Denafrips Gaia D/D converter/reclocker
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
- De Gaia, according to Denafrips, is their flagship digital to digital converter. That’s all fine, but what does it do?
Contents of this video
00:00 - Intro
00:16 - Start of program
01:24 - Where to use
02:04 - The outside
03:37 - The inside
05:13 - In use
07:25 - Sound quality
08:48 - How come?
10:31 - The wrap
Manufacturer:
www.denafrips.com
Review sample lent by:
www.vinshineaudio.com
Relevant videos:
Configuration videos: www.denafrips.com/config-tplus
Auralic Siius G2.1 review: • Auralic Sirius G2.1 er...
About my reference setups: • About my reference set...
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About Questions: • About questions
Q&A: Which device is better?: • Q&A: Which device is b... 
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Just excellent, concise videos. Every one of them you make. I am always amazed at how much more information I get from your presentations than others on RUclips.
Glad you like them!
Hans, outstanding review. Based on my initial research and finally your reviews, I have purchased the Denafrips Terminator-Plus and Gaia DDC from Vinshine Audio. I will pair these components with these cables: Kimber Kable D60 Digital BNC, AQ ThunderBird 48 HDMI, and AQ Hurricane Power supplied from an PS Audio P20 Regenerator. This will make three components I've purchased after seeing your review of them; the Auralic Aries G2 was the other. I just noticed your Audio Evangelist tag, indeed. Thank you Sir, for your good work.
Greaat. Enjoy the music.
Thank you for your explanation Hans, I was wondering what these things do.
Happy to help
Every time you open your mouth my brain expands a little more. Thank you, sir!
Don't overdo it😁
LOL!! Thanks for the good laugh, Hans!
Really useful review Hans - thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Hans. Nice review as always. I have similar findings, connecting my Gaia to Venus II DAC. And I have tested few other DACs ending with improvement too. However, Gaia adds biggest improvement when connecting to less quality digital source, cheap streamer or PC. The better the digital source is the lesser is improvement, but there is always audible improvement though. So I consider Gaia DDC as “digital source improver”. Great way to utilize I2S for “USB output only” sources (as my Aurender streamer).
Would gaia still be a good investment if i added it in between u1 mini and venus ii?
@@jonathanmatthew5631 in my opinion yes!
Absolutely.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks. I thought the u1 mini already has good filtering of jitter. I guess gaia is still a step above it.
Good luck! 👍
Audio Nirvana obviously comes with a price. Your spectacular setup 1 must be over 40000 € now. It inspires enormously though and bring upon wishes to try it for yourself 👌
Actually the Denafrips gear in setup 1 is not mine, it is lent to me to do the review. But, indeed, Audio Nirvana doesn't come cheap if you set your goal high.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Ok, thanks. The Denafrips combo would btw also be moving away from the possibility of MQA track so to speak. What is Your point on MQA in this present time, considering the appearance of much new very high quality digital audio gear that does not support MQA?
Thank you again again 🙏
Always welcome
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
Cheers, I don’t always keep up with your technical/ explanations watching.., but When turn tv off and listening to hifi.. (as in right now)... I understand the jitter & need for the discipline/ care for the signal ... the speakers and my higher functioning sing🙏
Would have liked to see how much it could have improved Ares II and Pontus budget level DACs
I've tried it with the Mytek Brooklyn and that gave a good improvement.
I was a bit disappointed that you didn't compare the use of the Gaia and the Terminator+ to the Gaia being used with a much lower priced DAC, maybe something in the sub $1000 or sub $500 range.
Otherwise, a very informative review, Hans.
I did test it with the Mytek Brooklyn DAC and there the Ares II was also beneficiary
That was the one I meant😐
Dear Hans, thanks a lot for your instructive and concise videos from which I have been learning quite a bit since a long time ago.
As you mentioned in this episode, you connected the GAIA and the T+ over an Audioquest Cofee HDMI cable, did you configure the T+ pin-out to match the AQ Cofee, or is this one valid for I2s purposes? Many thanks.
If I remember well there was no need to alter settings other than perhaps the instructions by Vinshine.
Hi Hans, great review as always, and I was expecting a higher cost. Did you get a chance to try the Gaia with a lesser DAC? Or maybe the SotM streamer?
I tried the Mytek Brooklyn and also here there was a clear improvement, almost comparable to use with the Terminator-Plus without the clock links.
the ares 2 does not have I2S, will using optical from the DDC into the DAC be any better?
