Harmony µDDC
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The Harmony µDDC is a high-performance digital-to-digital converter designed to elevate your audio experience. Equipped with advanced reclocking technology, it reduces jitter and ensures a cleaner, more precise digital signal for your DAC. Supporting multiple input formats and offering high-quality I2S output via HDMI, the Harmony µDDC seamlessly integrates into any high-end audio system.Compact, versatile, and engineered for excellence, the Harmony µDDC is the perfect addition to unlock the full potential of your digital music.
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Highlights
Precision Femto Clock
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Ultra-low jitter ensures pristine timing accuracy for superior audio clarity and detail.
Versatile I²S Inputs and Outputs
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Input: High-performance USB, AES/EBU, Coax I²S input with pinout configuration.
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Output: Galvanically isolated I²S outputs for uncompromised signal purity and reduced noise.
High Sampling Rate Support
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PCM: Supports resolutions up to 768kHz*
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DSD: Handles formats up to DSD512*
External Master Clock Input
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Seamless integration with an external 10MHz master clock for precision synchronization.
*For USB and I²S inputs only.
Please check out the product overview and tech specs for more details: https://www.laiv.audio/harmony-uddc
Reviews
I was looking to improve the performance of the Simaudio Mind streamer which was connected to the PS Audio Perfectwave Direcstream DAC using the Nordost Heimdal 2 digital interconnect. The recommended connection into the PS Audio DAC is through the I Squared input. Using the Harmony between the Simaudio streamer and the PSaudio DAC was the improvement that I was looking for. I used the DH Labs Silver Sonic HDMI 2.1 to connect the Harmony DDC to the PS Audio DAC. What was a complete surprise to me is the sonic improvement the Harmony DDC provided when connected between the PS AUDIO Perfectwave SACD Transport and the PS Audio DAC, since I was already using the I Squared connection using a Nordost Leif HDMI cable. Lower noise floor, deeper soundstage and cleaner sound. I am delighted rediscovering the music in old CD's and SACD's. Outstanding LAIV, excellent results.
I mentioned this in my review of the Harmony DAC, so my apologies if you read this twice. If you consider a Laiv Harmony DAC, I'd urge you to consider adding the uDDC as well. I did so a few weeks later, and that again provided a major step up in terms of quality. It particularly made everything sound more relaxed, more in place, grounded if that makes sense, and even more easy to listen to for longer. There's no roll-off, no loss of clarity without the uDDC, but I certainly hear better instrument separation and as said, an even higher level of comfort and ease across the entire frequency spectrum with the uDDC in the chain.
I have a Bonn N8 connected to a StackAudio SmoothLAN reclocker feeding ethernet to a Volumio Rivo+, and from there over I2S and USB (switchable) to the LAIV uDDC, and then into a LAIV Harmony DAC. You might think that that chain was pretty good already without the uDDC, but I was was very positively surprised how much improvement this tiny little box still gave.
It's worked wonders for my Pro-Ject CDBox DS3 (digital RCA) as well. A side by side comparison between the CDBox' internal DAC and this LAIV combo was interesting, and also quite easy to do on my Marantz. The conclusion is that even though the Pro-Ject CDBox' internal AKM DAC is pretty decent and has served me well, it is no match for the LAIV uDDC and Harmony DAC combo.
I have the CDBox connected to the Harmony DAC directly via optical too, but haven't gotten to that side by side comparison (via the uDDC versus via the Harmony DAC direct) yet. I expect the uDDC to bring the same enhanced 'relaxedness' there too.
In conclusion: the Harmony DAC is a very very good very very capable DAC by itself, but if you can, I would recommend you to seriously consider the uDDC too. You will not be disappointed.
I have not listened to this DDC with any other DAC other than the Laiv uDAC; this combination sounds more clear, less fatiguing and warmer than the Denafrips (Hermes 12th and Pontus II 12th) units in 7 out of the 8 test tracks that I tested with.
I personally enjoy the foot print and price of this DDC compared to others. I am glad this unit has the I2S input. I do not need to shop for any more DDCs.
The only wish I had for this DDC was that it had more outputs, but then the unit size would have be larger to accommodate for more them. Maybe one COAX/RCA output would have been nice to use the DDC with 2 different DACs.