directly from the PC to the Yggy, even with Unison USB.
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Is there any point upgrading the psu of the SU6 because its using super capacitors charge for power? Anyone tried anything with it?
(note: su6 + aes gave me so many “huh?” moments revealing low level notes I didn’t hear before)
I wouldn’t given the architecture. I guess it would have been nice to have the option with it. I’ve seen people do various mods (changing the caps, cutting ground trace etc.) to the SU6, all of which would void the warranty. I don’t have first hand experience with the SU6 though.
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I honestly would be surprised if uograding the PSU was a better use of money than just uograding the device as a whole tbh
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Has anyone tried the Matrix x-spdif 3? Any thoughts on how it compares to other <$1k DDC options?
I have NOT tried the 3 yet but the performance of the vs2 was not lacking nor ever caused any negative sound character issues, i just can’t imagine the 3 not performing well for the price point 
Having said this, unless you need a particular feature off the Matrix brand, the Berkeley Alpha USB converter seems to be overall a great product as reviewed and used by multiple forum members, and depending on your needs may be worthwhile saving for.
Having stated the above, I personally regret selling my Border Patrol DAC, it doubled as a USB DDC converter and quite honestly in my own systems, when i used it as a DDC, looking back and going off memory alone, the synergy it had and its performance simply mated best with my system preferences and it worked really well in its role as a DDC. If ever i require a DDC again in one of my 2 channel systems i would be hard pressed to chose between the Berkeley Alpha and a Border patrol unit.
FYSA, i also continue to use a Matrix2 in one of my HP only systems because its size is just right for where i need it to sit, and its performance is perfectly acceptable relative to the equipment it works with and my listening preferences
You have choices, just really look at your own personal needs, desires, budget and opportunities to get the best possible deal.
The ONLY time i did not enjoy my Matrix2 was when i used it with my Lampizator B3 DAC, next to an SU6 and BP i also tried it brought the left and right sides of the soundstage in closer than is my preference. Otherwise in my personal experiences that was the only negative effect my ears were able to discern. With HP use i never used gear so expensive that my units were not relative in performance and cost to the chain and no negative performance or sound character issues were ever noted.
Hope this helps instead of just further confusing your situation 
(it’s early morning and i had energy to babble on…)
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Thanks for the excellent info!
I hadn’t looked that close at the Bakery Alpha USB before. It seems like a really nice unit. But $2.3k new price is more than I was wanting to spend 
I’ll have to watch for it to come up used 
. Eventually it’ll make sense in this signal chain…
This is probably why I’ll end up with a matrix 2 or 3. The current use case for it will be with an OG Yggy. I bet the Alpha USB would pair nicely, but basically it’s the same price as the DAC 
. $500 for a Matrix x-spdif + power supply and cables, I’ll be all in close to $1k, which feels more price appropriate. (Although, who am I kidding, “price appropriate” has never stopped me before… 
)
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Haven’t heard the matrix but can recommend the Holo Red. Doesn’t need an extra PSU and works really well (measures good too if you care about that).
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