Not only Denafrips products are good and great value, Vinshine has been very helpful, their aftersale service is fantastic, very responsive and Alvin is very friendly and always there to explain. Thumbs up to him.
Vinshine was awesome. They got my ares 2 to my door in Philly in under 5 days. I ordered a power cord domestically that took a week longer to get here than the DAC! I realize that FedEx did the lifting but vinshine drop shipped the day I ordered.
I agree with all of you, I bought the Ares2 as a regular customer without any contact and was very pleased with the speedy delivery. When I later communicated with Alvin I was again impressed by the outstanding service!
@@NemoPropaganda anyway I agree with you man, if my space wasn't an issue...I would go for Pontus, but with Ares Im more than satisfied, even listen to the terminator, I'm still happy with Ares. Is really huge difference in size. I can't fit them. I don't even have the urge or temptation to change DACs. That's how well the size and performance the Ares is giving. Great built great sound and most importantly great synergy to my system.
I upgraded after one year and a half going form the Ares II to the Pontus II. Review after review swooned over and over about the Ares II and it's performance/price point ratio. Asked all the time if the Pontus II is worth twice the price as the Ares II. My purely subjective answer is this; if the Ares II costs a theoretical $100 and gets a performance rating of 100, then the Pontus II would cost a theoretical $200 and gets a performance rating of 133-150. Is it worth it--ABSOLUTELY! NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I've watched this review a couple times and thumbs up for all the insight you've provided. The comment section of this review adds another layer of audio icing and due to your review brought out some "oh really" opinions that resonate goodness. I've had my Ares now for about 8 months running with a Decware amp and Heresy IVs. Seriously considering the Pontus ll for the obvious musical upgrade but damn... the build quality on that unit screams eeeee f***ing gads.
Hey Bob, thank you for the kind words, I appreciate that! Ares2 really is amazing, Pontus2 kicks it up a notch, and then Venus2 kicks it up another notch lol, it never stops :) I'm in the same boat myself with the Ares2 being my DAC and I'm still stuck asking myself should I buy the more expensive model, it's such a tough call because the Ares2 is really good but I do miss the Pontus2 ever since I sent it back.
Great review, I love this new format. I have both the Aries II and the Pontus II and I concur with the assessments 👍🏻 One thing that keeps jogging in my mind is that I love the tank build of the Pontus which looks like it’s going to last me forever and I also like all these capacitors in there but I really wonder what the lifetime of all these electrolytic caps are like. My suspicion is that eventually they will start degrading before the rest of the DAC and recapping this unit would be quite a chore. I just don’t know if it’s a realistic worry or if they’re just going to last for years on end. For now it’s less than a year old so I’m just going to enjoy the music 🙂
I would expect it to last long time though I will admit I do not know much about how various electronic components age over time. I'm sure Vinshine can answer this question but I plan to use mine non-stop without any worry :D
@@johnm3544 I didn’t know the Venus uses poly caps. Good to know thanks. Out of my price range for now. Mine runs 24/7 in a temperature controlled cabinet at 27c, a tad warm…. I’ll report back in 5 or 10 years when the caps start to degrade 😆😉
Glad you got this in eventually! Thought you'd like it. As much as Neil Young disses Spotify I can say that Spotify in 320kbs sounds better through this DAC than my CDs and flac rips via anything else I've heard including Oppo 105, Logitech Transporter (now sadly gone), NAD M51, Mytek Brooklyn, Schiit Modi 2, Bluesound 2, and numerous older CD players, ok some obviously can't compete due to age or cost, but some of those should. I'll head over to Discord now!
My man. First, I'm so glad you reviewed this. Second, you gotta keep it. Sell that Aries to a young buck who will give it a good home. You deserve a great DAC to go with all that sweet gear you have. Cheers!
I don’t have a knockout expensive system - Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra, Iris, Pontus II, Freya Plus, Parasound A23+, the new Buchardt S400’s - but I definitely noticed more space around instruments (almost like they were in their own bubbles, so to speak), more detail and texture, wider (but not deeper) soundstage, and a clarity that the Ares didn’t have. Sometimes I’ll do an upgrade and be unsure whether I heard a difference, but this was not one of those times, and I imagine if I had a better system I’d hear more. I would second the notion of bypassing the Ares and going for the Pontus if you’re on the upgrade path if you can swing it; you’ll save money in the long run. The Iris was not a game-changer for me.
I'd say in the realm of normal people that's a higher end system my bro. Almost about $10k! that's a lot of money, sure some guys have $200k systems but that is extremely rare.
I love my Pontus II! It's insane how good it is, especially after the firmware update. It's got everything that makes me deliriously happy. Just get a budget Pangea AC-14 power cable. It's shielded to keep EMI/RFI from injecting noise into the Pontus II's dead silence. It's fed via i²s from a Denafrips Hermes that my sony stable cd transport, Wiim Pro and JRiver Media Center PC. It is amazing how much better the Wiim Pro sounds when it's output has been processed and reclocked by the Hermes beforehand. I ditched the wall wart and purchased an LHY 5-watt Linear Power Supply from Vinshine Audio as well which made a huge improvement in the sound quality, most noticeably via increased background silence revealing gobs more inner detail. Strangely, the LPS also resulted in a perceived increase in gain which makes no sense to me. I even checked the LPS's output voltage with a Fluke multimeter and it's shows the PSU output firmly pegged at 5.000 volts.
I got the Pontus II 2 weeks ago. I also use the Denafrips Hermes DDC. I believe the magic of the Denafrips DACs is the very high quality Clocks they use. The clocks are responsible for the 3d Imaging you get for these DAC. So even my older Chord/Internal Dac of the Amp sounded VERY similar to the Pontus II when using the Denafrips Hermes DDC. So I was disappointed as the Pontus II + Hermes sounded very similar to my older setup + Hermes. But after a week of use, Pontus changed! I was not expecting that, even the volume level is not the same as before. Now I get what plp talk about. Its an addictive sound. I want to upgrade to the Vinus.
yes! at first I was like okay, sure, it's good, then like 1 week later I went back to my old dac and was like "oh shit" because the difference was much larger than I realized at first.
