Denafrips Pontus II & Venus II Review
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- Reviewing Pontus and Venus 2 and going through the Denafrips warranty process.
This is part 3 of my Loudspeaker Trip
0:00 Intro
1:34 Difference between DS & R2R
3:06 Pontus
5:36 Pontus Pooched
6:08 How Denafrips warranty worked out
7:22 Life without R2R
7:59 Analogy or how I feel
8:43 Resolution
9:44 ESD PRO TIP
10:27 Venus unbox
11:56 Physical stuff
13:52 How to switch OS filters
14:54 About Bitrates
17:07 Looking at the back
17:20 Initial thoughts on sound
18:47 Venus vs other DACs
19:44 Venus vs Pontus
21:52 Conclusion
23:23 Credits
Helpful links:
Understanding R2R Lader Dacs
• Denafrips Ares II R-2R... - Hans Beekhuyzen
• Explain the different ... - PS Audio
• Denafrips Ares II R2R ... - passion for sound
New Record Day review of OG Terminator - • But, does it sound ana...
Vinshine Audio - Where I bought these DACs (non affiliate)
www.vinshineaudio.com/
As a reviewer and journalist myself I can attest to the quality that is the Venus II. In fact, it is my reference DAC as it is killer for the money. Don't let the Measurement only guys get to you. I know for a fact after being in the high-end audio game for over 30 years that measurements matter but only to a certain point. Listening using quality gear is the only way to truly know.
Thanks for sharing! You have an excellent reference DAC! 👍🍻
Went from the Ares II to the Pontus II after a year and a half. As great as the Ares is, the Pontus is everything and considerably more.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and watching!
For a relatively new channel, you created an excellent video. Much enjoyed (especially because I’m considering upgrading my Ares II for a Pontus). It’s good to hear Vinshine took care of you, because my experience with them was also extremely professional. Alvin is a very knowledgeable and helpful guy. Subscribed!
Thanks man!! 👍🍻 Big fan of Alvin and Vinshine myself!
I bought the Venus II last year and loved it. Then I moved and must’ve accidentally changed a setting or something because it was really sharp and scratched when it was lovely before… thanks to this video, I found that I turned on sharp filter mode and changed it back to slow. And I am happy to report its back to normal… beautiful music and sound… Thanks my guy!
Thanks man! Glad I could help! Whenever I want to change the OS filter it always takes me so long to find out how. We needed one of these! 👍🏻🍻
First time I've seen your UA-cam channel and I found it terrific. Good detail, video and humor. I'm a subscriber now.
Thanks Steve! Glad to have you here!! 👍🏻🍻
I watch lots of audiophile videos, all the top guys. Your delivery is just as engaging and the top subscribed guys, I enjoyed listening to this story and really want the Venus II now (currently running a Marantz Model 30 with KEF R3). I have watched countless hours of videos and only just today UA-cam fed me your channel, keep after it, I bet you will blow up eventually. I plan to check out your other videos soon.
Thanks so much Ip Man!! 🍻
Good morning Mr. Chibs. I purchased the Venus II unseen, unheard based on component quality levels and specification including the complementary reputation of Vishine Audio and the remarkable Alvin Chee. I could not be happier. My existing DAC was the Venerable Monarchy 22A chip based R2R DAC with piggyback upgrade (from 10bits per channel to 20 bits) purchased new in the early 90's. Mr. Chibs, your review is well done, concise, in fact superlative. I agree with your Venus II observations completely. Nicely done.
Thanks man!! Glad you enjoyed it 👍🍻
Subscribed! Very entertaining and a lot of great info.
Thanks Jaqen!! 👍🍻
Denafrips has a special place in my heart. Started with the Aries II & upgraded through their entire line, including the DDC’s. Currently rockin the T+ w/ Gaia & BIC500. Unreal.
Nice! Did you notice a jump in audio quality each step?
@@MisterChibs I did. If you have an endgame setup, adding a Venus II, Terminator or Terminator Plus will just open up the capabilities for the rest of the system. Sandu from SoundNews stated the T+ made the LCD-5 sound unrecognizable.
For clarification, the DAC technology names are R2R and delta-signa. Both technology can be implemented in Integrated Circuits (ICs) or chips. The original DAC chips were actually R2R but were 14bits only and gone up to 20bits. To ensure accuracy and linearity, you need matched resistors to .0007% for 16bits resolution. The signa delta design achieve the accuracy by successive accumulation.
Thank you for clarifying!
*Delta-SigMa
R2R, and Delta Sigma are the two most common types of DACS. If the ladder is built using discreet matched resisters it is an R2R. If the ladder is built on a chip it is a Multi-bit DAC. Schiit has several good ones.
I recently acquired a Pontus 2 and loving it.
Cool, what do you have it hooked up to?
Very entertaining and well explained 👏 Subscribed
Glad you enjoyed!
Fantastic comparison, thank you!!
Much appreciated! Thanks for watching! 🍻
Nice vid man! I'm gearing up to review the venusII myself, it's just such a great piece!
