New D/D Converters from Denafrips

[Koso]

One technical question. Iris and Gaia has no on/off (or standby) button? If it is so, why?
Just waiting for my Gaia (should arrive in few days) and noticed this from the photos.:-)

[Koso]

14 hours ago, Abyss Man said:

Not required as they use relays to detect incoming voltage. In fact be happy there is one less fuse to worry about or an on/off switch to worry about. No fuse is the best fuse.

 

 

OK, sounds reasonable. I was just little bit confused by photos online, where there is on/off symbol on some, while “setup” label on others under the same Gaias button. So there must have been some reason Denafrips changed this button.

 

[Koso]

Gaia is at home!

Gaia has replaced my previous (pretty good for the money) Matrix Audio X-Spdif 2. Mainly use as USB to AES/EBU conversion from Aurender N100H to Simaudio Moon 380D DSD dac.

Just first impression (right out of the box, after just one hour of listening):

- impressive compared to X-Spfif 2

- sound is more airy, more analog like

- deeper, more holographic soundstage

- more realistic voices

 

Will update my findings after couple of days...

 

 

 

 

 

[Koso]

5 hours ago, richard_crl032 said:

 

Hi,

 

Why not Aurender directly to Moon 380D already with usb input instead of matrix or gaia ?

 

Cheers.

 

Richard

 

Hi Richard.

Frankly, sound is quite good when Aurender goes directly to Moon DAC, but best sounding input on Moon is AES/EBU, and I wanted to use it.

I decided to go for Gaia DDC for several reasons.
First of all, my budget for sound improvement in my setup is limited. So going for noticeable higher streamer or DAC model is not an option right now (price increase on models I like is too high, way beyond Gaia budget).
On my Moon 380D DAC USB is not best sounding input and USB output on Aurender N100H is not best usb output out there (compared to higher Aurender model for example).

So I decided to add some gadget to existing setup.
I have already tested adding cheap DDC (Matrix Audio X-Spdif 2), which was audible improvement, so I knew this way works. I was lookig for high end DDC, which is versatile enough and could be used in the future too. So when I discovered Denafrips Gaia, my search for top DDC was done. Not only it has USB to AES/EBU conversion, which I needed, but Gaia has plenty of inputs/outputs combination unparallel to any other DDC I know. It has fully galvanically isolated inputs, which is great. And finally, it has also I2S outputs (both HDMI and RJ45 connectors), so it is quite future proof, because I am considering to go for some top R2R DAC in the future (Denafrips, Holo Audio or Aqua Acoustic) and it is common that I2S input is best sounding input on such DACs.
At the end built quality, great specs. and versatility was winner combination for me.

 

And finally it works. Sound quality with Gaia is elevated to another level.

 

 

[Koso]

GAIA REVIEW UPDATE:

I’ve promised that I will report my findings after Gaia settles a little bit in my system. 

I am only at one third of burn in time period (roughly 300 hours is recommended by Denafrips), but I just can’t resist to share that sound quality of GAIA is still improving. As I wrote before, initial impression was very good, but just after a week of continual using I am really impressed.

It is almost unbelievable how big improvement can this DDC bring to already decent digital setup (Aurender N100H streamer + Simaudio Moon 380D dsd DAC). What I wrote before is still truth, but somehow multiplied and even more refined.

Sound is even more relaxed, soundstage and space around instruments has even more natural feel. The effect of “disappearance” of speakers is even closer to ideal (...to achieve this in my listening space, smaller square shape room, is very challenging).
EVERYTHING is more realistic! Voices and acoustic instruments are just THERE. 
Great job Denafrips!!

 

[Koso]

2 hours ago, roberto2 said:

I think that the Hermes uses a pair of OCXO clocks too, but not at the level of Gaia's.

Exactly, two, but lower grade (still great though)

 

[Koso]

I have Venus II + Gaia right now. Venus II is not burned in yet (approaching first 100 hours so far) but I can tell it is great combination. Will post my review after 400 hours of burn in…

I had Gaia prior to Venus II connected to Simaudio Moon 380D DAC and it helped there, so naturally when Venus II arrived it was connected to Gaia ready for burning process. Just yesterday I tried to connect Venus II directly to streamer Aurender N100H via USB cable. Well yes, it really is a clear difference. I couldn't stand it for more than ten minutes and I had to put Gaia back on. So in my setup Gaia has great sonic impact regardless to what DAC is connected.

