With / Without DDC (digital to digital converter) - Denafrips 

Thanks for comparison and good song choice. I think the guitar at the end provides the best comparison.

A lot more natural without! Especially wit the voice!

I know it's not as easy to do this, but I think if you precisely level-matched the playback and cut back and forth between the DDC and non-DDC passages it would reveal more (if anything) about the differences. You're getting into subtle territory with a reclocker when you're already using a DAC with a quality clock.

I felt like WITH DDC was quieter. I felt like WITHOUT DDC the music was popping through some barrier or film. I think it is very high frequency electronic noise from the macbook, but i could be wrong.

I am in no way an expert. However, I will say that with the DDC, it had a smoother, cleaner, more detailed sound. Maybe a bit warmer too? Without the DDC, the sound seemed to be a bit harsh and grainy. I could tell a difference and I preferred with the DDC.

DDC, is cleaner and more detailed. Without, it would drive me crazy listening to what sounds like scratching, much more muffled.

With DDC better dynamics & clarity

Listened with dragonfly red and Sennheiser ie600s. Maybe a blacker background with the DDC and smoother sound. But the difference was minimal I found.

Without ddc the sound is warmer and fuller. With ddc it's cleaner and more precise sounding. I prefer without the ddc.

Much better with DDC

I prefer without DDC.

without DDC is better

You might also compare (1) HDD -> Streamer -> DAC with (2) HDD -> laptop -> DDC -> DAC. One of the reviewer did report that they are quite even in sound quality. Also, did you use I2S connection in (2)?

I prefer with DDC, wider sound stage and more dynamic.

100 times better with the DAC!!!👍🏼

I could hear no difference... And, I have the Iris DDC and the Ares II, new Node as a source, I don't know if it really makes a difference. I do know this, I cannot tell the difference between my CD transport and Node with the Ares II. Tracks from both streamer and CD, both sound identical. And I have tried this with multiple CDs and streams. I have the Denafrips Hades pre, Thallo amp, KLH Model 5 speakers. The CD transport is the Oppo BDP-83 using the GeerFab digital breakout box to pull the highest resolution possible out of the Oppo via HDMI, coax out to the Ares II.

Sadly, I can not tell the difference.

0:08 2:46

Better without the DDC........sorry.......I have read the comments below........seems about 50/50 prefer/don't prefer the DDC. I downloaded the video to eliminate the pesky RU-vid compression and listened to the video over and over and over again trying to pick out detail on instruments and vocals. Listening on a $60K home system.......ProAc speakers, Mark Levinson amps, Lexicon environment surround, Acoustat and upscale B&W environmental speakers, from a Mac USB going through a Pontus II. Personally it is impossible for me to evaluate the male lead vocalist as his voice is so breathy it sounds like he's trying to have oral sex with the microphone. Finally I focused on the percussion in the background......almost hidden.....and the attack of the snare drum and the brush of the Hi-hat cymbal are much more precise without the DDC. Sorry.....no offense.

No difference.