I love your analogy of listening to The music not listening to the gear. Gear matters but if it takes away from you listening to the music what's the point?
Great review. I suggest getting bigger Rack! :) Thanks for the clarification on the upgrade suggestion of 5K or higher to help decide on which DAC to pursue.
Having added an Iris to my Ares II (Mac Mini using Roon > AQ Carbon USB > Iris > Straight Wire Info-Link Coax > Ares II, using a Musical Fidelity M5si on LS50 Meta), I have noticed a step up in overall quality across the board that I would equate to a (to carry on with the Porsche analogy) Cayman to Cayman S. Ok so maybe not a Cayman GT4 jump, but for an additional $550 it has given me a satisfied impression of a near-as-makes-no-difference notch below a Pontus II with no Iris for $400 less (excluding the coax cable cost) than a Pontus II. Curious if anyone else has gone this same route and agrees because I do feel like the Iris has added some additional magic having ensured a cleaner source.
Hey James, I can't use an Iris since I don't use USB but I know a guy that added Iris to his Terminator DAC and said it was the best $550 audio purchase of his life. His system was more than $200k so that was a huge compliment :).
Do you think Ipad Pro will sound better than Mac Mini since will run on battery..?I will compare windows laptop to Macbook Pro and Ipad Pro in the future.
At first I was very happy with my Pontus 2 , then I bought the Iris DDC and Jays Audio I2S cable and went thru the pin configuration , I was even more impressed by the results. Everything went up another level - imaging , musical notes , attack, speed ,soundstage , clarity n noise floor , details , breathing etc. Highly recommended since it is not a big outlay.
I kinda knew break-in was a thing but I was never a huge believer. I have to say with my Pontus in the beginning I was like “Meh” after upgrading from the Ares and a Burson composer. Now that it has been running nonstop for a month I have to say the clarity and details are phenomenal. The Ares is going into my second system and the Burson is going up for sale now LoL. All that to say if you get one don’t judge it right away, it’s like a fine wine it gets better with time!
I bought my Pontus ii for my computer desktop system more than a week ago. Amazing DAC. It does require a fair amount of burn in. I play focus music - classical, chill, jazz usually at low volumes. The holographic imaging and lack of grain makes music listening very enjoyable. My Roon time increased significantly after getting this DAC. Digital doesn’t sound bad after all.
Awesome review brother! Was excited to hear your take, and totally agree! Just got mine and absolutely love it! Paired with Vincent sv-237mk and even my triangle br02 in-betweener speakers (waiting for buchardt s400 mkii) it's sounds "heavenly", as Steve Huff would say :) Also agree with others, you gotta keep it, you're already in love and you deserve it 👏
oooh nice bro, that's an awesome system you have even without your main speakers :D it's really funny to me because I had inbetweeners too for awhile when I was waiting for my original S400 lol so I totally understand.
@@NemoPropaganda it's worth the wait and of course part of the process of helping smaller companies get rolling, especially if they're creating something so special! But ya can't just stare at all the other components waiting to be played lol. Those revels look great for the price, did you keep them? I like the bros so much I'm gonna find them some cheap amplification and another place to live, but I'm low on spots 😉
@@jakus514 no i hated them, they were very emotionless for my taste in music but the gentleman I sold them to listened to classical and they sounded fantastic for his musical taste.
@@NemoPropaganda hopefully they hook you up so you can test it. In theory I know what you mean but so many reviewers have praised the ddc for lowering source jitter with better clocks and circuitry
@@Peterfromplace I don't think I can use one bro, the Iris only accepts USB input which I don't use. I did recently meet a gentleman who was using terminator plus and iris together in a very expensive system and he said the $550 Iris was the best upgrade he had ever done for the money. He was using PC as his source so he was the perfect candidate to use Iris.
I keep hearing about how good the Aries II is, so I pulled the trigger. I will have a few DACs to compare with, the Bluesound Node 3rd edition, the Cambridge Audio CXN Network Streamer, and the Schiit Gungnir, non multibit. I have two Freya preamps, the S and the original Freya tube. I would like to find another preamp to get a different flavor. Not many out there, stand alone units ike the Schiit gear. I was looking at the Vincent hybrid tube amp. I stilll may pick one of those up. I have a couple of amplifiers, I think I settled in on the Emotiva XPA2 Gen 1 for now, pulling the more neutral XTZ Edge A2-400 for now. Trying to find that natural non digital sound like an LP would give me. Everything I have tried is just not doing it, harsh and bright. I need to put the Freya tube back in the system... KLH Model 5 speakers... My SVS Ultra bookshelves were the same, with worse gear. And don't get me started on my Klipsch... They are in the garage. I just purchased a 15 band Equalizer too... Maybe that will tame a bit of the highs. Hoping the Denafrips is the answer, should ship tomorrow or Friday.
the ares2 should move your system in the direction you're talking about but if you have a strong desire for a thick, lush, and warm sound it's not going to absolutely transform everything but I think you will like it.
@@NemoPropaganda It should ship this coming week... I need to hear the Ares II... The DACs I currently own are a bit harsh to my ear, especially in the top end as my ears settle in. Very fatiguing, even the Gungnir. I have paired with a couple of amps/preamps too, I pulled the class d XTZ and went with my old Emotiva XPA2, that settled down the top end a bit. I'm hoping the Ares II settles this down. We shall see... Or Hear in this case.
I like to have two RCA SPDIF inputs one for my CD transport and one for my streamer. I simply don't get the BNC input. The Ares has two RCA inputs but the Pontus does default to the RCA/BNC pair. Vinshine told me they will put two RCAs for your inputs if You specify. No charge extra.
