Denafrips Gaia reclocker on more affordable DACs

A month ago I reviewed the Denafrips Gaia Digital to Digital converter using the Terminator-Plus DAC from the same company. I got several requests to test the Gaia with more affordable DAC’s. So here we go.

Contents of this video

00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Start of program
01:21 - Where to use
03:23 - The setup
06:14 - The outcome
07:31 - The wrap

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[cablebrain]

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!

[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!

[michaelschneider-]

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

[DBravoer]

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.

[krell]

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

[xllms]

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

[williamh]

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.

[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) Youtube resource, as it addresses areas of interest in a concise and informative manner! Thank you, Hans....

[jaysworld]

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.

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?

[rolandasstripeikis]

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

[robertreynolds]

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.

[davidlynam]

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!

[davidfriedman]

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.

[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?

[cream]

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

[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)

[billwillard]

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

[TuanLeViet]

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

[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.