Nemo Propaganda - Lets go!!!!!!!
Just sub'd your channel so I know when it hits. Great channel!
as always nice video presentation man!
Thanks Nia!! 👍🏻🍻
Enjoyed this!
Thanks Anton!
Incredible video
Thank you Sean!!
I got my Ares II in 5 days, Alvin and his crew are the best!
Nice!
Thank you so much. Great explanations 😊.
Thanks for watching! 🍻
I like this review. Especially that it is based on your journey and the products you purchased with your own money. I got into this hobby (more like low/mid-fi than hi-fi due to budgetary reasons) a year ago. I like my system but looking to upgrade now. I watched tons of review videos, even for products that I didn't need or had no intention purchasing. Lately tho, the major review channels have become infomercials for Amazon hi-fi(!) brands and it is such a disappointment. It is so good to see reviews like this. Although it is already one year old, it felt like a breath of fresh air to me.
Thanks for that! I've had some of those companies contact me and I politely decline. This channel is a passion project for me and I like picking what's next. Stay tuned! 🍻
I recently shelved my delta sigma after receiving the Ares II. It will take months to go back through my CD collection to hear what I missed. Big step up!
Totally agree, thanks for sharing! 🍻
Great video. I feel that I’ve heard this story before!
Haha thanks Lawrence!!
I hope this helps someone... Some things I have discovered with the Venus II 12th using a Pi2 Mercury V2 streamer with RoPieeeXL OS. Cables matter.
Digital Coax... I found the Gotham digital cables sound much better than either Mogami or Audioquest Cinnamon. That is for the AES and RCA. The Gotham really opens up the sound, where both the Mogami and Audioquest had a veil with bloated bass. Gotham for the win, $30 on Amazon WBC.
i2s, I called up Tarun, The British Audiophile and asked what he uses for i2s on his Venus. He stated he uses the British made QED HDMI cable, $40. What a difference, even better than the Cinnamon HDMI. Again, lifted the veil and no more bloated bass. Neither of these cables break the bank, and both deliver in spades. I am sure there are better out there, but for the money, these will be hard to beat. Again, hope this helps someone.
That's great, thanks for the update. I currently use Mogami AES from my U2 Mini and it sounds great. Haven't tried Gotham but maybe I'll hunt one down and check it out. Definitely want to now that I found out they're purple! 😆
I have been an audio nut for over 30+ years and late to the DAC game.
Owned Pontus II for about 6 months and absolutely loving it.
Through my friend's recommendation, bought Hermes DDC, and it opened my eyes!
I strongly recommend a DDC if you have a big CD collection.
Thanks for sharing! Currently testing the Singxer SU6 DDC. 👍🏻🍻
Totally agree on the DDC. I own a venus 2 with the gaia. I did not love the venus 2 until I added the gaia. Venus 2 sounds best with I2S input.
nice presentation Chibs. The better parts are likely audible as you describe-especially the resisters.
Thank you Todd! 👍🏻🍻
The Terminator Plus is also a very noticeable step up from the Venus II :). I have both. They both melt my heart but the Terminator Plus could bring happy tears. Amazing DAC.
Thanks for your comment. I’f like to review the T+ at some point! 👍🏻🍻
Good job on the video. You've got a future doing this stuff. As someone who only listens to headphones .... I'm thinking the Ares II might be enough? Right now I have a Bifrost 2 DAC and wonder if the Ares II is an upgrade or side grade?
Thanks man. Hmm tough call for me because I haven’t tried either DAC. If I were to guess I would say the Ares 2 would be a bit of an upgrade because it’s R2R. At the very least you should notice a difference in SQ. A lot of people who get the Ares end up trading up for the Pontus so I would check for sale forums for a good used one and save some cash. Pontus would be my recommendation if you can save a bit longer though. Even with just headphones, it’s a beast of a DAC!
I went from the Ares2 to the Pontus2/Hermes, to the Venus2/Gaia, and then to the Terminator Plus/Gaia combi, all in a space of six months. Every step up is a major jump in SQ. I bought the Venus2, TPlus and Gaia used at good prices, fortunately, and managed to sell the Ares2, Pontus2 and Hermes at okay prices (Denafrips DACs are really easy to sell).
Totally no regrets. Being in Singapore helps since Vinshine is here. I would say the Ares2 to the Pontus2 is a very large difference, like more than 2 times better. So if you can, just go straight to the Pontus2. Going to the Venus2 adds a level of refinement and better imaging. Maybe the Venus2 is the sweet spot in the Denafrips range, though Alvin thinks that the Pontus2 is the sweet spot. I skipped the Terminator 2, but for the price, I think it is a really affordable hi-end DAC that can compare with a lot more expensive ones.
Wow, You've run the gauntlet, thanks for sharing. Totally jealous about your T+. Really want to demo that one day!👍
@@MisterChibs It wasn't planned. A used Venus2/Gaia came out not long after I got the Pontus2/Hermes, at a decent price, so I decided to go for it. Then not long after, an even better priced T+ came along. Quite crazy indeed, this sudden upgrade madness. In fact i got into the DAC game only just a couple of months before I got the Ares2. It was a used SMSL SU-9. In some ways, the SU-9 was better than the Ares2 - more dynamic, forward and exciting but less smooth than the Ares2. By the way, thanks for your great review.
