Denafrips product owners please fall in

Koso

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2020
12
18
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48
Trnava, Slovakia
So, I did it. I took the plunge and ordered my new Gaia in silver. I’m super excited to get it into my system and see for myself how it performs in my system. I have an Audioquest “Coffee” HDMI cable on hand to make the I2s connection to the Venus II, so that should work for now. I have been trying to decide between the Tubulus cable or some other new Audioquest cables that are called 48 and look pretty sweet. Almost everything I have is AQ, so I’m tempted to keep it “in the family“. The next thing on my upgrade list is the fancy SOtM network switch and maybe I’ll pull the trigger on that too. Has anyone added the Gaia to the SOtM SMS-200? As always, any input, ideas, or opinions are always welcome by me.

You will be happy with Gaia I guess. And dont judge too early, Gaia needs some time to burn in (300 hours Alvin said). Mine is improving each other day.
 
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richard_crl032

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2019
107
45
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Singapore
Hi Nanobenito,

Think nobody cannot advise you for sure of the possible and level of improvement in your use case by adding the gaia ddc for mentioned usb source to i2s input of your dac. Our equipment simply differs too much to advise ....

What I can share is that in MY system for the allo usb bridge signature, there is clearly an improvement in sound quality but not for the Antipodes EX. I believe that if the source is already of a certain level, you will not hear improvement but may even be worse sounding.

Note also that this is with TP+ that has the advantage of synced clock which you will not have with your dac and if your dac is in lower level than TP+, I will not be surprised if you do not hear any improvement.

The gaia with clock inputs is designed by Denafrips to match the TP+ with clock outputs and expectedly tuned together good best sound .. other dac and even their own dac e.g. standard Terminator etc. that is a step down and without synced clock cannot be expected to achieve the same level of improvement in sound quality that I am hearing from my allo usb bridge signature going via i2s from gaia to TP+ with synced clock to ocxo clock.

Cheers.

Richard

Hi All,

Got weak and received the Antipodes CX to pair with the Antipodes EX .. my system never sounded better. It like getting superior sounding nite session during the day time and nite session is that you can follow every intonation and beat however fast the music is.

Could not resist and tried again connecting the Antipodes stack to the denafrips ddc but compared to direct usb to the TP, it sounds compressed and slowed down with loss of details ...

Same conclusion then that if your usb source is beyond something like allo usb bridge signature, going via denafrips ddc to take advantage of single synced better ocxo clock in the TP and even preferred i2s route, you may not hear improvement but deterioration.

It also tell me thst TP's usb input is excellent and does not hold back your usb source.

Cheers.

Richard

Screenshot_20201005-034634_Drive.jpg Screenshot_20201005-034642_Drive.jpg
 
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Abyss Man

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2019
224
168
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Hi Guys,
Anyone has any experience with using the Lush HDMI cable? not much reading for this cable. Any kind soul has used this and a comparison would be nice. Thank you guys.
 

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Hi Everyone. Need your help. I have my Gaia and Terminator Plus clock synced. Output from Gaia is through HDMI to TP. I have Roon Rock usb output to the Gaia. When I played native DSD files, there's alot of static sound in this configuration.
If I output from Rock via usb to TP, DSD play just fine. What am I doing wrong?
 

richard_crl032

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2019
107
45
113
61
Singapore
Hi Everyone. Need your help. I have my Gaia and Terminator Plus clock synced. Output from Gaia is through HDMI to TP. I have Roon Rock usb output to the Gaia. When I played native DSD files, there's alot of static sound in this configuration.
If I output from Rock via usb to TP, DSD play just fine. What am I doing wrong?

Hi Yitaro,

Non dsd flac plays ok ?

Tried other non dsd sources via AES-ebu, coaxial etc. ok ?

Just in case, pls double check TP hdmi is set 000 .. off from my memory when with Gaia.

Cheers.

Richard
 

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Hi Yitaro,

Non dsd flac plays ok ?

Tried other non dsd sources via AES-ebu, coaxial etc. ok ?

Just in case, pls double check TP hdmi is set 000 .. off from my memory when with Gaia.

Cheers.

Richard
Yes, other format play fine through Gaia/TP combo via HDMI. Just DSD files that I am getting static sound.
 

richard_crl032

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2019
107
45
113
61
Singapore
Yes, other format play fine through Gaia/TP combo via HDMI. Just DSD files that I am getting static sound.

Hi Yatario,

Not familiar with Roon or Roon Rock but my allo usb signature previously used was fine. Antipodes now in use is direct to TP for preferred sound quality.

Not sure about your mentioned native dsd or any upsampling via Roon Rock but my dsd files maxed out at 256 while Gaia can handle up to dsd512.

Dun think it matters for usb but disconnect the 2 clock inputs or even reboot all ... not for usb but my avatar can go ballistic if sequence of synced clock connection is not done right but that should be a different matter .. I never had a problem with allo usb bridge.

Sorry for not bring able to help and hope other TP and Gaia owners here can advise you further then.

