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Server/Source Recommendation For Denafrips Terminator

Just picked up a Terminator and quite like it so far. I've an old Cambridge 851C that I'm using as a transport for the couple hundred or so CDs that I haven't ripped, and an Aurender N100H along with NAS totaling around 7TB. Files are mostly FLAC, WAV and about 10% are DSD.

I'm looking to improve on the sound quality of the N100H. I don't have a real issue with the Conductor App functionality and no real desire/need to step into ROON.

However, I am looking to add some input flexibility and not be tied solely to USB. The Denafrips has the usual suspects when it comes to inputs and it also has I2S, which I used way back when with some old Audio Alchemy gear (yes, I'm that old).

I've zero interest in streaming and zero interest in buying a unit with an inbuilt DAC.

Is it worth trying to find something with I2S connectivity, or are the "gains" too small to worry about?

Can you recommend a music server that wouldn't constrain the potential of the Denafrips Terminator and could be found on the used market for around $3000 - $4000, perhaps a little more if needed?

Looking for feedback from people who value (or not) the I2s connectivity and who have some experience with this DAC and a variety of sources. 

Many thanks.

Rooze
128x128rooze
smatsui
167 posts
 
You might consider the Denafrips Gaia that has a USB input and an I2S output.  I think it reclocks using a OCXO clock for improved jitter performance.  

I also have a N100H and I bought something similiar to the Gaia, a Innuos Phoenix USB reclocker that also has an OCXO clock and a Sean Jacobs linear power supply.  The Gaia might have been a better route for me too but at the time, I was using a Bryston BDA-3 DAC that doesn’t have an I2S input.  Since then, I sold the Bryston and upgraded to the Holo May KTE.  The May has two I2S inputs so I could have benefited from the Gaia I2S output.  The Phoenix USB relocker was a nice improvement to the N100H.  If I were you, I would look into the Gaia.
smatsui
167 posts
 
Just to clarify my above post, the Gaia would added to your existing system between the N100H and the Terminator.  From my understanding, the Gaia reclocks the USB signal from the N100H and outputs I2S to the Terminator.  This should improve the N100H quite a bit since the Gaia uses an OCXO clock. Maybe a Denafrips user that has a Gaia can comment.
jaytor's avatar
jaytor
765 posts
 
I'll second the Gaia recommendation. Adding this to my Terminator and switching to an i2s connection to the DAC really made a nice improvement in sound quality.

I've since upgraded to the Terminator Plus. 
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