Does the ERC-3 implement the I2S method of data delivery?

[routlaw]

I'm really enjoying my ERC-3, but just got curious having heard so much these days about the purportedly superior data delivery method of I2S for PCM sources. Anyone here know about this?

Thanks

[Loop 7]

Several manufacturers use I²S. PS Audio is really into it (they use an HDMI type port for it).

[DYohn]

I2S is superior to what? It's just a digital communications protocol.

[Loop 7]

Starting at about 7:00 into this video, Paul McGowen discusses USB, I²S, Toslink, etc.

Certainly not definitive but interesting.

Link: PS Audio's Paul McGowen Talks I²S

[routlaw]

I'm very aware of PS Audio's use of I2S, they seem to be very dedicated to it, but the first I heard of this was several years ago when Empirical Audio started building some of their USB products using this technology. Not sure they are even in the business any longer though. Don't hear much about them. Anyway others seem to have followed suit.

@ DYohn, its my understanding I2S is a bit more than just another communications protocol at least for PCM transmission. As others have suggested researching this on the PSA website might be informative.

Just didn't know wether Emotiva used this method or not.

Thanks

[mgbpuff]

I2S is direct digital bus to digital bus connection rather than a digital output to digital input connection. Audio Alchemy developed I2S almost 20 years ago.

[Loop 7]

"I²S (Inter-IC Sound), pronounced eye-squared-ess, is an electrical serial bus interface standard used for connecting digital audio devices together. It is used to communicate PCM audio data between integrated circuits in an electronic device. The I²S bus separates clock and serial data signals, resulting in a lower jitter than is typical of communications systems that recover the clock from the data stream. Alternatively I²S is spelled I2S (pronounced eye-two-ess) or IIS (pronounced eye-eye-ess). Despite the name, I²S is unrelated to the bidirectional I²C (IIC) bus."

- Wikipedia

[garbulky]

I think it's great there's innovation of all types in the audio field. During a time where mp3 quality appears to be the standard, making progress take steps backwards from decades of audio development, it's good to know there are so many innovations in the audio field. I don't know if I2s is any good. But any innovation with an emphasis on sound quality is welcome.

[Gary Cook]

My view is that I2S is out of date, superseded and no longer relevant as it has been replaced by the progress in utilising asynchronous USB inputs (eg; USB audio Class 2).

Cheers
Gary

[Axis]

Thank you DYohn and Gary for keeping us in check.

I started reading this thinking there was something new just to find out that it was 20 years old.

[DYohn]

Jun 29, 2017 18:21:06 GMT -5 routlaw said:

@ DYohn, its my understanding I2S is a bit more than just another communications protocol at least for PCM transmission. As others have suggested researching this on the PSA website might be informative.Thanks

No, actually, it's not, and it is not a standard in that every manufacturer is free to implement it in any way they wish. I2S is the normal method of inter-device communication on a DAC board where outside the chip communication is required. It is NOT a consumer format. In the case of PS Audio I'd argue it's a gimmick.

[KeithL]

I would tend to agree.

I2S is often used inside a device to send the digital audio signal between circuit boards (it's a common interface on DACS and digital processing CHIPS).
(In that application it's much simpler to use than USB.)

However, it's also much more particular about things like cable length.
The quality of the signal tends to degrade quickly once you get over a few feet of cable - which makes it sort of a bad choice for going between devices.

As DYohn notes, it's not a standard for communication between devices, so there's no standard cable for it.
The manufacturers that do use it outside the case generally use an HDMI cable to do so... which does work.
Note that, if you have any such device, accidentally connecting an HDMI device to an I2S device (because the same HDMI cable fits both) would be very bad.

Jitter isn't really an issue with modern USB interfaces, because asynchronous USB devices re-clock the signal anyway.
And most engineers agree that Coax S/PDIF works better over moderate distances than I2S.
(I2S may have lower jitter with very short cables; but longer runs work better with S/PDIF.)
About the only legitimate reason to use I2S between devices would be that, if both devices use I2S internally, you would save a few conversions between them.
(Since digital conversions don't degrade the data, this really doesn't matter, other than to very slightly simplify the design process.)

Jun 30, 2017 10:16:02 GMT -5 DYohn said:

Jun 29, 2017 18:21:06 GMT -5 routlaw said:

@ DYohn, its my understanding I2S is a bit more than just another communications protocol at least for PCM transmission. As others have suggested researching this on the PSA website might be informative.Thanks

No, actually, it's not, and it is not a standard in that every manufacturer is free to implement it in any way they wish. I2S is the normal method of inter-device communication on a DAC board where outside the chip communication is required. It is NOT a consumer format. In the case of PS Audio I'd argue it's a gimmick.

[mgbpuff]

I think I2S is useful for modular designed digital products, meant to be in close proximity to each other. Audio Alchemy used to have some, I have Perpetual Technologies units that use I2S, MSB used it, and now PS Audio uses it. The older equipment used a special designed cable that looked a lot like the old analog S-Video cable. The new practice of using an HDMI type cable is frightful for the possibility of mistaken connection.

[KeithL]

I agree... the only reason they use an HDMI cable is that it's basically the only common commercially available cable that will do the job.

Jun 30, 2017 12:02:22 GMT -5 mgbpuff said:

I think I2S is useful for modular designed digital products, meant to be in close proximity to each other. Audio Alchemy used to have some, I have Perpetual Technologies units that use I2S, MSB used it, and now PS Audio uses it. The older equipment used a special designed cable that looked a lot like the old analog S-Video cable. The new practice of using an HDMI type cable is frightful for the possibility of mistaken connection.