I2S Modes

Know this has been discussed with varying recommendations bout can’t seem to find the previous threads. Want to try I2S connection between the T8 and Z10 and also between the A8 and Z10.
Which I2S mode is recommended? I’ve seen mode 1, 4, and 5 suggested?
Thanks!!!

 

From what I understand, it would be better to use the USB connection between the T8 and the Z10. The Z10's clock is used in this case and would be of higher quality.

 

Agreed and thanks! Just want to test I2s, usb, and aeu for myself.

 

Okay, yes, that's great, that way you can get an idea for yourselves. I think it's just mode 1 in I2S, but there's no harm in testing the other modes, just lower the volume during the changes.

 

I hooked up my new Z10 yesterday and using it with a T8. I was going to try I2S but decided just to use USB since I already had a AQ Carbon A to B. Let us know if there’s any difference using I2S. I decided to put my AQ Carbon XLR up for sale since I needed to buy a new set of XLR analogue cables.

 

Generally speaking, USB is superior to I2S, especially when the clocks in the end-point (the DAC) are better than those in the source (the player/streamer).
Having a reclocker at destination (with USB, that is UAC2, the transmission of data-packets is asynchronous, and they are clocked on the DAC) helps a lot.
Having the clock signal being sent over through a cable (like it happens with I2S) is (can be?) a source of distortion, of any kind.
Moreover, remember that I2S was meant to be a way of connecting chips on a board (aka: very short distances... cm if not mm, not certainly 30 or 50, or even 1m - 3ft) so having it work on "long" (everything is long when talking about cables, when referring to just a few cm on a board...) makes it prone to all sorts of external influence in terms of EMI / RFI...
USB is not susceptible to any of those, by construction.

HTH
Just my 2c.

 

Hello
Does anyone know which I2s mode on the Z10 for my Matrix spdif 2?

 

You may want to get hold of the i2s pin-out of the Matrix, and then compare it against the Z10 possibilities, and chose the one that fits.
It's not a hard task: just look at the signal names, and compare those of the Matrix to each and every one the Z10 offers, then chose the one that exactly matches all of them.

 

Thank you, this worked. Sounds amazing.
One more question. Can I have multiple control devices connected to two iPhones and an iPad?

 

Most probably one at any given time can control the unit. IMO you will either gain control over the previous unit, or be denied connecting.

 

I have connected my DMP-A8 to the Z10 with I2S and USB. Bought brandnew Audioquest USB / I2S cables too. To me the sound of the I2S is much better then the USB connection. Also the I2S has some more advantages. With I2S you can also use Coax 1 / 2 and Optical Input from DMP-A8 and connect to Z10. With USB connection between them, you just can listen from the internal player or roon of the DMP-A8 connected to Z10. The coaxial and optical inputs does not work with USB connection to Z10.

 

That's correct, in such a way that is so elementary... I2S, coax and optical are all the same, at their root: serial, clocked-on-source, outputs; while USB is packed-based, clocked-on-destination client-request-based; which needs buffering and sending mechanisms... all true serialized inputs can "easlity" (well, it's just an easier-to-do thing...) be routed to different media transport, as the clock remains at the source, and it is constant.
Now, IMHO, using one or the other merely depends on how good the clock on your external DAC is, in regards to that of your player/streamer (in your case, Z10 against A8, and TBH I'd rather go USB to the Z10...).
Then, always do double-blind, level-matched (close to 0.1dB accuracy) tests if you want to truly assess what interface is better. (despite the fact that at DAC and clock levels of accuracy such as those of both the A8 and the Z10, it is almost humanly impossible to declare one better than the other; unless you are in your very early years of age, and your ears pretty clean and responsive).

Then, for cables... use only USB-consortium certified cables; they are "certified" working, and do not drain your bank account with silly claims.
Coax cables must comply with 50 / 75 Ohm, depending on the interface being used (in your case I2S vs SPDIF-coax).
Optical... any will do, although fiber quality makes some difference (and impacts the cost - but never spend more that 10 / 15 USD on an optical cable: it is utterly useless)

HTH
Ah, BTW, enjoy the music - that's all, uh?

Cheers, Al.

 

Here I am making a contribution for the owners of the UHD 8000 and Eversolo DAC-Z10.
I wanted to maximize the sound from the UHD 8000 to the Z10 and I had it wired up with an XLR cable to the Z10, but it is only a pass-through. I have the Z10 connected to my PC via USB, so I could not use the USB cable connection from the uhd 8000 to the Z10.
So I was looking for a way to solve it, and I found an HDMI to i2S converter on Aliexpress.
It is called: MHL to IIS I2S IIS I2S Separate Extract Audio I2S/Optical/Coaxial high definition multimedia interface.
It arrived the day before yesterday and so I connected the UHD 8000 from the HDMI audio only port to the HDMI input of the converter and the I2S output to the Z10. Turn on the AVR on the converter, it is for Stereo. And I must say, great, everything plays, DSD native, Movies, really perfect. Only when starting the first song does a louder click sound and then it's fine.
I compared the quality of playback from a PC via USB and I2S. I must admit that as a transport UHD 8000 is a better choice.
This is a post for lovers of Stereo, not multichannel.

One more piece of information, I played DSD 128 and my Z10 shows PCM 176, so natively only DSD 64, but fortunately I don't have many DSD 128.

 

I forgot the photos.

 

Just my objective experience and opinion. I've no axe to grind and I won't enter into debates with know-it-alls who say "I'm wrong" and "all cables sound the same" etc.

After reading and watching quite a bit on I²S I decided to give it a try.

I use Chord Clearway interconnects throughout my system - my rationale being they seem to be well-made cables, from a well-known manufacturer and at a price point I can justify without going to extremes of diminishing returns in what is already a diminishing return laden arena.

When I first bought the Z10 I used the digital RCA coax which I'd connected my T8 to my previous DAC/pre amp. I then replaced it with the Eversolo supplied USB cable, but didn't notice any difference. I then tried the Chord USB and it was noticeably 'brighter' / 'airy' and more detailed (without getting out my audio review bingo sheet). Yesterday I received my new (to me) Chord HDMI cable, plugged it in (set to Mode 1) and wow, what a difference! Even more detail and what appeared to be several dB increase in gain too, which I don't quite understand.

As mentioned in a post above, I expected USB to sound the best, using the (at least on the spec sheet) better clock in the Z10 over the T8's.

Suffice to say, both the digital coax and USB cables are now on the 'to be rehomed' pile.

 

Do you have room correction enabled on the USB output? If so, it usually reduces the gain (headroom) by 5 dB. Check if you have room correction enabled on the IIS output; that's probably the explanation.
best regards.

 

When comparing different elements, always take care to level-match to 0.1dB at least; otherwise something could sound more revealing just because it is louder...

 

Thanks for your thoughts. Coming from many years of Cyrus ownership I've not even used as much as a balance adjustment, therefore I haven't and won't use any DSP witchcraft, so unless it has enabled something itself (I'll check later on and report back) I doubt that is the cause. Either way, I like the sound the change has delivered - which is what it is all about.

 

Hi, I've been dealing with the quality of analog cables for a long time, and in the end I bought everything from https://audioartcable.com/ and it's news to me that there is a difference even with digital cables, it depends on the type, I'll start researching.

I ordered: Douk Audio U2 PRO XMOS XU316 Digital Interface DDC Reclocker and I will change the connection concept, I hope it will work. I will let you know then.