I have not tried the Sonore ultraDigital, but I do use a similar product – the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 – to convert USB to I2S ahead of my DS Sr.
In my system, I2S slays not only the DS Sr.'s Bridge II input, but the USB input, as well.
One arguable advantage of the Matrix over the Sonore is that the Matrix has I2S, XLR, coaxial and TOSLink outputs. I tried all of the Matrix outputs into my DS Sr. and concluded that the I2S connection sounds best. (Of course, that could be the case at least in part because the Matrix’s I2S output could be the best-sounding of its four outputs and/or because my OneConvey HDMI cable is better than my other digital cables (although it was only $11.99).)
I’ve always wondered how network streaming devices like the Sonore Ultrarendu or SoTM SMS-200 Neo would sound going into the USB input of my DS. Right now, I’m just using the Bridge.
I have a few DSD128 albums, and in my case, Roon automatically downsamples them to DSD64 since it knows that’s all the Bridge can handle. But I think the DS can accept DSD128 from both its I2S and its USB inputs, so I’d like to try.
And now that the Ultradigital is on Black Friday sale with the Ultrarendu, the prospect of comparing the sound of both the I2S and the USB inputs of the DS is very appealing. However, i still find the cost quite high just to satisfy my own curiosity, plus I may even be disappointed in the end, so I’d first like to ask for feedback from those who have already tried.
Do you suppose the results will justify the expense by sounding a whole lot better than the Bridge?
The difference between the Bridge II and I2S was not subtle when I added the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 to my system. My guess is that you would hear an immediate and meaningful improvement with the Sonore ultraDigital.
It was an across-the-board improvement, including lower noise / blacker background, better imaging and sound-staging, and wider dynamics. Shooting out the Bridge II and I2S inputs is system-dependent, of course, so YMMV. With that disclaimer out of the way, I can say that another PS Audio forum member purchased a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 partly at my suggestion and he was so blown away by the sonic improvement that he quickly bought a multi-kilobuck Pink Faun streamer with a dedicated I2S output.
I am using an iFi iPower 5V PSU. The Matrix sounds better with this PSU than with no PSU (although it sounded fine with no PSU). I am sure there are better PSU’s out there, but the iFi is ‘good enough’ for the time being.
Yes, I did try the Matrix’s TOSLink output. It sounded great going into the DS Sr.'s optical input, but I preferred the I2S connection. In fairness, I wasn’t using a fancy optical cable . . . IIRC, it was a BlueJeans Cable basic TOSLink.
As for the dip switches, mine are set as follows:
DoP to Native: ON
IIS Reverse: OFF
MCLK: OFF
The Matrix’s DoP-to-Native DSD feature is cool . . . I have a bunch of DSF files on my Melco server. The Melco would output DSD as DoP to the DS Sr. (apparently, the Melco can output native DSD to certain DACs, but last time I checked, the DS was not among them). The Matrix converts the DoP signal from the Melco to Native DSD and sends it on to the DS Sr. I know it’s working because these DSF files used to register as “DOP” on the DS’s display, and now they show up as “DSD.”
Sonore makes good stuff. I don’t want to give the opinion that one is better than the other, since in my system its very close. If you search the site, you will find the i2s connection winning out.
I use an Auralic Aries to the DS Sr. The ultradigital is of interest to me as well. In my system TosLink (Wireworld) connection sounds better than USB (AQ Diamond). I would leave the TosLink, but it is the only output my CD Transport has to go to the DS, so that leaves me using USB for Tidal and NAS storage. I’d really like to hear the IS2 connection.
Yes i use a Singxer SU-1 (Magnafied) in combination with SOtM sMS200 Ultra (modified to NEO), SOtM - tX-USBultra and SOtM - sPS-500. i2s to DSJ (Audioquest Pearl HDMI). Very nice combination, but a lot of cables ;). FWIW i think it clearly sounds better then the Bridge 2 and SOtM to USB (DSJ).
I infer from the line “5. Power input: 6-9 VDC” in the product description that there’s external power. Besides the product page at their website, there’s a sponsored product thread at Computer Audiophile.