I would rather upgrade the Ares 2 to a more expensive model.
Thank you for this excellent review.
I would like to ask you how does this Gaia DDC compares with MC-3+ Smart Clock USB?
I have not reviewed these products so I can't say.
Hans nice review as always. Would the Gaia be any benefit to an early model Terminator which does not have the clock inputs?
It still will be beneficiary
Thank you Hans! Would the Gaia provide value for money on lesser dacs such as the ares II? Or would you recommend speding the money on the Potus?
Yes it would. Perhaps even more.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel dank!
Thank you for this review. I didn't expect this improvement. On the other hand I wonder if technically it wouldn't be an advantage to go DSD all the way. Will say upsampling to DSD in a PC and transfer the signal to a DAC that has a direct DSD converter
I'll go into this in a next video.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you very much, I can't wait :-)
Thanks. Been following your great reviews. Please kindly clarify if GAIA takes clocks inputs from Terminator Plus. Does it mean the Terminator Plus clocks are being used in place and overwritten the GAIA? If that is the case, the clock on GAIA does not need to be OCXO. Right? If you check out Denafrips's HERMES, which is exactly the same circuit as GAIA but with lesser clocks. Will it be a sensible upgrade for Terminator Plus than the GAIA as its
Provided the Hermes does have the same electronics, you are absolutely right. And by the looks of it the electronics appears to be the same.
@Somsook Well spotted. I think Hermes' clocks are OCXO as well, but of lesser quality than Gaia's. Anyway syncing with Terminator Plus should hypothetically be the best solution.
Hans, nice review. Did you also test the AES/EBU connection. And if you did, was it on par with the other connections?
And you use the USB connection. Does the Auralic G2 still see the dac via the GAIA?
SPDIF and AES/EBU are actually equal in technique and performance and both are limited to 192 kHz. Using USB or I²S support all sample frequencies. USB is Audio class 2 compatible and is seen by the Aries G2.
I know this is an old video, but wanted to ask - would the Gaia (theoretically) improve performance of a GaN FET amp that doesn’t use a DAC (peachtree gan1)? Streamer is a Node (2021) w/ an upgraded teddy pardo lps using kimber ascent dv30 coax. I haven’t been able to dig up much info on how well the digital outputs perform on the node.
I really can't say since I have no hands-on experience with the equipment you use. But in general the Gaia will improve the quality of the digital signal which often will bring clear sound quality improvement.
Hi Hans, I get that there could, and probably should, be good synergy between the two Denafrips items. So as you use the Aries G2 as your front end why do you not have the Vega G2 or G2.1 as the DAC? Have you ever tried that combo? And what, do you think, would the Sirius add to that pairing?
I only have 24 hours in a day....
Hi Hans. I'm using Aries G2.1 together with Sirius G2.1. By combing these two ... In my opinion, you don't have to look for anything better as source (I mean streamer). Therefore, which will be the next step? Which DAC ? I' m really in a dilemma. Vega G2.1 or Terminator + ? So, I bought the tiny Ares II just to "meet" Denafrips! I did it thanks to Hans. It's amazing! I m really surprised ! The ladder transistors seem to be really amazing for analogue sound (instead of known chips AKA, ESS etc.). I m seriously thinking to go for Denafrips after Hans and my test with Ares II. Now I m thinking to buy the Gaia for Ares II and then to Terminator +. Please bear in mind that I m big fun of Auralics ! Dear Hans what is your opinion ?
I have the Pontus 11, Do you think money would be better spent on upgrading Dac to venus or add Gala or Iris DD converter? wish you would review the Iris. Great reviews
That's a personal choice depending on the way you have learned to enjoy music. For me the Gaia would be the better choice since I very sensitive to jitter. But that might not be the case for. you.
It seems that all Denafrips DACs, which is why I bought the Pontus, have FIFO buffers and Xtal clocks for timing regeneration. I would think that would have brought jitter to nonaudible level? I wonder what is the additional retiming/dejittering the Gaia offers?
Unfortunately FIFO buffers and in fact all flip-flops in a DAC are rather sensitive for phase noise. The GAIA reduces phase noise and that is quite audible on a stereo of some class.
I also wonder where the additional benefit from a DDC is coming from. Why would the phase noise of the incoming signal (to DAC) matter as long as all the data is read correctly because it will be reclocked inside the DAC anyway and the incoming clock is not used. Is the USB circuitry inside the DAC noisy when USB input is used ? Is I2S input cleaner ?
