Denafrips Gaia reclocker on more affordable DACs

[@cablebrain9691]

Thanks for the comparisons. I was one of those who pestered you about this topic. I now have a bit of a better understanding. Much appreciated!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

No worries!

[@wouterkolkman]

I am really happy with the Gaia in combination with the Denafrips Terminator Plus - in line with the initial review and emphasised here improving the sound quality to the next level. Thank you Hans!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thank you

[@michaelschneider-]

+1. Many thanks for the Gaia reclocker introduction with superb details! .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks. Did you watch the initial video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ6sqmt-Ys1ob7M

[@DBravo29er]

Hans, cheers on a great review. I have just ordered the Gaia to use between my Chord Qutest + Plixir Elite BDC power supply and my Roon Nucleus+ revA, also with Plixir Elite BDC power supply. I will report back on my observations. Already using an IRIS which brought an obvious improvement.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Enjoy!

[@xllms]

Curious to find out how Gaia will further improve a very good DAC like HOLO AUDIO MAY.

[@krell2026]

Just a comment about your findings using the Gaia with aresii. I took the plunge a about a month ago on the Hermes to sit between an intel NUC and ares ii. Initially I wondered what I had done, the sound was exactly as you describe, a lot brighter and sound stage more expansive. It was not as listenable or engaging, I was very disappointed. There is a but, massive! I persevered and left the combination playing from Roon for a week then listened again. Was this the same combo? Huge improvement, instruments more fleshed out, tighter bass and more detail. Probably along the lines of reduced jitter which is what I was hoping for.. the ares ii is now working at optimum. Moral is burn in is critical. I was in your word blown away! I really thought I had made a mistake but thankfully not. 😀. Just to add I am using digital coax between ares ii and hermes

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Try a network bridge. Connecting a DAC directly to the NUC Isn’t the optimal setup. After using a network bridge try the Gaia again. An SOtM sMS-200 or USBridge/dual psu setup doesn’t cost that much...

where should I place a Denafrips Gaia DDC in the hifi chain, between pc/laptop and the DSP processor (minidsp shd studio) or between the DSP processor and DAC?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I'm not sure. Why don't you try.

[@williamh5780]

Can I put a vote in for the Denifrips avatar cd transport please. It looks like it has some good clocking technology and I'm interested to learn how this effects the signal further down the chain. Many thanks for the reviews, they're comprehensive and understandable even to a non technical person like myself.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It's been years since I have reviewed a cd-player. I don't think that's going to happen now.

[@williamh5780]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel lol fair enough.

[@DCForbes]

I recently purchased a pre-owned Denafrips Gaia DDC to pair with my Denafrips Pontus II DAC. However, I am unclear regarding how to pair the Gaia clock to the DAC with my BNC cables; the Gaia outputs two (2) BNC clock connections, whereas the Pontus II has a single (1) BNC input ('Coaxial 2' - CO2). Any and all help with this question is most welcome, as I am new to DDC/DAC pairing issues. BTW, I am most appreciative of this (recently discovered) KZbin resource, as it addresses areas of interest in a concise and informative manner! Thank you, Hans....

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don't do support (that would be a day job if I did) but you might want to watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILNk4eXndCLiMU

[@TombstoneTube]

I'm about to buy a Gaia to use with my Pontus II - were you happy with the Gaia?

[@rolandasstripeikis4048]

Hello, dear Hans, i was wondering is it worth to add denafrips gaia to mola mola tambaqui dac?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Hard to say. Depends on the other equipment.

[@jaysworld5378]

Hello Hans, I have a DAC that has USB, Coax and Optical Inputs (Questyle CMA400i). I like to listen to DSD among other digital type formats. My DAC Decodes DSD as is just fine directly from my PC. But I am wondering, if I were to use a device such as the GAIA, how would the DSD signal transfer over to my DAC if the GAIA does not have a USB output? My understanding is DSD would not transfer/travel over Coax or Optical (I could be wrong) and therefore, for my particular setup, I am wondering if using a device like the GAIA, would I be forfeiting DSD playback? Hope that all makes sense, thanks.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

DSD64 will work over Coax. DSD128 and higher won’t.