Man .. I have the Pontus II since about two months now. I got the Iris DDC for about 5 days. Again, I'm blowed away! How is it? This is not a DAC system anymore, it's a f*****g Time Travel Flux Capacitor. You live the moment as it happened. You hear the intention. It's goosebumps after goosebumps. Plus ... I still use a 10$ HDMI and a 50 cents USB gray-office printer cable. I'm about the get more serious about these connections :-p
I have the Ares II, just ordered the Pontus II, they are back in stock... Yes, the Ares II took me back to the 70's, running the Iris DDC, Hades and Thallo amps... KLH Model 5 speakers... I'm in HEAVEN! Cannot wait for the Pontus to get here!
@@michaelwright1602 I sent back my Pontus2 review sample 2 weeks ago now and I miss it every day. With that said I am confident you will enjoy it a lot!!
I bought the Pontus 2 and never regretted a tiny bit. But now I will need to upgrade my amp to the Kinki Studio EX M1 plus or the Willsenton R800i from my SimAudio Moon I5 and later change from my Klipsch subs to the Kef KC62 , and maybe get the Iris DDC also. Only then will I hear the full potential of the Pontus 2. But even now I can clearly hear a huge step up from the Matrix Mini I Pro3 my previous DAC. It’s really punching above it’s price point. Would still buy it if it was US700 more.
Check out the Denafrips offerings... I have the Hades and Thallo, paired with the KLH Model 5 speakers, very happy. Just ordered the Pontus II to replace the Ares II... Don't dismiss Denafrips. The system matching, especially with SACD using native DSD out to the Ares II is amazing. I cannot wait to hear it on my Pontus II.
Pontus II has a lower noise flower more likely due to its vastly superior boxed, dual LPSU configuration. By the way to experience the similar quality increase from Pontus as you got from Ares to Pontus, you can best go to the Holo May KTE at around $5-6k which edges out even the Terminator Plus according to the vast majority of reviewers and users, won 2020 Stereophile product of the year and also performs well above its price point, challenging Dacs up to $15-25k.
I always see statements like that but they never say which more expensive pieces it outperforms. I'm sure the DAC is very good but which $25k DAC is it besting? Why won't they tell us?
@@NemoPropaganda Few reviewers are hesitant to make such claims as they would be very damaging for the brands that sell sub par $25k Dacs and carry the possible risk of litigation as well. To my ears, the Holo May KTE at the moment bests every Dac I can find on youtube except for MSB Select2 ($100k) and MSB Reference ($40k). It beats lower MSB models which play too warm and soft on transients. You also have to remember like the Pontus II it is sold wholesale, so without the standard 3.5 times dealer markup, so both of those Dacs are realistically worth 3.5 times their price. So that makes Holo May effectively a $21k Dac and therefore less of a surprise that it can beat $25k Dacs. Both brands are able to sell cheaper because they are so good that they require no advertising or local dealer support.
My system consists of Transport: PS Audio Lambda, Pre Amp: Audio Research LS2B, Power Amp: Classe Audio P-200, Speakers: Dynaudio Contour. Originally, I was using PS Audio Ultralink 2 as my DAC but it is now broken? Should I buy the ARES 2 12th or the more expensive PONTUS 2 12th?
Couple things that concerns me on the choice would be, the "synergy" with my system. Yeah I'd imagine with a $6 to $10 grand system, the Pontus would compliment a system. But what about a lesser system setup, (Bluesound Node with the Willsenton R8 Tube amp feeding Pendragon speakers)? Would I benefit - or - would it just be an overkill to incorporate the Pontus2 between the Node and R8 integrated amp? Because right now I would like to clear-up some of the "grainy" harsh sound when playing heavier (more multi-instrument involved) music. Another affecting decisions is "time". I'm getting trigger-happy on either the Ares II or the Pontus2. BUT, every day I visit Vinshineaudio site and -- boom ---, "Backordered" on the Ares II, and, "Preorder" on the Pontus 2. Concerns me, because a couple years back (even before covid), I ordered a Shiit Freya+ and found out days later they increase wait time from 2-3 weeks to 6-8 weeks. I cancelled and never looked back at shiit audio equipment again.
You should see a benefit from either dac, I can't comment on synergy as I've not heard the R8 nor the Pendragons. If clarity is what you're after the Pontus offers up more of that vs Ares2 coming from the Node 2i myself, Ares did not seem to add more clarity per se, it was more so presented in a more engaging way where Pontus actually gave me more clarity. Do keep in mind more clarity means picking up more imperfections in the recording so complex & heavier music like metal may never sound the way you want because it's usually not recorded all that good to begin with. I have this issue myself and it just seems to me that metal generally sounds better on gear that is less revealing. Like it's always going to sound a little dirty if that makes sense but there are songs that are more clean sounding like Avalanche by Arch Enemy but even that sounds dirty compared to a cleaner recording like Name by Goo Goo Dolls.
@@NemoPropaganda Yes the little dirty does make sense. I just thought songs from Nightwish & Queensryche wouldn't fall into that bad recording category like Motorhead. Silent Lucidity & Anybody Listening, sound great with just Geoff's vocals until all music kicks into gear, then it gets busy (almost distortion like). You're right, I'm probably noticing imperfections better than my other system being this one is a Tube amp, better speakers, cables/wires. And undecided whether a DAC or a Tube Pre-amp would solve the nitpick issue. Thank you much for the very clear details...
@@BumpNrun69 yeah bro, metal will always be gritty/dirty sounding, some are better than others, A song for the Hopeless by all that remains is pretty clean, the intro should sound fantastic but as it transitions to the heavy parts it'll sound just a touch dirty but cleaner than most metal tracks, if that's the experience you have with that song your system is fine and it's just the recordings but if that song sounds like dog shit then maybe your system is just super revealing.