Found a few reviews on the lower priced Iris; most of them used a computer/laptop of some sort when evaluating the Iris which I don’t do, so I was curious as to if it improved sq when used for streaming.
Using a laptop or computer will yield lower sound quality than using a quality audio network player.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I’ll take that to mean that it would improve sound quality when using a dedicated streamer as well.
I am thinking of getting a Gaia due to most ppl says it improve on lesser digital source
I am also thinking of Venus 2 or terminator 2 but have limited budget, does the terminator 2 really improves on the Venus 2 for the price I know sound is subjective but want to hear what most have to say thanks
As you said, that is subjective.
I have a question. I own two music servers. One is a Wyred 4 Sound MS with the i7 package. This is a linux based server that runs ROON. My DAC is the PS Audio Direct Stream DAC. The Ps Audio accepts DSD up to 256 with the new Sunlight OS update. The music server can output DSD up to 512 though both I2S and USB. However, Roon limits I2S native to 128, and USB as DOP up to 128 when the server is connected to the DAC. According to the server manufacturer the problem stems from the linux platform the server is using for Roon, so the DAC can't achieve the native DSD maximum it's supposed to work with. I am thinking of getting a Denafrips Gaia, connect the USB output to it and the I2S output to the PS Audio DAC I2S input in order to get the 256 DSD. Is that possible? Or is there no alternative?
I can assure you that Roon does not limit any sampling rate in both PCM and DSD. I don't know the
Wyred for Sound server and have no hands-on experience with the PS Audio DAC. So I can't help you further.
Would you have a favorite a cost friendly DAC? Something that does it all, file format wise. Solid, good sound quality. Good for the money basically.
I'm fairly happy with my budget SMSL m500. But, looking for better. As we all are... :)
You find all DAC's I have reviewed here: ruclips.net/p/PLMbsmejHnP8GnsyKiJupXrJjmcBPr4hyL
Does the Gaia connect to the digital input or the digital output of the DAC?
Does your DAC has a digital output???
Hi, thank you for this very good video.
I wonder if I can have some advice here.
I have a very good system today, Innuos Zen mk3 server running Roon, connected to my Devialet Expert 1000pro monos with AQ ethernet cable.
I am wondering what to do to improve the digital side more.
1: Should I connect an Innuos Phoenix net switch before the Zen mk3 (which clean the digital signal with the clocks and linear power supplies in the Phoenix unit) and run ethernet cable from the Phoenix net switch outputs, one to the mk3 and one to the Devialet master unit DAC.
Or:
2: Buy an Denafrips GAIA DDC which cleans and reclocks the signal before the DAC in the Devialet and connect that to the Devialet master unit?
Which scenario would give the most sound quality in your opinion?
(I can't afford them both right now unfortunately.)
Br:Kris
Hard to say. I have no hands on experience with the Devialet not with the Innuos Phoenix. I would ask your dealer to lend you the devices so you can try it for yourself. If that's impossible, my bet would be the switch.
Is this one worth it for the Pontus II or would you advice a DENAFRIPS HERMESl. thx!
That depends on the source. If you use a source that provides a very clean digital signal, the improvement might be limited. But in most cases it will improve the sound quality considerable.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel in my case my main source is usb
so if I'm not running a streamer, just a DAC and separate preamp/transport, I put the Gaia between what? DAC and preamp or DAC and transport. Thanks in advance from an audiophile rookie.
Just before the DAC in order to provide clean signal to the DAC.
@@wouterkolkman thanks so much
Interesting review. Thank you for your attention to detail. Do you know if the Gaia will pass an MQA signal from a streamer to the Brooklyn? Also since the spdif output only manages 24/192, will the Gaia down sample a higher signal rate or will prior down sampling in Roon/HQPlayer be necessary?
The Gaia don't change the bit pattern so it will contain the same information bit perfectly. Thus it doesn't damage the MQA container. The Gaia will not work with SPDIF signals higher than 192 kHz. Only the USB input will accept higher sampling rates.
Be warned that there is potentially a problem of time-delay with the Gaia. If the Gaia is used between a computer and a DAC, or between a TV and a DAC the Gaia will introduce a time-delay (latency) which will cause a problem of synchronising with the visual image. In order to minimise the delay, one has to connect the computer directly to the DAC using USB i.e. without the Gaia.