I don’t see Gaia as enhancement of your DAC, Gaia or any good DDC should be considered as enhancement of your digital source. The better the digital source is, the less effect of the DDC. If you already have some state-of-the-art digital source (Aurender W20SE, or something in that class), you probably don’t need any DDC.

 

I do agree with @Blake, DDC is not mandatory to any Denafrips DAC, go for as good DAC as you can afford first. But in many scenarios DDC could help to considerably elevate sonic quality of your system (especially digital source) without robbing the bank.

[Koso]

54 minutes ago, jomsjoms said:

 

Would you consider the Lumin u1 mini and the Sonore OpticalRendu a state of the art streamer that won't benefit much from the Gaia? (These are the 2x streamers i am considering for the venus II)

I would prefer Lumin. Great streamer for the money. And these (Lumin or Sonore) are definitely in the category which will benefit from DDC!

[Koso]

As I promised, here is short review of Gaia + Venus II combo after Venus II has fully burned in.

 

Introduction:

First, let me explain why I decided to try Venus II. I was quite happy with my previous DAC in my setup (Simaudio Moon 380D dsd), but when I added Denafrips Gaia as DDC between Moon and Aurender streamer last year, something happened. I was aware of fact, that DDC can improve sound quality (as my former DDC Matrix audio X-SPDIF2), but this time it was GREAT update sonically, not subtle as with Matrix. For details see my review of GAIA on Denafrips web (Nov 9, 2020 post). After good experience with GAIA I was very curious what Denafrips DAC could do with sound of my setup. I decided to try Venus II model, which seemed to be not fair rival to twice as priced Moon 380D, but one can never tell…

 

Built quality:
Built quality of Venus II is great (and I expected this as GAIA owner). Aluminum housing is nicely finished with no sharp edges and minimum visible screws, quite hefty for the size. Front panel buttons have accurate, firm tactile feel. Brightness of LEDs on the front panel is just right. Number of inputs is great, I do like two AES/EBU inputs, as this is my preferred input so far and I have bunch of decent quality AES/EBU cables to test... The only feature I am missing is remote control.

Sound quality:
As always, my critical listening and comparison began after I was sure that unit is properly burned-in, which, in this case took about three weeks of non-stop playback. All my evaluation of sound quality applies to NOS mode, balanced output to amp and AES/EBU input from GAIA (I do have brand new I2S HDMI cable, but it is not burned in yet, so it would be not fair comparison to other inputs).
Sound is very detailed, micro and macro dynamic are great, soundstage is believable wide and 3D rendering of good recordings is best I have ever heard in my listening room. Timbre of acoustic instruments is accurate, human voices are very natural with real focus. Bass is controlled and goes very deep. Mids. are sweet (although not as sweet as on Moon DAC) and high frequencies are detailed and crisp but not harsh. Overall sound character in my setup is quite neutral, not too bright or too soft. Just right. Or take it this way. Bright recording sounds bright, dull recording sounds dull, but good recording sounds unbelievable real!
 
Comparison to Moon 380D dsd:
Moon 380D dsd is great DAC with almost no apparent flaw, but overall sound is quite soft compared to Venus II. In fact, after several weeks of listening to Venus, too soft. Venus II has better macro dynamic, bass has better punch and goes slightly deeper. High frequencies are in par, but again Moon has slightly softer presentation. Soundstage on Venus is little bit deeper and more realistic. The only thing, which Moon does better in my setup are mids. Moon can render mid frequencies with unique sweetness, which is hard to describe. But that’s it. I have to say that Venus II is (at least in my setup) better DAC!
 
Conclusion:
Venus II DAC represents exceptional value for the money. Great sound and built quality can compete with much more expensive converters.

[Koso]

Here is one thought about digital cable comparison, for example cables from Gaia to DAC.