I've learned the hard way that this business of one day your system not sounding as good as before should not be the spark plug that sends me out shopping. I wait and wait until I can completely analyze what is going on and then make a judgement. Scrape together whatever patience you have and do your diligence.
You do excellent job, keep it that way! I have the Hegel H190 amp, SVS Prime Pinnacle speakers, iFi Zen Streamer, Ares 2 dac. 1. Does the Pontus 2 ,12th anniversary will be the best upgrade I can do with this system? 2. Is iFi Zen Stream with Tidal over wifi a good choice? 3. My iFi Zen doesn't have i2s, but a USB...is that a good choice? 4. Does the Pontus decode the MQA? Thanks for answer these questions.
1. I'm not sure, since you use USB you may feel the Iris is a better bang for buck upgrade. 2. I have not used it but people seem to like it. 3. I don't have i2S either, try using a Iris since you use USB. 4. No, denafrips dac do not decode MQA. while you asked many questions I very much appreciate that you numbered them so I can answer them easily :)
Hey man, can you do a little experiment? Why don't you review the DAC inside one of the professional sound cards Julian Krause has reviewed and measured, that also have ESS Sabre chips, and compare it to your best audiophile DAC? Like the Audient id44 MKII that he measured to have over 125dB of dynamic range in the monitor output. You can even connect these sound cards to an iPad and there you go, you have the best streamer and DAC for less money than those expensive "audiophile" DAC's. It would be an interesting video to watch. You could also use the new Topping B200 Mono amp that is the best measuring amplifier next to the LA90 according to AudioScienceReview.
unfortunately no, I don't do reviews for pro audio gear, desktop & nearfield products, or power amps. Everything you mentioned is stuff I don't review. I prefer to stay in my niche of subwoofers for 2ch music, bookshelf speakers, and integrated amps. If you check my channels videos you'll see DAC reviews are very few compared to subwoofers or speakers.
Great video. I have the ares ii n love it too but like most wonder bout the pontus ii. Did you end up keeping the pontus ii or sticking with your ares ii?
I did keep the Ares2 but I missed the Pontus2 for a long time, it took me like 2 months to stop missing it lol. I really liked it a lot and it may end up back in my system one day.
In your opinion and wanted to upgrade then is the pontus the way to go? Don’t feel like spending more than $2k on a dac although the ares sounds great w my system already. I still feel like I wanna try the pontus in my system.
@@djradman6794 that's a tough call because it comes down to how comfortable you are with spending money. I think right now the world economy is a bit shaky so its best to save money. If you already have a lot of money saved then go for the Pontus. If not maybe its better to save money bro, thats my advice.
@@NemoPropaganda thank you for the advice. I can live with the ares ii for now. I’m satisfied with it. It does sound good with the system. I need to enjoy the music too than worry bout the next best thing. I’ll save up for now
Do you feel the need to upgrade to anythjng beyond the pontus? What streamer do you use with your system? I have a Node2i and thinking of upgrading to a better streamer
Great review. Yet another bit of well presented perspective (and comparison) I need in order to consider the Pontus over the Aries (or any other DAC around $800.00). My system warrants the cost and promise of the Pontus, so, I must ask .... what is the "diminishing return" ratio relevant to the higher investment of a Pontus (over an Aries). Well, a commentator below, KL, opined a 30 to 50% improvement in sound quality for the extra investment. In audio, that would be considered excellent and almost hard to believe. Yes, I know that this is a very subjective issue but for myself: if I could listen to classical music at moderate volume and not have to listen to sibilant violins and then switch to some well recorded jazz and have it be as the recording engineer intended .... that sonic scenario would be a "very good thing". Thanks for this ... saw/heard Huff's review and same for A British Audiophile ... I'll watch them both again. This Pontus is the first bit of Audio kit I've been excited about in a very long time. Vinshine offers a UA-cam teardown of this DAC ... very impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ua-cam.com/video/q8nLuDUN81U/v-deo.html
Hey Charles, so it's kind of tough to quantify these things but I will try. I do think it's fair to say the Pontus offers an on average 50% improvement across the board vs Ares, not everyone will notice that while others may feel it's an even bigger difference depending on what parts of the sound you're sensitive to or can pickup on. I'll end with this, after I returned the Pontus2 I was a bit shocked that I had a hard time adjusting back to the Ares2 and it felt like more of a downgrade than I expected. After 2-3 days the Ares2 was back to sounding great but stepping back down at first after living with the Pontus2 for 45 days was what I consider a very noticeable difference in the entire presentation. Part of me misses the Pontus2 and wishes I would have bought it but I can't buy every piece of gear that impresses me and like all of us I have to draw the line somewhere with respect to how much money I spend on all this stuff constantly.
By the way, what amps have you tried with the Buchardt s400 MK2 speakers? I’m thinking of using an integrated tube amp(35w). I’m currently waiting for the s400s.
@@chuckisidro8624 ehhh, maybe will be okay at low volumes. I've used the Arylic A50, Emotiva TA-100, IotaVX SA3, and my reference Kinki Studio mono blocks. With only 35w if it starts to sound bad it means you're distorting so pull back on the volume, this is a common issue with people who use AVR. Even if the AVR says 100w we all know it is an exaggeration. MK2 is easier to drive than original S400 but quality power always matters. For S400 (either one) my theory i:s it is the amps output section's ability to rapidly deliver available power that matters and not so much it's watts. Of course your room size and preferred volume are a big factor also.
