Looking for some help from Gaia owners as I’m close to losing my patience and selling this frustrating bit of kit.
I’m trying to use the Gaia for three purposes to feed my Directstream with I2S.
USB from Innuos server.
Toslink from Sky Q satellite TV set top.
Toslink or Coax from Opposed 205
Route 1 sounds good but not as good as my Innuos Phoenix. It’s close which is quite a compliment to the Gaia but the Phoenix sounds slightly better.
Routes 2 and 3 are the problem.
Regardless what I2S settings I try I get a horrible crackling noise. I can hear the music ok but there is a popping/crackling/static noise that makes it unlistenable.
I’ve tried changing settings on the sources. Disabling 5.1 in favour of 2.0. Changing to bitstream, lcpm etc. But nothing resolves the crackling.
In each case if I bypass the Gaia and plug the Toslink or Coax directly into the Directstream the sound is great.
I’ve contacted Alvin a few times but whilst he’s a lovely bloke he hasn’t really helped.
Anyone else managed to get the Gaia working with good results from a Blu Ray or set top box using Toslink or Coax.
All I can confirm is that I tried all input types on the Gaia and there was no problem at all. An Aurender N-200, a Sony Blue Ray player, an ancient TEAC CD-Receiver and an external USB Soundcard (connected to a PC) play PCM without any trouble to the Gaia using Toslink, Coax, USB or AES/EBU, depending on the available interface.
I had some real trouble getting the I2S OUTPUT on the Gaia to work right with my DS, but I am pretty sure that this has nothing to do with the type of INPUT used on the Gaia.
So, to get things clear, you have the DS Sr. connected to the Gaia only on I2S. No other connection. And it works with USB to the Gaia, but not with any other input? That is strange. And when, as you said, your sources play correct when connected directly to the DS, but not with Gaia in between, I would double check all cables and connections and also all settings on sources. If you can‘t succeed, there must be, just my guess, a technical issue with the Gaia. When route 2 and 3 (two different sources) deliver the same stange sounds through the Gaia, this is most likely in my opinion.
I guess for completeness I should try another output other than I2S.
But I’m close to a resolution here. Sell this piece of crap, accept the loss, and buy the AudioPraise Vanity Pro instead.
Case solved.
Anyone following this thread in the UK or Europe that’s looking to buy a Gaia on the cheap, that may or may not work, look out for my listing on Audiophile Style.
If you don’t mind, one last question. What is your Innuos Server sending to Gaia over USB? PCM 44,1/16 or higher or DSD or DoP? And did you try another connection between Gaia and DS? Just asking because the I2S connection may behave different between forwarding DSD and PCM.
The Innuos is serving PCM as I have like 5 DSD albums on it and don’t use any DSP.
So PCM 44 1/16 or above.
But the Innuos USB in is fine and the problem is the Gaia ruining Toslink and Coax signals from my Oppo and Sky TV.
Given the Phoenix beats the Gaia I don’t need it for my main music and my remaining use-case is improving DVD, Blu-Ray and streaming video music (YouTube, Sky, Netflix, Prime concerts etc).
But it’s completely failing at those as they’re unlistenable via the Gaia and much better direct to my Directstream.
The Vanity Pro is catching my eye but unlike the Gaia it has one input so I’d need to swap cables to use it with both the Oppo and Sky TV. So not ideal. But compared to the useless Gaia degrading the audio that might be a better solution to improving my AV audio.
Even when they don’t make an audible difference having dedicated clocks in your system just makes it seem better. I was really pleased when I listened to my system with a new clock added on. Days later I saw I needed to flip a switch for it to actually be used by the other piece. It did not sound worse after I actually had it working. I hope the clock device is black! Spend a bunch of money on the cable too! I actually found a Shunyata Sigma clock cable for a great price. Clocks, way more fun than fuses.