 

I've just read on PS Audio forum this advice from PS Audio digital guru Ted Smith:

"when one is comparing one digital cable to another, one should disconnect any other digital cables that won’t be in your system for each test. Most of the noise/interference from a digital cable comes from ground loops, etc. so having multiple cables from one source to the DAC can mask potential benefits of one cable over another."

It this true with Gaia & Denafrips DACs?

What do you recommend, @alvin1118?

[Koso]

16 hours ago, davide256 said:

Reviews don't seem to be out there for many of the Denafrips products. That's a damper on my willingness to purchase one unheard. In these

days of Covid isolation reviews are more important than ever. Would be nice to see reviews from Stereophile  @Kal Rubinson on the Denafrips DDC's to

understand if they have lifted the bar for USB, worth bypassing an existing DDC with.

 

Hi Dave.

It's hard to expect a flood of reviews on the DDCs, especially if it's a DDC from China. Unfortunately, there are still many prejudices regarding audio products from China, although unbiased reviews of these products are appearing more and more in the Western media. Hans Beekhuyzen Youtube Channel, DarkoAudio or 6moons audio reviews, just to name a few. In addition, DDC is still not considered a full-fledged component, so those reviewers are focused more on DAC reviews. I am long time Stereophile subscriber, but I understand that we can't expect them to review everything we're interested in right now.

Back to Denafrips DDC. I have GAIA. Yes, I took a little risk when I bought GAIA, because I didn't have a chance to heard it in my home setup. But I already had another DDC - Matrix audio X-Spdif 2 (great little device for the money by the way) and I had learned that DDC in addition to USB-to Spdif & I2S signal conversion, as the main purpose, can also improve sound quality. X-Spdif 2 improved the sound quality in my setup only slightly, but Denafrips GAIA improved the sound quality very significantly. As if I have upgraded the digital signal source to very high end one. I don’t know any member of this forum (and other forums) who owns Gaia DDC and is not happy with it. I was so excited about the sound and build quality of Gaia, that I ordered a Venus II DAC and again I was absolutely satisfied with its sound quality (in my setup Venus II blew away twice as expensive DAC from Simaudio Moon).

I looked at your digital audio chain and, in my opinion, Denafrips DDC (most likely Hermes or Gaia) would help you to raise the sound quality bar of your setup considerably. I would bet on that.

[Koso]

7 minutes ago, davide256 said:

hmm, what's  immediately impressive is added grunt factor in the bass. Need to digest improvements for a while but even with an older DAC like the Metrum Octave I

the Iris is doing good things vs a Schiit Eitr DDC.

Give it week or two and sound quality will be further improved!

[Koso]

On 11/20/2021 at 1:02 PM, Blakcloud said:

Advice needed on a Gaia.

 

Source is an Aurender N100C coaxial output not USB.

Denafrips Terminator (version 1)

 

Would a Gaia improve things?

 

I have two concerns. First am I paying dearly for something that won't be used and that is the synchronized clock function? Second since I have already eliminated the USB and have coaxial, have I won at least half the battle already?

 

Not interested in the less expensive options namely the Ires or Hermes as that isn't my style. My questions are about the Gaia, will I hear an improved sound?

 

Thanks in advance for you opinion.

 

Aurender N100C, Denafrips Terminator DAC, Herron line stage, Herron mono blocks, Tetra 606 speakers. Audio Sensibility power cords and interconnects, TEO Game Changer interconnects. Lehmann headphone amp and Focal Elear headphones.

 

 

In my opinion Gaia would improve your system, even without clock sync.

I have experimented with my Gaia on two different streamers - Aurender N100H and Auralic Aries G1 and three different DACs - Denafrips Venus II, Simaudio Moon 380D dsd and Holo Audio Spring 3. In every possible combination I could always hear improvement with adding Gaia. I have tested coaxial output from Aries G1 and it worked with Gaia very well. I general, in my system Gaia brings calmness, better soundstage, tighter bass and more refined highs. The effect is slightly different on each output and each DAC, but it is always audible. Also used digital cables do make difference...