@@NemoPropaganda awesome! I’ve tried my tube integrated amps (one amp with KT88s and the other with EL34s) with my Graham LS5/9 speakers (88db) and for me, they sound great. The reason why I asked about the tube amp/s400 combo is because I am also considering a new solid state amp just in case the s400 would not work with my current tube amps. I’m considering the Kinki Studio integrated amp. And, based on what I get from you and some other people/reviewers, the Kinki works well with the Buchardts. I guess I’ll have to wait for the speakers before pulling the trigger on the Kinki. Thanks for your insight, that’s definitely something to consider. More power to your channel!! 👍🏻
Great review, I own the pontus2 and everything you said about it is accurate and true. It sounds awesome in my rack and can't imagine being without it. I think you should make space some where and keep it🙂
@@NemoPropaganda I feel like such a newb - trying to find best way to run from the 2 channel dac to speakers and subs without reprocessing - have a direct “unprocessed” mode on processor but that is also two channel only. Then there is the matter of time alignment between speakers and subs - I put my question on discord as well. Thanks.
I'm not really interest in that one, usually I review stuff I'm personally curious about and I was always curious about the Pontus ever since I saw Jay review one.
@@NemoPropaganda I understand.... however I went from an Ares ii to a X26Pro and with the X26Pro, i experience what you are hearing with the Pontus ii... the X26Pro is cheaper... X26pro is dual power supply like the Pontus ii, but has dual AKM Pro DAC chips and a Class A output stage.... vs the R2R topography... I think they are both could be very close in sound quality and experience... it would be a very interesting comparison, that nobody has done
@@SantanKGhey1234 the gustard sounds like a great piece, it's $1500 where the Pontus2 is $1800, to me the price is close enough that both should be more similar than different. If the gustard was like $1000 and everyone was saying it was as good as Pontus2 or almost as good then I would be more interested. Keep in mind I don't have any relationship with Gustard so I would have to buy that DAC at full price to review it as my channel is very small and not many companies will send me a review sample.
Hi bro, i never heard Pontus1 but I’m sure it’s still better. I would for sure buy a used pontus1 instead of a new ares2. Vinshine audio can answer this question better if you want to be 100% sure :)
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for the quick reply. I guess Vinshine might ask me to buy a new Pontus-2. Alvin is a one man army , he is doing a really great job for the company. Hopefully I will meet him in a week or so (if he is at the audition place)
Would you compare this analogy to the Rel HT line and the T/x line. As in, if your system is below a certain price point/level of resolution you might be better to take the value in the HT line etc. For instance, I’m debating if the T/9x will satisfy my HT needs knowing the 1205 might not be quite as resolving. But at 3k-4K for the system, maybe the HT line makes more sense. The added 200watts and lower freq range might also add to the value of the HT range, I’m not sure?
mmm yeah kind of, the 9x will always sound better, even on the cheapest of systems but if you're worried about not having enough bass you can save some cash and go for the bigger 1205, it's still a great sounding sub and one of my favs, the 1205 tonally matches everything I've even thrown at it.
If your speakers are super fast and resolving and need the sub to keep up (say, planar or electrostatic speakers) then you almost certainly want the t9. I have it paired with my Maggie 1.7 setup and it's fantastic. More than good enough for HT use, but I'm not running a THX surround system or trying to rattle the walls. If you want to pressurize a room, get something from SVS instead.
Your description of these DACs being about how they make you feel as opposed to how they sound as such resonates with me - even though it is a simplification and of course it's particular characteristics of the way the sound is presented that make the end result possible, as an Ares II owner who also owns a Delta-Sigma Topping D90 DAC, the Ares II has some sort of magic in it that "glues" all frequencies together and adds a tiny bit of wamth (thus sounding less "digital") and creates a beautiful space (not only the size of the soundstage but the holography within it) where instruments can breathe and therefore sound more life-like. Do you have any experience with headphones? I am wondering if the upgrade would be worth it in my case given that I only listen to music through headphones, albeit very high-resolving ones - Focal Utopia and Hifiman HE1000se. My personal expectation would be to get more of the same in terms of the life-like experience but with more refinement, especially in the bass area, and better attack/punch.
Hey thanks Michal!! I don't have any experience with headphones but the youtuber midfi guy has a lot of headphone & DAC experience. He has the Ares2 also and has used much more expensive DAC's in his headphone rig so maybe he can answer the question. Currently I have Venus2 and I can tell you it just keeps getting better on speakers. I'd imagine this improvement should carry over to headphones especially resolving ones like the Focal. I'm currently using the Venus2 with Kanta No1 so kind of the speaker version of what you've got :).
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for your reply. Before getting the Venus, did you end up upgrading your Ares II to Pontus II? In your video, even though you seem to think that the Pontus is definitely a better DAC, you did not seem convinced about whether its better sonic qualities justified its bigger footprint (at least that's how I interpreted it).
@@MistaLova-Lova it's sonic qualities absolutely justify its larger size, I just can't keep everything I love. Did I miss the pontus2 after I sent it back? Absolutely! But I also miss the pair of REL T5X I sent back, the Emotiva RS11, the Buchardt amplifier, and so on, I just can't keep all of it :). Hope that clarifies things.
@@NemoPropaganda Hehe, as an owner of an Ares II I'm trying to glean enough info from various reviews to see if selling it and getting a Pontus would be a mistake and the above in your review made me think that although you liked it very much, there was a part of you that considered your Ares II already good enough for all your needs 😃 That's the problem with making purchase decisions based on educated guesses 🙈
@@MistaLova-Lova My system sits around $12-$20k depending on how I have it setup so I'm already getting killer sound. The Ares2 is way too down market for the rest of my gear and I should be using something like Venus2 but I don't buy stuff too often for myself. I'd just take the advice I gave in the video, if your system is under $5k between speakers and amp then Ares2 is your best value but if your system is above $5k between amp and speakers then Pontus2 makes a lot of sense. At the end of the day though what you're trying to do is be financially responsible so it you're trying to find the "value" but this is a hobby, there's no established value aside from the value you assign to it. If you want the Pontus2 and you can easily afford it then I say go for it! If it's going to break the bank then maybe stay with the Ares2 :).