There alway is a potential time problem with all DSP based devices. DSPs don’t work in real time. Some have a short delay mode for video
Can I use this with the Hugo M scaler > DAC?
I guess you could, I don't know if that would further improve she sound quality.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel In your comparative breakdown of what the Gaia provides vs the Sirius (functionally comparable to the M-Scaler, of course), you touched on it there as well...where you mentioned the upsampler's high sampling frequency to combat related clock errors.
So in your view, would it be accurate to say that you would have a tough time envisioning a D/D's re-clocking effects on overall sound -- when a quality upsampler is ALREADY in the chain?
Say if a person did experiment with the Gaia & Sirius, would it go: Source --> Gaia --> Sirius --> DAC?
Thanks!
Does getting a DDC reduce the need for getting a good quality cd player or transport?
It’s better to start at a good quality than trying to repair mediocre quality.
Yes, have been hoping that the Gaia would be put up to the Hans test! I am a little bit confused about the Terminator Plus clock is better then the Gaia clock. More around how one connects the units in order to determine or ensure which clock is driving. I have a Terminator II (yes, the Terminator has been upgraded) on order and hope to add the Gaia at some point in the future. Hans, have you added the Terminator Plus to your System 1? If so, congratulations. Or, did you have all of this gear on hand when you did the reviews on other denafrips dacs? Thanks and cheers!
It's not the clock being better, it's that both run on the same clock in perfect sync.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks Hans! I am looking forward to my Terminator II. While I enjoy the music. Cheers.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I think in this case it is about the external clock being better. Otherwise probably theres's no point, it's not a recording studio where devices need to be synced. Gaia sends signal out to the Terminator Plus, so some jitter is added anyway and is again corrected in the DAC. I think syncing per se wouldn't matter here if it wasn't for the better clocks in Terminator Plus. Perhaps this is what the manufacturer aims for, by suggesting: if you get our best DAC you'll get access to our best clock.
@@john_scott True. Even denafrips said in their video that terminators don't use Gaia clocks. Also I never heard DDC and DAC using two clocks and need to keep them in sync?!
@@VJA74 i don`t understand.. can i use the GAIA with external clock from another brand, like GRIMM CC2 and in which BNP input i have to connect it !?
More boxes, more stuff. Where will it end!! :D
It seems like every functional component in a computer or dac can be optimized in its own case.
@@Thunderbird139 Even pre-amplifiers. Pass Labs uses 3 cases for its flagship pre-amplifier. Try to justify or explain that to a non-audiophile lol
why does video look jittery
It doesn’t here…..
So... basically this is a reclocker. Yes?
And a format converter
!
?😄
Are you ok? It’s Friday
All fine here
so it's not a DAC, but a DAD
Too much TLA's!!
Why is this not built into a DAC? Digital is just becoming more and more boxes.
It is built into DACs, but not as good.
built into a separate chassis and power supply usually delivers better performance, albeit at a much higher cost
Its funny how picosecond improvements in jitter improve the bass, where audibility of jitter is almost non-existent. Go figure.
What do you mean with "the audibility of jitter"? isn't the influence on the bass an audible effect of jitter?
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel jitter is most audible at higher frequencies, and even then it not really there - you need more than 1ns (that is A LOT, you'd probably see it on a scope with edges jumping that much) of jitter for a signal at 1kHz to produce audible spurs above -100db, whilst your average crystal oscillator easily manages 100fs jitter values.
In other words I don't believe a word you're saying and you need a better experiment to prove your point.
To you jitter is most audible at higher frequencies. But it's also audible in the lows as you have noticed, in the stereo image, in sibilance, in pace & rhythm and in other less easy to describe artefacts.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel its mathematically proven to be audible at higher frequencies and its so low its laughable.
So you're saying you can hear rhythm irregularities when clock edges jump by 100 femtoseconds?
It would R E A L L Y B E H E L P F U L if your videos had English closed-captioning. Your videos are superb, you are knowledgeable, highly intelligent, exceedingly thorough, and fair. But it is a fact that for some of us older, and slower thinking, viewers, your English is hard to follow with your accent. I am constantly having to stop your video, and replay, and replay, and replay to understand the various audio terms that you are using, some of which are quite technical. T H A N K S.
Just switch on Close Captioning in RUclips. My video have close caption for years.
Are you sure it has a USB output?
It has no USB out.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you, I thought so. In your video you said there is! All the best.