@@davidyan5502 Thank you David! Life happens in-between our plans. It's awesome how things sometimes work themselves out like this, eh?
Holy smokes haha, amazing.
Hello. Could you share your experiences after addition Hermes to your system along with the Pontus II ? I am using Sotm sms 200 neo streamer and I just purchased Pontus II 12th anniversary. This is a great dac! I would like to buy Hermes DDC but I can't decide what to do. I also want to buy Sotm Sms 200 neo Ultra and Sotm sps 500 power supply. I have a limited budget. I can only buy Ultra neo and sps 500 or only Hermes. What would you suggest me to do ? Thanks anyway.
Nice review! I’ve got a similar Spiderco. Great knife.
Thank you David! They make great knifes!!
@@MisterChibs Indeed.
Enjoyed your reviews of the Pontus and the Venus greatly. I'm the owner of the entry-level DAC from Denafrips (Ares II), but your reviews make me wonder if selling my Ares II will be an option in the near future. Seriously considering it. Thanks again.
Thank you Gilberto! It's supposed to be a noticeable jump in sound quality from what people on the forums say. Please let me know if you end up doing this and how it compares! 👍
Currently running the Ares II and the Iris (which features the same temp-compensated clock as the Venus) and very much enjoying it on my current setup (LS50 Meta + Musical Fidelity M5si + Paradigm Defiance X10). The Iris definitely took my Ares II from stock to S, possibly even GT4 with upgraded power/cabling.
Nice! 👍🏻🍻
Awesome video - I really enjoyed it. You mentioned that you're running the LS50 Meta speakers with two subs - I'd love to watch a review of that setup. If you're running two KC62's I'll just die from excitement. :)
Hi Shaun,
Thanks man!! You can see my setup in my H190 Video. The subs are SVS SB2000 Pro's. I hear good things about the KC62's though.
ua-cam.com/video/fzVxzfnxCEI/v-deo.html
I am late to the game on this vid. I like your video style. Keep up the good work. I am dac curious and have been looking at different options. A while back I jumped on the hype train and bought an Ares II. In the system I had at the time I heard the tiniest difference between the Ares and the dac in my Node 2i. Not necessarily an improvement, just a small difference. In my latest system I heard absolutely no difference. I sold it. At a loss of course. I would like to try something again and can spend what is necessary but am so reluctant to do so. As you mentioned, most of these dacs are online purchases and have no, or limited, return policies. An expensive leap of faith.
Thanks for your comment, Steve. Have never tried an Ares but can appreciate a difference between my Venus vs just about everything else I’ve got (in my system of course). Best advice I can give you is buy from dealers with a return policy. I also really like Chord so far. They are dealer based so maybe you can get one for a demo. If you get the chance, check out my Mojo 2 review. 🍻
Having had the ares 2 before purchasing a pontus 2, i would agree with you - skip the area and go straight for the pontus 2. I also added a denafrips iris before the pontus to clean up the digital signal.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve always wondered how different Ares II sounds. In my research I noticed a lot of people upgrading to Pontus, so thought it best to start there. It’s an awesome DAC! 👍🏻🍻
I see that you have the "three stars and a Sun" in your hat and the rosary at your rear view mirror. Thumbs Up!
Thanks for watching!!
Great review, thanks! Do you use the Bluesound Node as a streamer in combination with the Venus? If so, is there room for improvement there? Jos
Thanks for watching Jos, I have used the Node with the Venus but like anything else in audio, there's always room for improvement. Check out my Lumin U2 Mini review where I directly compare both streamers. 🍻
Love how you told the story of your journey. I was a skeptic re: delta-sigma vs r2r before too. Once I tried Ares II and now Musician Pegasus - I would not go back. I'm happy, but curious on on what the top tier R2R can bring..dangerous for my wallet.
Thanks Gary, would love to try top tier too. Terminator Plus / Hollow May. One day! 🍻
Hahaah i loved your enthousiasm, totally recognizable...
Thanks 🍻
I could only afford Denafrips' base model the Ares II. While loving its sound I can only treat the process of mode and filter changing from OS to NOS and slow to fast as some sort of brain exercise. Likewise the minuscule front panel LED lights and engravings serve as a reminder of my aging eyesight presumably to satisfy the minimalist designer's sadistic instinct. Nonetheless this DAC is an elegant beauty !
Sure is, thanks for sharing your experience. I find the difference is more noticeable than chip dac filters. It's subtle though. Enjoy!!👍🍻
Subscribed
Thanks 👍🏻
Funny. Great review.