Cheers.

Richard

PS: 3.30 am in Singapore and need to sleep

Screenshot_20201027-032304_Chrome.jpg
 
Last edited:

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Hi Yatario,

Not familiar with Roon or Roon Rock but my allo usb signature previously used was fine. Antipodes now in use is direct to TP for preferred sound quality.

Not sure about your mentioned native dsd or any upsampling via Roon Rock but my dsd maxed out at 256 while Gaia can handle up to dsd512.

Sorry for not bring able to help and hope other TP and Gaia owners here can advise you further then.

Cheers.

Richard
View attachment 70766
Thanks Richard. I went back to make sure that the HDMI is
 

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Thanks Richard. Went back to make sure TP HDMI is 000 as suggested. Now everything is working like it should.
 

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Now that I got the DSD working via Gaia, my non DSD files are making static sound via Gaia. What's going on?
 

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Is this normal? Playing DSD files, the TP HDMI input (1x on, 2x off, 4x off) but if I play different format files with this setting, I get static sound. I have to switch to TP HDMI (1x off, 2x on, 4x off) to get it working. But on this setting DSD files don't play and I get static sound. Is this normal? Thanks.
 

richard_crl032

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2019
107
45
113
61
Singapore
Is this normal? Playing DSD files, the TP HDMI input (1x on, 2x off, 4x off) but if I play different format files with this setting, I get static sound. I have to switch to TP HDMI (1x off, 2x on, 4x off) to get it working. But on this setting DSD files don't play and I get static sound. Is this normal? Thanks.

Hi Yitaro,

Not normal ... I have absolutely no issue with my previous allo usb signature and I thought 000 works which is required of Gaia and TP ?

You need someone with Roon Rock to advise and hope there is a support group to help.

Cheera.

Richard
 

Yitaro

Member
Oct 26, 2020
8
1
8
53
Hi Yitaro,

Not normal ... I have absolutely no issue with my previous allo usb signature and I thought 000 works which is required of Gaia and TP ?

You need someone with Roon Rock to advise and hope there is a support group to help.

Cheera.

Richard
Hi Richard. I don't think it has anything to do with Roon. If I run usb from ROCK to Terminator Plus, no issues. Been in touch with Alvin and he is trying to resolve the issue. What I find is that if I play DSD256 files or lower, I have no issues when switching to flac and back to DSD256. I run into trouble when I play DSD512 files (Roon upsampling) and switching to flac or hd files, when I try to go back to DSD512, there's no sound. I would have to cycle through the HDMI setup 1x, 2x, 4x off to get the sound back for DSD512. I'll post what Alvin has to say.
 
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richard_crl032

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2019
107
45
113
61
Singapore
Hi Richard. I don't think it has anything to do with Roon. If I run usb from ROCK to Terminator Plus, no issues. Been in touch with Alvin and he is trying to resolve the issue. What I find is that if I play DSD256 files or lower, I have no issues when switching to flac and back to DSD256. I run into trouble when I play DSD512 files (Roon upsampling) and switching to flac or hd files, when I try to go back to DSD512, there's no sound. I would have to cycle through the HDMI setup 1x, 2x, 4x off to get the sound back for DSD512. I'll post what Alvin has to say.
Hi Yitaro,

Aaah ... I dun play or upsample to dsd512 and beyond.

Did read on issue on dsd512 and beyond but even if there is sound at different settinga of hdmi i2s A, do check polarity and phase as you will be changing them.

You are in the good hands of Alvin then.

Cheers.

Richard
 

manta_act

New Member
Oct 31, 2020
4
2
3
57
Greetings all - first time poster.

I just bought a Terminator today and came across this forum.
Right now l have a node 2i and i'm looking for advice on a streamer/ network player for my audio files on SSD that would do justice to the Terminator. I have a primare cd31. My speakers are Elac fs-249's

I started reading here about the Gaia but l'm not sure it can clock synch with the Terminator (not the plus). I'm not really sure l understand what the Gaia is for or does or when you would seek one out (please be nice)

I was considering the Lumin U1, came across the soundaware d300Ref (which must be due for a refresh since it cam e out in 2017 -DSD64). Previously l was a big fan of Auralic G2 - but now reading the forums - l'm not so sure. I realise there are many options out there. Given the caliber of people here - l thought you all may help me focus on a couple of options.

Cheers.

Darren
 
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gipe

Member
Oct 15, 2019
25
6
8
France
hello,

I had until recently a Terminator and I own the Soundaware D300 Ref, it's a very good streamer at a very affordable price. I guess you have read the review on sixmoons.

In addition to its special power supply, one of its strong points is the remarkable quality of the music files from its SD card. Moreover the coupling with a Gaïa clock or other could be very beneficial but here it is necessary to inquire with competent people.

As for DSD files, there are so few of them that the playback level still seems to me to be insignificant. It's like 8k for TV.

Cheers
Gipe
 
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Koso

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2020
12
18
60
48
Trnava, Slovakia
Greetings all - first time poster.

