A friend said he liked the Terminator i2s input via IRIS DDC from USB direct - TBH I didn’t hear enough difference one way or the other - even if you held a gun to my head I would be 50/50 on what was better.
We tried AES too and for the cost of a $20 cable can AB anytime so plenty of options with the DDC in play.
Source was via Sonore OpticalRendu connected to UpTone EtherREGEN
I use the i2s output of my CD transport to the Terminator. This precludes using the output of a GAIA i2s to the Terminator. I suspect that with my current system, I cannot hear the benefits of i2s.
I’m tempted to add the Hermes between my HP laptop and Terminator, but would like to hear the experience of anyone who added the Iris or Gaia…either positive or disappointed.
I had the Terminator and upgraded to the Iris and Terminator Plus. The Iris came first, I did not configure the I2S settings because it worked with the Terminator when I plugged it in but it did not sound right. After the Terminator Plus came I thought something was broken- it made an awful screeching sound. Then I figured out the proper I2S settings and its very very positive. I am sure my original Terminator would have sounded much better if I had realized I needed to change the I2S settings.
A few weeks later clocked the Iris with the Terminator Plus and its just WOW.
That is a valuable post. My purchase of a GAIA is delayed not by expense but by the reality that one of my CD transports uses the i2S port on the T+. I am willing to designate the port to a GAIA and use another port for the transport, but am not certain that this will be audible for us. The greatest improvement in our sound is the recording itself.
Your T+ has three I2S ports. One is via HDMI. The other two are via RJ-45.
I know it may be difficult, but can you characterize the audible differences attributable to putting the Iris in the path.
As I understand it per Denafrips the I2S is the superior input regarding noise.
I as still amazed at how much I was missing from the recordings and how amazing 16/44 sounds from my server or Tidal/Qobuz. Implementing the I2S input on the Terminator Plus removed a layer of fog particularly in terms of ambiance and spatial cues. I hear a lot of musician noise, breathing, grunts, chairs moving, fingers on the frets that kind of thing.
I am not sure why because I am feeding the Iris with the USB from an Innuos Statement.
Is there a way to use I2S with Lumin U1 and T+ with some kind of middleware?
@wklie
So, if I summarize: You had good quality with Roon/Qobuz (for example) but putting the Iris in the path to the T+, you then hear a (described) surprising amount of additional content. Wonder if Mr. Alvin Chee is able to weigh in on that. The Iris, Hermes or GAIA were not, I assume, specifically designed only to enhance the T+ were they? Nor confined to be used solely with the T+? It is an interesting purchase to consider. If the difference is that dramatic, it is a cost effective approach. I saw a video in which the baseline was the reviewers stating without equivocation that nothing is, or could, equal vinyl. He saw these enhancements as a means to close that gap. (The problem with vinyl is whether you set a limit on the turntable/arm/cartridge since the combination can exceed the cost of high end electronics…or speakers.). In either case, thank you for sharing your experience.
You can use a DDC between the U1 and the DAC. It is critical that the DDC must be compatible with the DAC for DSD signal as there are several non-compatible variations of I2S over HDMI. Incompatible ones will result in DSD not working, left right channel swap, and/or other anomalies.
Therefore it is safest to use a Denafrips DDC with a Denafrips DAC. If you get the GAIA, you can try both USB and AES outputs from U1 (not connected simultaneously) to GAIA and see which sounds better to you. Note that AES output is limited to PCM 192kHz DSD64 (DoP). Also connect the clock as follows:
My friend thought the IRIS to his Terminator (non +) sounded better using the I2S (HDMI) as I recall over he AES option. no clock signals were available with the IRIS tho but its a lot cheaper.
The sound currently from Lumin U1 + T Plus is awesome, how much more awesome can it get? 
but I will try out the DDC of Denafrips … SInce it is a strong observation I see coming from several channels…
What is the difference between AIO & USB DDC? Specifically what does AIO stand for.
All in one maybe?
Analog Input Output.
My experience has been that an AIO connection is more subdued than COAX or USB.
I placed an order for GAIA yesterday… I will update the group how it affects the current sound quality offered by Lumin u1 + T PLus when I place the GAIA between U1 & T+…
I look forward to reading your impressions. Do you have a timeframe for delivery?
When i got the T+ last month it was delivered in less than 10 working days… My best guess is it should land around 15th Dec…
What HDMI cable will you use between the GAIA -> T+?