Thank you!🍻
I too have Denafrips components in my hifi chain, including the Venus. Unfortunately, nothing is infallible. Things can go wrong. Faults can manifest themselves. I have a local audio electronics technician who diagnoses the fault. Alvin at Vinshine then ships to him the replacement part. The technician then restores my Denafrips to full health. Yes, that puts me out of pocket, but, only slightly eats into the savings made through purchasing a consumer direct product! Your advice about grounding yourself prior to touching a control knob on a hifi product is sound. I think, that maybe, not doing that could be how I blew one of the transformers on my Denafrips power amp.
Enjoy the music.
Thanks for sharing your experience! It also helps to run a humidifier with distilled water during the winter months. I'm very careful now. 🍻
My set up is similar - LS50 meta , Pontus 2 , Iris DDC , Willsenton R800i Class A 48w set , Rel T5X , all silver cables, IsoAcoustic feet with S2 stands. The Iris brings it closer to the Venus 2. The Willsenton beats the Hegel hands down , even better with changed tubes PSVane. The Xangsane silver wires are better than Van Den Hul which costs a lot more. And finally the IsoAcoustic AudioBastion feet allows much sharper imaging and clarity esp voice ( fill the S2 stands with sand and lead bolted to the spkrs ). For a medium size room , it’s fine.
Thanks for sharing Robert. 🍻
Great review, I began my audio journey with Topping D10, D90 and Gustard X16, but I found its sound sterile and soulless to my taste... Moved to R2R Bifrost 2 and really loved it, it was more analog sounding... Was lucky to get a very very cheap Ares 2 and I knew I wanted to try higher Denafrips DACs so the next month I bought a very well priced Pontus 2 and it's been almost a year with it and I won't be changing, it is the perfect pairing with Kinki THR-1 and Cayin HA-6A for Final D8000 Pro. It's worth the investment, sounds amazing and it's a beautiful piece of metal.
Yesssss!! So similar to my story. If I could just go back and tell myself what to get, I'de save so much $ and time side-grading. That's one of the ways I'de like to help people on here. Enjoy your Pontus II José!!
Please can you let us know which interconnect you used? I2S is supposedly the best but not many streamers that support it and the ones that do is a DAC plus streamer which takes the price too high for use as a streamer. I only have the options of coxial or USB from a bluesound node N150. So would help to know if you tried either of those and specifically if the USB implementation is good.
I mainly use Supra cables for digital. I have USB, Coax, optical cables by them and use whichever suits the situation. Mogami makes good cables too. My advice is to try out both usb /coax and see which you prefer. Inputs can sound different and yes, i2s does sound best on my DAC. Getting into that in my next vid. Thanks for watching. 🍻
@@MisterChibs thanks for the review and the response. Looking forward to your next video.
Hey mr.Chibs, i read in an article comparing the Denafrips lineup, that Venus, although more techanicaly advanced, with better resolution , compared to pontus is leaner and maybe less engaging. Did u get that feeling?
Was it the one where the guy had a Pontus, Venus, and Terminator? I remember reading that article. Do I agree with it? Not really. They're both great DACs and your budget should dictate which one to get. I can also assure you, in my setup the Venus is beyond engaging. It's actually at the point where it's married with 2 kids in middle school. 😉 Thanks for watching! 🍻
@@MisterChibs Yes , that was the one. I currently own Ares II and I am at the verge of pulling the trigger for the Venus . I was hoping for a more resolving sound, but still full body , without leanness. Your experience reassures me. Thank you my friend, yours and youtube.com/@SmallRoomAudio?si=XABoIJ_BNFg-0wG1 's amateur approach to reviews , is very dear to me :)
@@s37en_gr thanks man! Let me know what you think of the Venus (if you get one). Should be a big jump for ya! 🤟🏻
wow bro you have a GT3?? 🙀 You are the man!
Thanks, that’s not my car but I’m definitely male! 🤣
@@MisterChibs 😂
Hahahahaha,.I’m a brand new subscriber your humour got me first i then listened again a 2nd time more carefully to your analysis , I think I’m going to order a Venus 12th ,.
Thanks Mark! Let me know how you like the Venus. 🍻
@@MisterChibs I will .
Just took delivery of the Venus II 12 , I’ll run it in fir a week I’ll leave my impressions.
The V2-12 fresh out of the box surprisingly sounds exceptional , I took delivery late Monday by Tuesday afternoon I was surfing through my library of music everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Rammstein.
Those first selections I was immediately drawn into the music I was surprised and thrilled at the same time .
Well recorded vocals the tone and timbre were particularly well produced having a more natural sound then my previous dac , horn sections Harry James , Count Basie generally big band and Jazz are beautifully rendered , Chesky’s beautiful recording in that NewYork church of Mozart’s Ave Verum really got to my emotions, I don’t normally listen to choir/ organ however this piece aways manages to put a momentary 1000 yard stare on my face so my wife mentioned on occasion.
I like what the Venus 2-12 has brought to my speaker system entry level speakers TeKton Lore with factory upgrades, Accuphase 280 integrate , recondition Pioneer SX-5590 receiver, Sugden AU 41 amp and pre , DIY server used mostly ripped cd library and as crazy as this may sound the monster Pioneer lit those TeKton lores up , I very much prefer it over the Accuphase and the Sudgen .
