New R2R DAC

[tuga]

Just put my Denafrips Pontus II up in the classifieds and noticed there's one there already in black (mine's silver) so take your pick!

Technically not R2R according to some commentators, although Denafrips still describe it as such.

Not NOS (No OverSampling)

 

[Juancho]

Have you actually heard any of these?

Pretty weird frankly to recommend stuff you haven't even heard. To hats the ASR approach!

 

[Audinista]

Another vote for Aqua La Voce S3. Very musical, natural sound and the DAC is upgradable in the future.

 

[tuga]

Pretty weird frankly to recommend stuff you haven't even heard. To hats the ASR approach!

How is it any better to recommend stuff you've listened to? The chance of the OP having the same preference as you is identical to suggesting something which performs well in the test bench.
When this topic reaches half a dozen pages people will have suggested twice as many DACs, all of them different in presentation...

 

[Juancho]

How is it any better to recommend stuff you've listened to? The chance of the OP having the same preference as you is identical to suggesting something which performs well in the test bench.
When this topic reaches half a dozen pages people will have suggested twice as many DACs, all of them different in presentation...

Because of course you have first hand knowledge of how it sounds for starters

 

[tuga]

Because of course you have first hand knowledge of how it sounds for starters

In what way is that helpful to anyone other than mysef? You are assuming that we all have the same preference, which of course is not the case.

 

[garn63]

Nfwi.

 

[2010*zuma]

Personally I have never got hung up on types in hifi.. I think it's marketing bumff.. By considering types does this assume to right all others off?.. its perfectly ok to follow idea and notions but surprises and left field thinking in life sometimes turn out to be good things too...

 

[Psilonaught]

Pretty weird frankly to recommend stuff you haven't even heard. To hats the ASR approach!

Agreed!

 

[Juancho]

In what way is that helpful to anyone other than mysef? You are assuming that we all have the same preference, which of course is not the case.

I'm not assuming anything. I'm just saying that to recommend things you've never heard is misleading unless you clearly state words to the effect 'these bits of kit meet your spec and measure well, so try and have a listen'.

 

[tuga]

I'm not assuming anything. I'm just saying that to recommend things you've never heard is misleading unless you clearly state words to the effect 'these bits of kit meet your spec and measure well, so try and have a listen'.

Why else would I recommend anything if I didn't think it met the requirements?

 

[tuga]

Personally I have never got hung up on types in hifi.. I think it's marketing bumff.. By considering types does this assume to right all others off?.. its perfectly ok to follow idea and notions but surprises and left field thinking in life sometimes turn out to be good things too...

I've been through a phase. I had a NOS DAC, a couple of high-ish sensitivity single-driver speakers, a chip-amp and a T-amp, I even bought a record player.
Living and learning... Some get a kick out of it but not me. Wasted time and money.

 

[vintageaxeman]

Hi

I've recently sold my Linn Akurate DSM streamer to raise funds for a Luxman 590axII. What a lovely amp it is with my Harbeth C7XD. I'm now in the market for a new DAC to get back into streaming again. I'm looking for a natural sounding musical DAC, DSD or MQA isn't a must. The ones I'm considering so far are:

1. Denafrips Pontus II
2. Audio Mirror Toubadour IV SE
3. Merason Frérot

Did anyone directly compare these DACs? Any other DAC I should consider?

Thanks for your help!

I heard a Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 2. (NOS Dac) yesterday. Fabulous. Best sound I have heard. And I have heard a LOT. Add it to your list.

 

[Ceko]

I heard a Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 2. (NOS Dac) yesterday. Fabulous. Best sound I have heard. And I have heard a LOT. Add it to your list.

I wish I could hear one of those before buying!

 

[vintageaxeman]

I wish I could hear one of those before buying!

You should be able to. You're in The Netherlands. Magma Audio in Alkmaar in The Netherlands are the European distributors. https://magnahifi.com

 

[Ceko]

You should be able to. You're in The Netherlands. Magma Audio in Alkmaar in The Netherlands are the European distributors. https://magnahifi.com

Didn’t know that, thanks!

 

[Colinjg]

No, I shortlist DACs with good measured performance. These are the ones I would listen to. I buy used and if they don’t sound good I pass them on.

Not a great method in my experience.

 

[tuga]

Not a great method in my experience.

Maybe you don't like the sound of DACs with good measured performance, in which case you should shortlist euphonic DACs.

 

[Ceko]

I heard a Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 2. (NOS Dac) yesterday. Fabulous. Best sound I have heard. And I have heard a LOT. Add it to your list.

Do you know if there’s any real difference between all these levels? They’re each a lot more expensive of course but will it do anything to the sound?

 

[vintageaxeman]

Do you know if there’s any real difference between all these levels? They’re each a lot more expensive of course but will it do anything to the sound?

It WILL do. I have made changes myself to equipment putting in better caps, better resistors in crucial places, better transformers etc. The guys who design this will have listened and tested the mods to get the different Levels of performance. The one I heard this week blew me away.