innuos pulse compared to denafrips gaia 12th

@kmcong just re-connect with TEK email thread please and we'll see about getting your Hermes sent in for the service. Thanks, TK

I had an issue with my Hermes within the past month and Denafrips was exceedingly responsive.  They had me check a couple things out myself and then sent me an RMA via email.  The issue resolved itself, still not sure how, but I chatted with TekAudioSpecialties and decided not to send it in since the problem had resolved.  Both Denafrips and TekAudioSpecialties were very prompt and professional in their correspondence with me.  Sorry to hear you are having issues with them.  Not my experience at all glad to say.

Looks like my post crossed with TK in cyberspace.  Good to know someone is listening.

This is a very bad look for the “new” Denafrips and their US representation.  Maybe it’s indicative of what’s to come now that Vineshine is out of the picture. Regardless of how easy it may be to download the driver, it sure seems that they should be helping their customers more.  Plus how does Audioman58 throw up his arms and say “I’m not a tech guy”?  He’s always posting about his 40 years in the industry and how he’s modified countless products.  I’m a long time Denafrips owner but if this is how they’re treating their customers now, I may have to change my plans on buying a new Terminator Plus 15th post tariffs.

@kmcong I’d suggest posting your situation on the 2 Facebook links; Denafrips DAC owners and Denafrips International Club.  Maybe someone over there can help but just as important, the Denafrips community should know what’s going on.

Sorry you're having an issue there kmcong. If your unit wont play a 192K file then something is amiss. And I think something must have gotten crossed in translation. Nobody want you stuck with a DDC that has an issue.

If I follow correctly, Denafrips wants you to downgrade the fw to v1.8 as there was a possible issue with the newer v1.9. 

Pick it back up with TEK in email and we can see about sending it here for service if need be.

Thanks, TK

This issue started in January, prior to the tariff issues. Audioman58 says "I'm not a tech guy." Unit would not have to be shipped back to Asia; if they would give me an RMA, I could ship it to TEK Audio Specialties in Texas. Tech support person at Denafrips factory, Vera, is just completely intractable.

I'd bet on this being a tariff issue, if unit needs to be shipped back to Asia they gonna be responsible for paying that. Can't you ship to Audioman58, I'm sure he's familiar with process.

Yes, I have talked extensively to Audioman58 (who sold me the unit) TEK Audio Specialties (who cannot do anything without an RMA from Denafrips) and Denafrips technical support. The problem with the driver to install the firmware downgrade is that it is an "unsigned driver", which means that you have to run your computer in "test mode" to get the driver to run. I am not concerned with bricking my computer, I'm more concerned with bricking the unit, making it worthless. Denafrips absolutely refuses to give me an RMA, and keeps telling me to downgrade the firmware from v1.9 to v1.8. I'm located in the U.S., btw.

audioman58 is the Denafrips guy to talk to. Downloading Windows drivers is a rather simple process, foolproof, very little chance of bricking your computer. I've downloaded plenty of drivers over the years on Windows computers, no big deal even for a complete novice.

@kmcong, have you talked to the Denafrips distributor Tek Audio Specialties?

@kmcong : That's terrible! Where are you located, if I may ask? By "they" you mean the local dealer / distributor or the Denafrips company itself?

Before purchasing any Denafrips product,  my advice is to consider their customer service.  My experience is that it's terrible to non existent.  I have a brand new Hermes 12th DDC that's sitting on a shelf because it won't play 192khz files.  They will not service the unit, even though it came from them defective.  They want me to downgrade the firmware myself,  which is a cumbersome process,  requiring the use of an unsigned Windows driver,  and if done incorrectly will brick the unit.  They flat out refuse to provide a RMA to send it to their service center to have it done,  so it's out of my system and unusable; $1200 wasted.  I will never purchase a Denafrips product again!!!

I would recommend using USB from any streamer into a Denafrips DAC. These DACs reclock the input data. If you use a synchronous input (anything other than USB), you risk FIFO overflow or underflow which will cause audible glitches.
 

I currently own the Terminator Plus and owned a Terminator previously. 
 

I’d recommend focusing first on getting a good USB streamer, and then if you have a Denafrips DAC with clock outputs, you can consider a DDC such as the Gaia.  If your DAC doesn’t have clock outputs, I think you are better off skipping the DDC and using USB directly into the DAC. 

If you insist on I2S output not too many, most will use usb out of their streamer into a DDC in order to use I2S, this what you'd do with Pulse. As for streamers with I2S just off the top of my head Holo Red is reportedly very nice.

@sns What good streamers come with I2s?

I'd easily choose the Pulse over Gaia with computer as streamer. Next to the dac, streamer is most important streaming component. Using a general purpose computer as streamer means high levels of self generated noise, poor clocking, and once you've lost here nothing post streamer can restore whats been lost, it also defeats the whole purpose of a DDC in that optimization of INPUT to any DDC is also critically important.  Inserting a high end DDC is only worthwhile if one already has nice streamer, optimized input (most likely usb) into that DDC and DAC with I2S input.

@fthompson251 Instead of a streamer one idea is to run a computer and TV through the gaia12th  with  TOSLINK for the TV and USB for the computer.  I  think the Gaia would clean up the signal for both but not sure if the sound will be as good as a nice streamer for the music and as far as the tv goes I am not sure if it will match the words on the tv because of a small delay of some sort because of the gaia.

Is the question "Do you need a DDC with a Pulse Streamer?"  Some may say yes and some may say no. I think it matters what DAC you have, how good the clocks are and weather or not you value the I2s interface. The Gaia DDC mates well with the Denafrips Terminator level DACs that can slave the clock to the DAC with BNC clock cables. This is also possible with the new Venus 15th too. Some say the galvanic isolation via USB in most better DAC's are all you need.  I feel the DDC was and is beneficial to both the Denafrips DAC's I have owned and presently own.