Thanks for your great review. I was thinking to add Pontus II to my system, Rotel and Whafedale 4.4. USB connection produce 384 khz PCM, would there be a huge improvement to my system, if I were to add Pontus II to my system? May I have your opinion please? Many thanks
if you're using the internal DAC currently then yes absolutely it will be a difference. Many people who use USB also use the denafrips Iris. I've been told that is one of the best upgrades you can do for USB audio.
HI! I really like your style when reviewing audio gear. But I'm really looking for help in taking a costly upgrade decision. My audio system consists of a Linn Majik DSM/3 streamer amp, and a pair of FyneAudio 502 floor standing speakers. I was considering upgrading my Linn with the Naim Unity Atom streamer. Your review (as well as other reviewers) keep me thinking if an upgrade for a Denafrip Dac will be a better sounding and economical option than getting the Naim Unity Atom that costs around $3700. Will love yo hear yours and others comments.
Hey my man, that's a tough question to answer as I've not heard the Linn nor the Atom so I don't really know how they would compare. You're currently using the internal DAC so I would guess a DAC upgrade might make more sense and get you a few more years of use out of the Linn :)
@@Gilawi I'm blown away by the Ares II and Iris DDC, running through the Denafrips Hades and Thallo amps, out to the KLH Model 5 speakers... I just placed my order for the Pontus II, wiring the monies in the morning. I cannot comment on your specific gear, but I can say this, the Ares II was a game changer vs the other DACs I own. I have only had the Ares II for a few weeks and love the sound, but after hearing and reading many reviews, I think the Pontus II upgrade is going to be a marked improvement. The review Steve Huff just did was interesting, may be worth checking out. I think as of right now, the Pontus II will be the end of my audio carousel.
I have borrow Pontus II and ares II do a compare A-B test with my Mytek Brooklyn 6 years old Dac with my hifiman. Susvara headphones because I pull the trigger .Sorry to say mytek still better then both , ares Ii totally out it cant drive my headphone due to low gain output
I don't use headphones so I don't know about any of that. I am happy you like your mytek, I've been told it's nearly the opposite sounds versus Denafrips, that doesn't make it better per se but as long as you like it that's all that matters.
Your system is definitely high end enough to use Pontus. If it will be to your taste or not will be hard to know without experimentation :) Based on what you have I think you will experience the biggest upgrade in midrange texture & tone.
@@baronofgreymatter14 oh damn, you already ordered it? We have a free discord if you want to join, you can tell us how it pairs or show off pics, link is in all my newer vids.
@@baronofgreymatter14 How does it sound? I have a similar setup with the Yamaha A-S1000 amp and Chorus 2 speakers, they are older but similar to the Cornwalls. Thoughts?
I dont understand why they didnt made a remote for Denafrips dac's, it's super annoying and inconvenient because I have few different digital sources and I switch between alot :(
@@NemoPropaganda I want to connect my DUNU SA6 IEM to my denafrips unfortunately it is missing a headphone jack... Headphone amplifier have a headphone port like the SHIIT Valhalla
Love your videos and reviews bro good honest man, im new to this tho trying to understand the benefit of dac if you dont mind explain some day, im currently using denon x3700h as receiver connected to pc. Will dac considered like a sound card? Between pc to receiver and improve sound in music? Thanks bro
Hi Noy, basically your PC only has digital audio inside of it and that signal has to be turned into analog for the speakers to make sound. Either the PC can convert it or your x3700h can convert it, or an external DAC can convert it. The external dac will generally give better results.
DAC is hugely important and they get better the more you spend. If the rest of your system can keep up with a nice dac you will be rewarded with even more refined sound. Its the brain of your system. If your system is pretty basic, really any budget dac will do the job.
@@Audfile but is it replacing the receiver? or its basically just another station between the pc and receiver? how do i know which ones i need and gonna be enough for my system tho? i have denon x3700h svs ultra and svs sb-2000 pro thats basically my system
Your comments about the Aries2 reminds me of my thoughts regarding my Yggdrasil GS , I'm glad I picked one up when they were on sale for 1599 . You stop analyzing the technicalities and just listen.
I have to agree, I have had multiple conversations with Vincent, he is top notch, as is Alvin, both have gotten back to my questions in 24 hours or less. I just ordered the Pontus II, completing my Denafrips, KLH system. Very happy!
I have The Kinki Mono Blocs, runnin' DynAudio Contour 20s, a Denafrips Athena Preamp, a Marantz SACD 30n for streaming & discs (source) and Vinshine is giving me a discount on a Pontus II (that is another whole story)…I will be bypassing the Burr/Brown chip-based DAC in my Marantz and using The Pontus II Instead. Hoping that this brings my system up a notch. 🤔 I am doing a wire transfer (no rip-off currency-exchange fees.), at my bank 2moro morning…This is all in place and I come home from a job today and here is your video, making me even more excited! Can't Wait!!! 😁👍🏼 Thanks Nemo! (You KNOW that you are keeping The Pontus II!) 😂😂😂 Resistance is Futile!!!!
ahahaha, always great to here from you Bob, it seems you've been on a nice upgrade path lately, hopefully those mono's were up to your expectations. Did you ever plug in your old amp after a few weeks to see the difference?
