New D/D Converters from Denafrips

[richard_crl032]

On 12/14/2020 at 5:19 AM, roberto2 said:

https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/hermes-dcc-preorder-deposit

 

OCXO 🤗

Old topic and unimportant in my setup with Hermes and Avatar synced to single higher oxco clock of T+ but some clarification and terminology needed against current linked page .... cheers.

 

 

[GoldenOne]

Denafrips Gaia measurements, including testing clock-syncing with Terminator plus are up here:
https://goldensound.audio/2021/10/04/denafrips-gaia-measurements-with-terminator-clock-sync-test/

 

[Dr.J]

Does anyone know how the Denafrips Gaia compares to the Mutec MC3+USB, primarily with BNC/AES connections? 

[GoldenOne]

32 minutes ago, Dr.J said:

Does anyone know how the Denafrips Gaia compares to the Mutec MC3+USB, primarily with BNC/AES connections? 

The Coax output on the MC3+ Seems to have surprisingly high jitter. The AES output was quite a bit better though.

MC3+ Jitter (48khz AES Out):

 

Denafrips Gaia Jitter (48khz AES Out):

Coax output is a bit better:

 

Gaia has quite notably lower jitter than the MC3+

 

Full posts:
https://goldensound.audio/2021/10/05/mutec-mc3-usb-ddc-reclocker-measurements/

https://goldensound.audio/2021/10/04/denafrips-gaia-measurements-with-terminator-clock-sync-test/

[Zauurx]

No one has dared to make a comparison or measurement of the Doukaudio XMOS XU208 at $2 (with 5v PSU).

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, Zauurx said:

No one has dared to make a comparison or measurement of the Doukaudio XMOS XU208 at $2 (with 5v PSU).

What do you mean by “No one has dared…?”

[Zauurx]

35 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

What do you mean by “No one has dared…?”

It's a bit iconoclastic to compare two products so far in terms of price. 
But it's interesting to see if the price hierarchy is respected.

[Blakcloud]

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.

 

 

[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...

[BlueSkyy]

I just received a GAIA and now have it acting as the "gate keeper" between my HTPC's USB port and the I2S input of my Terminator +.  I am clocking the GAIA externally with the clock outputs from the T+ and using a sort of generic Audioquest Carbon HDMI cable handling the I2S connection.  Although I wouldn't describe it as a night and day change, I do notice a tasty improvement in the overall sound quality out of the T+ IMHO.

[richard_crl032]

On 1/16/2021 at 12:28 AM, richard_crl032 said:

 

Think dun need Taiko SMG Extreme or newer Antipodes K series ....

 

My Antipode CX and EX sounded worse via Gaia and Hermes ... direct USB to TP sound obviously better.

 

Allo USB bridge signature and Nuprime Omnia S1 both sounded better via Gaia/Hermes after another sgd3-4k of the ddc, zonotone shupreme pc and argentus hdmi/i2s.

 

Cheers.

 

Richard

 

Innos Statement also wun benefit with DCC here as with my oladra upgraded Antipodes cx/ex stack:

 

http://hifiknights.com/reviews/transports/denafrips-gaia/

 

YMMV applies as usual.

 

Cheers.