I just bought a Terminator today and came across this forum.
Right now l have a node 2i and i'm looking for advice on a streamer/ network player for my audio files on SSD that would do justice to the Terminator. I have a primare cd31. My speakers are Elac fs-249's

I started reading here about the Gaia but l'm not sure it can clock synch with the Terminator (not the plus). I'm not really sure l understand what the Gaia is for or does or when you would seek one out (please be nice)

I was considering the Lumin U1, came across the soundaware d300Ref (which must be due for a refresh since it cam e out in 2017 -DSD64). Previously l was a big fan of Auralic G2 - but now reading the forums - l'm not so sure. I realise there are many options out there. Given the caliber of people here - l thought you all may help me focus on a couple of options.

Cheers.

Darren

Hi Darren,

congrats to your Terminator and welcome here!

Clock sync works only with Terminator Plus, T Plus has dedicated clock outputs, first gen. Terminator has no such outputs.

Gaia is DDC, digital-to-digial converter. And very good one. GAIA isolates and buffers the digital input signals (USB, SPDIF, TOSLink, AES/EBU), re-clock them via very good OCXO clock. The cleansed, ultra-low jitter digital output can be connected to any DAC. So it practically does the same work as internals of high end streamers or other digital sources (mean really high end). So for example you can put Gaia between some decent streamer and DAC and you can achieve sound quality of very expensive digital source. This is my experience.

Lumin U1 is great streamer, Auralic Aries G2 is great too. I am very happy with Aurender N 100H (basic Aurender model). All mentioned streamers are better than Node 2. So whatever you choose you will go to new sound level. Terminator deserver good streamer though.
 

Abyss Man

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2019
224
168
50
Greetings all - first time poster.

I just bought a Terminator today and came across this forum.
Right now l have a node 2i and i'm looking for advice on a streamer/ network player for my audio files on SSD that would do justice to the Terminator. I have a primare cd31. My speakers are Elac fs-249's

I started reading here about the Gaia but l'm not sure it can clock synch with the Terminator (not the plus). I'm not really sure l understand what the Gaia is for or does or when you would seek one out (please be nice)

I was considering the Lumin U1, came across the soundaware d300Ref (which must be due for a refresh since it cam e out in 2017 -DSD64). Previously l was a big fan of Auralic G2 - but now reading the forums - l'm not so sure. I realise there are many options out there. Given the caliber of people here - l thought you all may help me focus on a couple of options.

Cheers.

Darren
Hi,
First off welcome to the thread and congratulations on your new purchase on an excelllent piece of gear. Now, let me start injecting some poison. As already explained, the Termy/Gaia combo operates at a very high level (Really good) and should put a huge smile on your face, but as always, there is always something better and the Termy/Gaia combo is not immune to this, enter the TP/Gaia combo.

Termy/Gaia combo uses the excellent double OCXO clocks in the Gaia to reclock while in the TP/Gaia combo the OCXO clocks in the TP does this job, reason being there will be much less jitter and other anomolies introduced into the audio signal path as it is a short run within the DAC, not to say that the Termy/Gaia is noisy, far far from it. I love that combo a lot too. (Alvin, I hate you, LOL).

Now, if you want to reap maximum benefits from the Termy/Gaia combo, the cables play a big part. I would suggect getting some decent power cords, footers and HDMI for the i2s connection. This is not to say without these upgrades they are a slouch, but, if you want to take them to another level then you can consider those upgrades mentioned. Go slow though, enjoy your audio journey.

As for the server, I'm using the Innuos Zenith Mk2 and a sms-200 as bridge, Ok, I know that's an overkill, but I wanted the cleanest signal possible and so I am using a dedicated server with soTm ethernet cables in dual runs with sotm iso blocks. I wanted to feed the cleanest ethernet signal as I could. The tx-usb ultra does the job of cleaning up the USB signal which is then fed to the Gaia, which does more cleaning up and feeds my TP.

The Lumin and Auralic are excellent choices for a server, but I would suggest you try them out for yourself cause they each have their own "house sound". Innuos is another, which I'm using, is my perosnal choice.

Read through the threads here, Head-Fi and CA to get as much info and arm yourself. Do not walk into a war without a gun, but having said, please take some of the posts with a pinch of salt. Let your ears be your guide, and only your ears. Reviews are a good guide though.

If in doubt PM the seniors here, they are a helpful lot and always ready to share their impressions. Good luck buddy. Stay safe.
 
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manta_act

New Member
Oct 31, 2020
4
2
3
57
hello,

I had until recently a Terminator and I own the Soundaware D300 Ref, it's a very good streamer at a very affordable price. I guess you have read the review on sixmoons.

In addition to its special power supply, one of its strong points is the remarkable quality of the music files from its SD card. Moreover the coupling with a Gaïa clock or other could be very beneficial but here it is necessary to inquire with competent people.

As for DSD files, there are so few of them that the playback level still seems to me to be insignificant. It's like 8k for TV.

Cheers
Gipe
Thanks you for your reply Gipe
 

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