@@marks.2909 Thanks for sharing! They say it gets better with burn in but my initial experience was similar to yours. Really good right off the bat. Enjoy your new DAC!!🍻
The first DAC where I had that, "oh wow!" moment was the McIntosh D150. I knew I needed an external DAC. Between my uncle and I swapping out several different delta-sigma DACs, I wanted to try an R2R. Denafrips was really making a name for themselves at the time, and I bit hard. I went directly for the Venus II, which had *JUST* been released. My jaw still drops every time I listen to it. My uncle picked up an Ares and then went to the Pontus. He even tried the Holo Spring 2 (...not the top level) in my system, but still gave preference to the Venus. My chain: Venus 2 --XLR--> Schiit Freya + --XLR--> Emotiva XPA-3 --> AV123/GR Research X-Statik open baffle speakers + dual subs.
Nice James! Would love to compare the Holo Spring to my Venus one day. Thanks for sharing your experience. 👍🏻🍻
Hi, I have that same DAC and PRE setup. What tubes do you use in the Freya Plus?
The Venus II 12th is here and in the system... Yes, glad I skipped the Pontus II 12th and went with the Venus. I also added the Pi2 Mercury V2 streamer and loaded it up with the RoPieee XL OS. Damn, this thing, both units combined sounds fantastic! And the RoPieee XL OS is the bomb. Rock solid, I have total control over everything. I have everything hardwired, and everything works flawlessly. The Venus, it just keeps getting better by the day. CDs sound incredible on this thing. Not looking back, and do not regret in the least laying down the cash for this incredible DAC.
On a side note, I tried Roon, but after living with the RoPieee XL OS for a few days, I canceled Roon, as the RoPieee XL software is that good.
Thanks for sharing your experience Michael! 👍Glad you're enjoying your system with the new Venus!!🍻
How does one find Texas Todd? Do you know what city he is in?
Thanks.
Sorry, I can't remember. Contact Alvin from Vinshine.
Until you hear a Terminator Plus....
Oh man, would love to demo one of those!
Is it worth 2.4 times the price?
I bought the ARES II and I’m really happy with it maybe I’ll save up for a Venus I dunno maybe 🤔
It should all depend on your system as a whole. Maybe the money would be better spent on a new amp or speakers. Only time to upgrade the DAC is when you feel it's your main bottleneck imo. for example, If you had a gusterd X-16 I would say yes upgrade immediately!
How do you rate the Venus II compared to the RME ADI2 fs?
They're very different beasts. Sound quality alone, the Venus 2 is a much better DAC. Feature wise, the RME wins with it's own headphone amp, crazy amounts of customization, eq, lcd, etc. 🍻
Sounds like you enjoy the Venus... Going to pull the trigger and get myself one. Was looking at the Pontus II, and said screw it, go for the GUSTO! Nice to see you got those speakers, wish I had the room... ;-)
Thanks Michael! It's an awesome DAC! Let me know what you think.🍻
@@MisterChibs Trust me I will... Debating on Roon. I just ordered the Mercury V2 pi streamer with the i2s output, along with AES, etc... Debating on Roon. What to do? I have a Mac mini and a mini PC I can use... I don't know, seems like another headache seeing what you went through with your Node.
@@michaelwright1602 Try the Demo and get totally sucked in. You will probably end up getting it 😉 Once you try it there's no going back imo. Here's my referral link. Don't think I get anything since they already have my $. It gets you an extra 30 days to demo though. Not that you'll need it, I was hooked on day 2. 🤟
roonlabs.com/r/ginFcYS3XUOkWa4H6UrYmQ
@@MisterChibs LOL! Will do, thank you for the link! And I just received an email from our friend Alvin, he gave me a nice discount on the Venus II, just a class act. I wish more audio dealers treated customers like this.
@@michaelwright1602 That's awesome Michael, congrats on the Venus II!!
I like the fact a dac that is more expensive than your speakers is doing the business. An investment in any system chain that’s clearly worthwhile. Saw the green giant peaches and cream but no idea what it means!
Ahh you spotted it! Answer’s in my latest video. Sadly, the DAC may stop being more expensive than my speakers 😂
@@MisterChibs ah yes, the road to Cornwall, I have it saved to watch, so I’ll find out soon! Those speakers are huge, the sound presentation is going to be night and day different to your KEFs so hopefully you’ve been able to demo them!
@@Benvos Cornwalls are amazing speakers!! 👍🏻🍻
Great video. I think ill skip ares and go to pontus. Have a burr brown based DAC right now. You never felt the denafrips are slow in any way?
Thanks Peter. The Pontus will be better in EVERY way. Try going back to your burr brown after a while and you'll see what I mean.
@@MisterChibs we shall indeed see! So much hype but it seems founded at this point.
@@peterwood2633 Let me know how you do with the Pontus!
