@Magnus
So finally, this change of dac?
Without knowing it, I came across this post to follow the same path.
Using an RME only for direct DSD (shame about the dsp options) I finally got a Pegasus.
It works very well with my USBridge (DSD 512 and PCM 1.5 but it’s the PC that follows more).
And I look at this fashion (marketing… thanks Denafrips) to add a DDC.
I imagine the owner of a Pontus or a Terminator who thinks he has a high end machine and who is offered options… 
buy a DDC !!
Haven’t switched yet, but a Pegasus (or perhaps a Pontus 2) is interesting. Any mention of SQ differences between Pegasus and RME?
It’s more a matter of taste but not at all the impression of having lost information in an R2R soup.
It’s more embodied without being chamalow.
I haven’t reconnected the RME but I’m thinking of selling it again (the volume is managed via HQP).
No more difficulty to choose between my new amp (BoXem purifi) and my Italian gladiator Audia FL100.
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Yes, when using the RME as a pure fixed-volume DAC as I also do, it does feel like you paid for lots of stuff you don’t use. For Roon + HQPlayer, a pure DAC with no preamp functionality should give the best SQ/money, as long as you are happy using software controlled volume. And the main drawback of using software controlled volume (accidently play with max volume from WIndows) is not applicable anyway.
Yes, and depending on the output level of the Pegasus, I set the BoXem input to ‘low gain’ with HQP set to a max of ‘-3db’… full on, it’s very loud but not ‘overloaded’.
It forgives me my mistakes when I try scripts via hqpcontrol !
And ‘normal’ listening is between -22 (in the evening) and -16 (or less) during the day (there is a convolution that lowers the whole thing).
I have only the Ian Canada HDMI transmitter (MK1). I achieve the same (384/32 and DSD128 DoP) with Audiophonics ES9028/9038 DAC or Denafrips Pontus (i2s) drivers.
I was planning to add the FiFoPi and the ConditionerPi. Do you hear any difference if using the FiFoPi compared to running only the HDMI transmitter?
I don’t know sonic quality of the Ian Canada HDMI transmitter without the FiFoPi. From the beginning, I put them together.
That said, I believe you get the better result if you add the FiFoPi.
I was reasonably satisfied with the default clocks on the FiFoPi. However, the sonic quality significantly improved when I replaced those clocks with a pair of CRYSTEK CCHD-957.
The I2S input of my DAC (May KTE) is very sensitive. I guess yours, too.
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Thank you for your reply.
I have now the following setup and I am very happy with it:
Pi4 (Moode and Audiophonics ES9028/9038 DAC driver)
Ian Canada ConditionerPi
Ian Canada FifoPi Q3 Ultimate (Accusilicon AS318-B pair 49/45Mhz)
Ian Canada HDMI LVDS MK2 transmitter
Rockna Wavedream DAC (XLR)
Roon
HDPLEX 300W feeding ConditionerPI 5V and 3.3V FifoPi clean side.
I will try also symphonic-mpd. I have sent them an email for registration. Thanks for pointing also in this direction.
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