@@NemoPropaganda hey Nemo………no…I have not put my vintage Bob Carver back in just "yet"…I thought I would just start throwing money at this situation (if for no other reason than to entertain my friends! 😁)…so…I replaced my Freya+ with The Athena, have the Pontus II DAC shipping Monday AND I have a Schiit Loki Max on order (6-8 weeks for delivery on that) to "tweak" things. I've gone NUTZ! LOL! Based on Tarun's latest, less than stellar review of the Hades/Thallo combo…I think that my ears are hearing (actually not hearing in this case) some of what he is talking about there. He kind of validated what I think that I am experiencing, here…but I am having fun and once I have all my elements in-place and tweaked…I definitely will put the Carver back in! OH the humanity!! 😂
Before going to upgrade to Pontus, get a chance to get Terminator Plus, as well Holo Audio May... you will be surprised! Both i love, bit more on May DAC for me, as I love their R2r setup..DAC will stick a while in my system... i never would go over 12k for a DAC...you just pay for the brand... Weiss, dcs, bms, aqua acoustic, Linn, Lumin.. name it
Great review man. Really looking forward to hearing one of their DACs in the future. And Nemo. Been meaning to mention this for a while now. If you haven't already, and I don't think you have. You absolutely have to get a transport/streamer for your system. I have the Pro-ject Streambox S2 Ultra myself, and could never EVER go back to a computer. Or some cheap excuse of a streamer. There's cheaper alternatives out there. And it's just a teeny, tiny little thing too BTW. So your OCD shouldn't be a problem here. The iFi Zen looks to be a good alternative to this one, for a lot less. But these are available used pretty cheaply. Think I paid about $550 for mine, all in. You can thank me later. And you will too. I assure you. 😉😁
@@NemoPropaganda That's what I'm talking about, a streaming transport, not CD's . A streamer like the Node is exactly what I'm talking about. Although that wouldn't be my 1st choice. It's much better then a computer. But there's better out there for not much more. Like the Pro-ject Streambox S2 Ultra I've got. Hans Beekhuyzen calls it "The Giant Little Dwarf" because of it's small size, but amazing performance. When did you get the Node? That's fairly new no?
@@amb3cog I'll actually be reviewing the Pro-ject speakerbox 5 soon so maybe after that I will ask them about the Streambox S2 :D, thank you for the tip bro!
@@NemoPropaganda No problem. They have a ton of stuff I would like to try out besides that. But I'd be happy with reviews even. You rarely see any reviews of their gear unfortunately. And the selection is friggin HUGE too. I guess they're more popular in Europe then here though. I think you'll be keeping the Streambox if you try it. And if not. I may have to get a Node then. Because it sounds spectacular IMO. And simply wipes the floor with everything else I've tried so far. And you would never even notice it in my rack either. LMK if you get it too. Because I know all the best settings for it. Those speakers look real nice too man. The S2 ones I assume? They have a better pair called DS2 that is hard to come by. But has a ring radiator tweeter. A bigger woofer (6 inch), and is 89db sensitivity too. Those look really, really nice to me. ✌️
Hey I'll get on this discord soon, my life is just slammin jammin right now. Just wanted to say I have 1TDXs with the nice crossover on the way. Heeeell yes!
@@Audfile oh yeah the CSS kit, I've read up on it in the past. I don't have the soldering skills to handle the x-over nor the woodworking skills to handle the cabinet but I'm sure it's great!
@@NemoPropaganda crossovers are super easy. I built a new one (GR Research) for my first real hifi speaker a million years ago. For the finish, I'm either going to a cabinet maker, or an automotive body shop for paint, or a high end vinyl wrap.
Thanks for the review. I’m seriously considering pulling the trigger on this DAC but now I am wondering will I get the full value if my CD transport is no where near that quality/price range? I have a Rotel CD14 which ran about $600 when it came out. I do have some hi res audio files to play via Roon, Amazon Music as well as Apple CD, but wondering how the CD transport factors in. Thanks.
hard to say as its really dependant on the rest of your system. My Kinki gear paired with Focal Aria 906 for example I love but the midrange is on the cooler side so adding something like an Ares2 or Pontus2 that richens up the midrange and brings more dimension to everything is a very welcome upgrade and worth every penny.
@@NemoPropaganda That's really unbelievable...you do know the top of the rack has been used since the dawn of time to stack gear on... Just when I think I've seen it all, the interwebz shows me... Shaking my head...
@@NemoPropaganda Hey man, I enjoyed the video and everything, and I respect your opinion it's your house to do as you please. Just I can't help feeling that is just a little extreme, but that's just me.
Funny that Steve says like „if you want to spend up to $4500 for a DAC get the Pontus 2“, when you can also have the Denafrips Venus 2 and still having some budget left.
I think he meant like if your budget is up to $5k don't assume this cannot compete just because it's only $1800 as based on his experience it can totally compete. He has not reviewed the Venus so my guess is he just can't comment on that but I would imagine it's also very good. Personally I'm very curious about Venus.
Like you I watched a lot of UA-cam audio reviewers. Jay Iyagi gave his Dac of the year award in 2020. I emailed Alvin at Vinshine and listed all my gear in my system. He came back with Aries 12 or if I’m a serious audiophile Pontus 2 12th. So I put my order in for the Pontus 2 12th. Easy to order and they burn in the unit 100 hours for you. I’ll probably get it in a week to 10 days. Anyway great video I enjoy your channel.
Another good product is Holo Audio DACs. If someone is in the market for Chord Dave, or similarly costing DACs, give it an audition - to Holo May 3 DAC. I happen to audition Dave, with Holo May 3 KTE and Holo Spring 3 KTE, and settled for Holo Spring 3 KTE. Moreover, try hqplayer instead of Chord M Scalar. Save thousands of dollars!
@@BumpNrun69 Yes, the Halo offerings are 4 to 5 grand or more, and many months out for delivery the last time I checked. I will take the Pontus II, I just ordered mine to replace the Ares II. On a side note, the Ares II was a game changer vs the Delta Sigma DACs I have been suffering with.
Most of the 4-5k DACs that are being challenged by DACs like the Pontus are chip-based and produced under less cost effective circumstances. I wouldn't want to be a manufacturer in that field right now...
I know :( I'm not a pro at lighting, sometimes I get it right and other times I drop the ball lol, I film all my content on a cell phone so it's never going to be amazing but the lighting on this one is especially dark for sure.