@@MisterChibs first I'm going to stack Linton heritages and continue on current Arcam irdac. Think it will then be easier to see what a new DAC does. Thing is I like rock and metal a lot but also electronic, some people say r2r bit slower? I reckon a chord qutest would match Lintons well, perk them up a bit not that they're lazy or anything but not the most resolute speaker
@@peterwood2633 I looked into the Lintons recently and found that their top end is a bit rolled off and not as resolving as a result. Either the Chord or Denafrips DACs should definitely improve things but I’m wondering if you should demo a different set of speakers instead. Since your into that heritage vibe, Forte / Heresy IV (I’m a sucker for Klipsch) but also KLH Model 5 come to mind. Both of those will still be balanced for your type of music while giving you more treble detail. Not meaning to confuse things for you but it may make more sense going after the root of your problem first. Then later on, upgrade the DAC and be even happier with your setup. 🍻
Sorry to ask. How were you streaming?
Back then I was primarily using the Bluesound node.
Great review…i had a similar path as yours. I used internal DACS from my integrated amps. Then i got curious and went for a Denafrips Ares 2. Then i thought hey if this sounds good then maybe getting a “better” chip DAC might be an upgrade so I got a Gustard A22. However, after 6 months I realized i just missed the Ares 2. The Gustard was just too sharp-too much information. After I sold the ares 2 and the Gustard I was between the Venus II and a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE. In the end I went for the spring 3 because of the remote and the OLED display. No more getting up to switch between inputs. And the spring 3KTE has blown my mind even not having a dedicated listening room.
Would love a remote.. The Spring is supposed to be an awesome DAC. Would love to demo one of those + a May at some point. Great stuff, thanks for sharing your trip!
Hi 2023☕️☕️
I’ve been thinking DAC’s …..
Denafrips is in the running …but definitely not looking for that “digital glare” ..I’ve had that since I had a Theta Digital DAC from back in the day .
Denafrips and digital glare shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence 😂
W4S DAC2v2se 10th anniversary edition xmos 2.0 chipset. Waiting game w/BluOS usb, xmos 1.75 works for now. (DAC2V2SE)
Are you using a bluesound node for the streamer? Digital out?
Yes sir! Big fan of the Node 👍🏻
I'm trying to find people who are using a raspberry Pi (pi2aes) as a streamer. Got the pontus a few days ago, but the i2s connection isn't working with the pi. Problem is I don't have access to any other streamer with that output, and any other DAC with that input. I really hope my pontus isn't broken... I live in Canada as well and that $350 price to to send it in sounds insane.
Regardless, I noticed today that the sound is really changing and it's great. I've always experienced improvement with burnin for literally every piece of equipment I've bought.... So I know to be patient. But yeah, sometimes things sound great right out of the box... So it's hard to say.
Entertaining review. Good stuff.
@@mikehuntington4440 thanks so much for saying Mike! The Pontus is amazing on Coax if you have that option with your Pi.
Admittedly I have no experience with i2s but know it’s a s**t show when it comes to cross brand compatibility. I bought a DDC that outputs i2s for an eventual video review but in this case I know to use the PS Audio pin layout. Have you tried to reach out to Alvin or Vincent at Vinshine? 🍻
@@MisterChibs Yep, I've been talking with Vincent and Michael (I think he's the designer of the pi2aes hat) and they are sending a pi2aes over to vinshine to figure this out. Apparently, someone else got a Pontus recently and is having the same problem, so they want to get to the bottom of this. The Pontus i2s is configurable so, it shouldn't be a problem.... but it is. Both seam to being really trying to be helpful, especially Michael. We'll see what they find out.
@@mikehuntington4440 Let me know how it turns out and if you can hear a difference over i2s vs coax. That would be interesting!
Super hifi story.
Thanks T 🍻
All I want to know is: what's your profession? What do you do?
Thanks
Photographer 🍻
Interesting video but im not convinced on all these super expensive outboard DAC's.
Im really happy with my Hegel H190 and i enjoy its smooth powerful sound.
The amplifier costs over 3k which is already a huge amount of money for me and i couldn't justify spending a load more on extra gear.
I feel at this price point the sound quality of all its internal components should be good enough to not have to go out and pay extra .
Generally you would buy an integrated amplifier for the convenience of having everything together in one package.
To my ears the Hegel is that perfect package and for what i spent on it , it should be.
Hey man, thanks for sharing your thoughts! Hegel’s H190 DAC is definitely good and very smooth indeed. No worries there. My situation is a bit different, I already had the Pontus before buying the H190. Initially I planned on keeping that hooked up to my headphone rig in my office and keeping the H190 separate with those LS50 Metas (in media room). Now I have figured out an other DAC for my Headphone rig (reviewing that eventually) because of the sound the Venus + H190 gives me. If you ever get the chance to demo one of these with your Hegel, let me know what you think. It’s a really nice and different experience. Is it a must buy? Of course not, but it is awesome! Enjoy your H190, amazing Integrated!👍🏻🍻
@@MisterChibs Thanks for your reply i really enjoyed watching your video by the way,
you make very entertaining reviews.