[@TuanLeViet]

I have some trouble when connect MD Recorder with DENAFRIPS GAIA. It show Copy Prohibit, does DENAFRIPS deny copy for all their output?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You have to ask your supplier.

[@robertreynolds2212]

Currently own the Venus II and wonder if adding the Gaia would make a big difference. Using an iPad Pro & Tidal w/ USB B-C. Mainly use headphones.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It all depends on your personal situation. The Gaia improves the sound as I described in the video. Whether it is a good investment in your situation, I can't say.

[@esylsten]

I am a bit confused, in the case of the Dinafrips Venus II would the Gaia also improve upon it? (I have the Venus II now)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

That depends on the source. If that already sends a perfect digital signal, the Gaia can't improves upon that.

[@davidlynam8729]

Hans- I have the Pro-ject s2 ultra which you recently reviewed as "the little dwarf giant". It plays nicely with my Schitt Yaggdrasil DAC, but when I added the Denafrips Hermes DDC, I get absolutely no throughput from the Project s2 Ultra in any configuration. The Hermes works great with my Blueray player, so there clearly is a compatibility issue between the Pro-ject and the Hermes. I can find no information on this issue on the web, and Alvin Chee of Vinshine Audio tried but was unable to help. Since you use the Gaia with the SOTM, I assume they are compatible, but before I sell the Pro-ject s2 Ultra and buy the SOTM, I was hoping for some confirmation. THANK YOU!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven’t reviewed the Hermes so I can’t say.

[@17cream]

With a Bluesound Node and Ares II, would the Gaia make a difference worth the purchase?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven't tried but I think that money spent on a higher class DAC and/or streamer would be a better investment. Not that the Node and Ares aren[t good, but there is no point mounting big rims on a standard VW golf.

[@billwillard9410]

What I haven’t really read is what effect a DDC has made using a CD transport with no I2S connection as a source.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well the clock signal is good so I²S and SPDIF outputs will be almost identical. It depends on your DAC what the result is. But it is fair to assure there will be a clear improvement in sound quality. Use a quality 110Ω AES/EBU cable if you can.

[@davidfriedman5154]

Thanks again for a very interesting review. Very revealing combinations. I recall your review of the SoTM external clock, which I gather made more of a difference in the setup with the sms 200 ultra than the Gaia does with the g2. I guess because g2 starts out with a such a superb signal. All said, if a used sCLK-OCX10 ever shows up on eBay I'll be an early bidder.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have not tested the GAIA with the SOtM but I can assure you that on the Terminator-Plus it further improved the sound when used with the Aries G2 (as reported in the original GAIA review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ6sqmt-Ys1ob7M)

[@HailKingCeezer]

Hans, Thank you for the review. I am curious. Are there any such products that could take a limited resolution DAC such as a legacy older DAC for redbook resolution and upsample it to higher pcm or dsd?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

It is not possible to use a DAC at a higher sampling frequency than it is designed for.

[@canalmiokanka]

"It clears the analog square wave in which the digital information is stored". Could you explain this further? I got lost in that. I thought that digital information is stored in 1 and 0. Sorry if it is a stupid question. I am fairly new in the audiophile world.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You might want to watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naPdoKR7l5d-g80

[@canalmiokanka]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel watched. Also read Wikipedia as you mention it. And it seems that you are the only one that explain jitter and other terms like that. I also think you either make up terms or you cannot clearly explain them. Which probably means you don't really understand what you are talking about. I will depart from your guidance now. Stay safe.

[@ChironZore]

People who rely on graphs, tests and measurements are not true audiophiles, just geeks. As a TRUE audiophile I am interested in how it SOUNDS not how it measures on a graph.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