How do I know I need a DDC? (not sure where this fits)

[mrjayviper]

as above. I don't have any test equipment here. (i'm guessing a DDC is a device used to solve a problem. I'm just trying to find out if I have a problem that a DDC can solve)

 

Thank you.

[Account Closed]

17 minutes ago, mrjayviper said:

as above. I don't have any test equipment here. (i'm guessing a DDC is a device used to solve a problem. I'm just trying to find out if I have a problem that a DDC can solve)

 

Thank you.

The only problem that a DDC can “solve” is connecting a legacy DAC with only SPDIF or AES/EBU inputs to a USB device. Otherwise not needed. 

[mrjayviper]

Thanks

 

I know you said that, but it seems people buy a DDC and they're not trying to solve any problem. (looking at the DACs that has been mentioned, it seems the DAC is a recent/capable one with many modern digital inputs)

 

[yamamoto2002]

• USB to S/PDIF protocol conversion: Interfacing PC to older S/PDIF input DAC or active speakers of AES/EBU input (for example Genelec The Ones series)
• Galvanic isolation: If hum noise is heard from the speakers caused by ground loop, the loop can be electronically isolated using DDC TOSLINK optical output.
• Wider input range: Older DAC such as Accuphase DAC-30 accepts 192kHz PCM only with S/PDIF coax input and its USB input is limited to 96kHz. It is said it is because the USB receiver is USB Full Speed and USB Audio Class 1.0 (theoretical max PCM data rate is 8184kbps)
• To isolate and identify the problem cause: If your DAC sometimes stutters with its USB input, connecting it via DDC may resolve the glitch, if it is not resolved, the problem cause is not DAC USB input.

 

Typically the sound fidelity of DAC USB input is better than DAC S/PDIF input. On some DAC (it is rare case) both USB and S/PDIF achieve the same performance. 

[Confused]

GoldenSound video on this topic, well worth watching