Have you considered moving up to the Hegel H390?
For me personally i think that would be the way to go.
In the UK the H390 is 2K more than the H190 roughly the same price as your Denafrips?
The DAC in the H390 is very high quality and it has better amplification than the H190 also in comparison its close to the bigger H590.
At this price point its out of my budget but if i was spending that kind of money on a DAC and amplifier together i think i would probably lean towards this option.
@@hclandscapes glad you liked the review! From what I hear, the H390 is a phenomenal integrated and I’d love to demo it one day. Having said that, I don’t think I’d like to be without an R2R DAC for my loudspeaker setup.👍🏻🍻
@@MisterChibs the 390 is definitely out of my price range but im super impressed with my H190.
I decided to swap my H120 for the H190 to power the Dynaudio emit 30's.
With the extra power the dynaudio's sound phenomenal, massive soundstage with an effortless power reserve.
@@hclandscapes yesss I don’t feel the H190 is limiting me in amplification either. It’s amazing!!!
That’s a bugger that it crapped itself. I do recall a type of product that can be susceptible to static discharge when touched but I forget what it is. Possibly if you need to touch the buttons you could use a stylus pen with a rubber or silicone end tip and if you need to handle it wear rubber soul boots / rubber gloves.
An expert told me he leaves his DACs on all the time. Also there’s no need to see those LEDs so the fact they’re tiny is not important. You don’t need visual confirmation of the audio quality, that’s what your ears are for. If it sounds good then it is good.
I don’t like the idea of buying stuff that can’t be locally repaired but I might still take a chance on a Pontus. I’ve taken greater chances in life. Anyway it’s only money 💰
I mostly leave my Venus on now. As for LED's, it's peace of mind to know bitrate is changing. When I started this hobby I was unable to get bitrate to change due to improper setup with my computer. I appreciate that visual confirmation. Thanks for watching and enjoy the Pontus (should you get one)! 👍🍻
I didnt catch the easter egg, but I have a feeling you'll be trying new speakers at some point
Yea, I may have made it a bit to hard to find. It's like a split second type of thing you would have to pause the video to figure out. Then you'd be like "OOHHHH YAAA!!!!" Hoping someone gets it eventually! Thanks for watching and trying to find it though 👍
@@MisterChibs Peaches & creme and Green Giant is pretty obscure!
@@antonchigurh4125 Dude, you found it!! Now it must be decoded!!! Funnnnnnn!!!
Great review and I’m a huge Denafrips fan.
What youre missing out on is the amazing I2S connection. Find a streamer/Transport that has an I2S output and hook it up to the Venus I2S input.
To use youre analogy.
You’re driving that Porsche(venus) with the turbo off.
Thanks Cameron, glad you mentioned this. I do have something coming down the pipeline that involves using the i2S port. Have not tried it yet but excited to do so!
@@MisterChibs
Having the Mano Ultra MK2 streamer via I2s to the Venus2, amazing!
Cameron is right. I2S on the Venus is taking this DAC to the next level. However I2S is something you need to learn about. If done wrong your experience is downgraded. You can buy a I2S device like one Alvin suggested or start working with a Rasberry pi with some add board from Ian Canada . That’s what I use.
@@RonnieLibbul oh man, you're making me want to try this input! Crazy that it can make such a noticeable difference. Can't wait!
@@hansbogaert4582 Hopefully I figure how not to do wrong. I'm assuming you're talking about the type and length of hdmi cable? Or is it something else?
Great Video👍 I uploaded almost 100 Terminator pontus II dac videos on my Channel. I hope uou like them and please keep those reviews coming👍
Thanks D M 😃
Pity it doesn't have a screen to indicate stuff but I understand sonically not wise
There are possible ways around it going forward. Working on my Chord Mojo II review, and how they handle it is smart. It’s light changes colour depending on which bitrate it is, so you know from across the room.
chi fi dacs that are sold direct are great value when they are new, but when you want to upgrade after a while, they become almost worthless since a new model is out every few months ,denafrips are all over the used market but try looking for a used border patrol dac...
for anyone looking for a way out of chi fi or an endgame dac r2r at 1.5k$ the border patrol se i is amazing. handwired in usa nos tube rectified and doesnt look like a lumpy generic mass produced cable tv box from china.
Haven't heard of Border Patrole before. Looks like it could be decent. To your point, I just went and searched for my Venus ii on Canuck / US Audio mart. The only listings that turned up were marked as "sold", and not at a bad prices either. In contrast, I found 3 listings for Border Patrol SE-i USB Dacs ranging from $975 - $1250. Weather it's selling a dac made in China or USA, it's still going to be a PITA to sell privately, and you're going to take a bath on price to a certain degree. We're not flipping Rolex watches here. You're entitled to your opinion about Chi Fi stuff and I would agree with you when it comes to some other brands, but Denafrips is in a different league imo. Thanks for your comment, it was interesting to look in to this.🍻
@@MisterChibssorry for being so negative, seen too many rave denafrips reviews on youtube, the border patrol se i is a bit more than decent...it's handwired in usa by the designer one at a time, nos tube rectified and more importantly tuned by ear and not for measurements like chi fi. if you can get the se i version under 1k try it, it will beat the pontus for rich fluid tone but will have less detail and brightness if that's your thing.
@@yaniv-nos-tubes It's okay, you're just sharing your opinion on my Pontus / Venus ii review and that's what the comment section is for. As far as My "thing" is concerned: It's definitely not for brightness, nor have I ever considered the Pontus ii bright while I owned mine. Have you tried one out?
You have a really nice system but those kefs are the bottle neck.
Thanks, I’ve since switched the Keffs to an other room. Running Klipsch Cornwall 4’s now 🍻
Venus II is slow though. Drums sound bad, electronic music sounds bad, even if u go in OS mode. I suspect thad Holo Spring 3 level two might overcome the time domain errors that torment every denafrips dac except terminator +.
In my system, the Venus improves on pretty much everything I throw at it. Perhaps there’s something going on in your audio chain?
@@MisterChibs No its a fact. I mean try a delta sigma dac u have in say a drum solo or some infected mushroom tracks, u ll know what I mean. You need to have experience in live music and instruments of course or it will just sound different, “fuller”. It IS a good dac but I’m selling mine for the spring3. Faster bass, more control less artificial overall.
@@vagomaniac it’s gone up against all my other dacs including DS & FPGA and remains my favourite. Short of having defects, I’ve never heard or read any complaints about the Venus. This is why I suggest you check the rest of your chain and maybe see if the one you have is perhaps defective? In any case, the Spring / May DACS are supposed to be really good too. Let me know what happens.
@@MisterChibs ok. I guess you don’t get the term “dynamic”. Maybe watch the alpha audio comparison between venus bryston rockna and one more. It’s interesting how they set up their “experiment”. Enjoy your audio journey
@@vagomaniac That was presumptuous.
I’m not going to tell you the way your listening to music is wrong and would expect the same from you / anyone else. I was just trying to help out because something seems like it could be going on in your audio chain (you didn’t mention what that consists of btw) If you’re chasing dynamics I would suggest a nice pair of horn loaded speakers. Cornwall IV are my current favourite. In any case, let me know how you like the Holo Dac. Would love to demo one at some point. 🍻
why do reviewers always play "soft dad rock" to test this stuff? 🤣
Hey Jason, I'm all for poking some fun at this gen's Dad's, ( & yea, that includes myself) But this comment made me think a little. So I appreciate that.
Why am I not listening and reviewing this stuff with what "kids" are listening to today? I've alway been completely open minded and look for new things. Always looking for new stuff so I don't get bored (King Gizzard and the Lizard wizard is my latest obsession)
My honest opinion is that most of what comes out today is total garbage to my Dad-Ears. Auto tune talentless mumbling trash and I wish that wasn't the case. I really tried hard to listen and understand why Drake is so popular but I can't. Fully aware that I sound like a curmudgeon here. Even figured, that's how I KNOW I'm getting old.. But I found out it's not just me. I read an article entitled "There is something very, very wrong with today’s music. It just may not be very good." by Alan Cross of the Globe.
Probably an other Dad but man did this resonate with me. To pull some quick examples:
These songs below are in top spots because of Netflix's Stranger things:
Kate Bush’s 1985 song Running Up That Hill
Metallica’s 1986 track Master of Puppets
"This past week, Queen’s Greatest Hits (1981) just became the biggest-selling record of all time in the U.K"
This stuff is beating out Drake and Bieber and yes it's because it's just totally better. I'll link it below (if YT lets me), really interesting read. If you have any suggestions of good tracks I'll totally check em out and maybe mention them in an upcoming vid. This in it's self would be a great topic actually.
Getting back to your original question, the tracks I use in review videos is stuff I've been listening to for years. I'm familiar with it and that gives me a good baseline to judge audio quality. It also sounds flippin good 🤣🍻
globalnews.ca/news/9001083/why-older-music-more-popular-than-new-music/
Tesla was way nicer than the Porsche....thought you liked upgrades?
Hey If you want to upgrade to my Tesla, bring me a GT3 and I'll trade ya even Stephen! 🤣
Dude, please dont spoil your amazing review with such inappropriate awful sounds that make our ears bleeding. When u were talking about delivery price...
Thanks for watching Q2! Did your ears really bleed? 😱
You reminded me of this song 😆
ua-cam.com/video/jb1tx4rjAWA/v-deo.html
@@MisterChibs what an outstanding band ))
@@q2forever778 🤣
@@MisterChibs my cute ears are very vulnerable, so be tender to them 😉
Cheap, Y.S.I.G.
I have no clue what you’re trying to say, but thanks for watching and commenting.
Смотрел ваше видео, пока не увидел у вас усилитель Hegel. Этот метрвый усилитель, скорее всего исказитетель музыки. Отстой. Дальше даже смотреть не стал!
Yes, Hegel is great! Thanks for watching. 🍻