Bro, what do you MEAN you don't pay attention to decay structures? Everyone knows it's all decay structures and ball bearings these days. Great review! ;)
I'm okay with different sizes as long asthere is accompanying equipment like here you can do a Hestia, Hyperion, and Pontus2 for a killer & compact setup :)
@@Coneman3 I have not heard either Jays or the Terminator, I'm sure they're both great though :). The Jay's looks cool because it could also serve as a preamp as long as you don't need analog inputs.
You don’t have room for it on your rack?! C’mon Brother! Gotta call you out. If anyone can spend $1800 on a DAC or $10k in monoblocks can afford some new/bigger/taller racks On a serious note, great review!!
OH MY AMPS AND SPEAKERS HAVE TO BE WORTH MORE THAN $5000. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM. ARE YOU EVEN FOR REAL. LET ME TELL YOU PAL,,🤬 .... I BUILD MY OWN COMPONENTS AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A SLOTAIRY CLUE.
Triggerred much? Are you on steriods or something? Context is king and I would appreciate it if you didn't take my words out of context. If you want to have crazy person anger problems that's on you, don't bring that mess here.
Not only Denafrips products are good and great value, Vinshine has been very helpful, their aftersale service is fantastic, very responsive and Alvin is very friendly and always there to explain. Thumbs up to him.
Vinshine was awesome. They got my ares 2 to my door in Philly in under 5 days. I ordered a power cord domestically that took a week longer to get here than the DAC! I realize that FedEx did the lifting but vinshine drop shipped the day I ordered.
Alvin is an excellent fellow to correspond with.
I agree with all of you, I bought the Ares2 as a regular customer without any contact and was very pleased with the speedy delivery. When I later communicated with Alvin I was again impressed by the outstanding service!
@@NemoPropaganda anyway I agree with you man, if my space wasn't an issue...I would go for Pontus, but with Ares Im more than satisfied, even listen to the terminator, I'm still happy with Ares. Is really huge difference in size. I can't fit them. I don't even have the urge or temptation to change DACs. That's how well the size and performance the Ares is giving. Great built great sound and most importantly great synergy to my system.
I upgraded after one year and a half going form the Ares II to the Pontus II. Review after review swooned over and over about the Ares II and it's performance/price point ratio. Asked all the time if the Pontus II is worth twice the price as the Ares II. My purely subjective answer is this; if the Ares II costs a theoretical $100 and gets a performance rating of 100, then the Pontus II would cost a theoretical $200 and gets a performance rating of 133-150. Is it worth it--ABSOLUTELY! NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I agree 100%, of all the ways I have seen people describe an improvement I think this is the best one I have seen.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you!
Great review!! The analytical vs musical point you make is the audiophile conundrum we all wrestle with. Great channel brother.. you got my sub.
welcome to the show!
Your new style of reviewing is refreshing, love it man keep up the good work. $$$$ upgrade time lol
Aye! Thank's Paul!
This vid works! Love the comments pertaining to the psychology of listening - so true!
I've watched this review a couple times and thumbs up for all the insight you've provided. The comment section of this review adds another layer of audio icing and due to your review brought out some "oh really" opinions that resonate goodness. I've had my Ares now for about 8 months running with a Decware amp and Heresy IVs. Seriously considering the Pontus ll for the obvious musical upgrade but damn... the build quality on that unit screams eeeee f***ing gads.
Hey Bob, thank you for the kind words, I appreciate that! Ares2 really is amazing, Pontus2 kicks it up a notch, and then Venus2 kicks it up another notch lol, it never stops :) I'm in the same boat myself with the Ares2 being my DAC and I'm still stuck asking myself should I buy the more expensive model, it's such a tough call because the Ares2 is really good but I do miss the Pontus2 ever since I sent it back.
Nailed this review my man, awesome! I’ve wanted one for a while, you have secured that this will be a purchase I make this year.
Nice bro, I'm happy I was able to help you make a decision.
@@NemoPropaganda you’re the man thank you
Great review, I love this new format.
I have both the Aries II and the Pontus II and I concur with the assessments 👍🏻
One thing that keeps jogging in my mind is that I love the tank build of the Pontus which looks like it’s going to last me forever and I also like all these capacitors in there but I really wonder what the lifetime of all these electrolytic caps are like. My suspicion is that eventually they will start degrading before the rest of the DAC and recapping this unit would be quite a chore. I just don’t know if it’s a realistic worry or if they’re just going to last for years on end. For now it’s less than a year old so I’m just going to enjoy the music 🙂
I would expect it to last long time though I will admit I do not know much about how various electronic components age over time. I'm sure Vinshine can answer this question but I plan to use mine non-stop without any worry :D
@@johnm3544 I didn’t know the Venus uses poly caps. Good to know thanks. Out of my price range for now. Mine runs 24/7 in a temperature controlled cabinet at 27c, a tad warm…. I’ll report back in 5 or 10 years when the caps start to degrade 😆😉
@@audiorick841 my cap is degrading but the doctor said it's irreversible
@@erics.4113 😅
@@johnm3544 LoL I hope so!
Glad you got this in eventually! Thought you'd like it. As much as Neil Young disses Spotify I can say that Spotify in 320kbs sounds better through this DAC than my CDs and flac rips via anything else I've heard including Oppo 105, Logitech Transporter (now sadly gone), NAD M51, Mytek Brooklyn, Schiit Modi 2, Bluesound 2, and numerous older CD players, ok some obviously can't compete due to age or cost, but some of those should. I'll head over to Discord now!
My man. First, I'm so glad you reviewed this. Second, you gotta keep it. Sell that Aries to a young buck who will give it a good home. You deserve a great DAC to go with all that sweet gear you have. Cheers!
possibly, still thinking about it :)
I don’t have a knockout expensive system - Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra, Iris, Pontus II, Freya Plus, Parasound A23+, the new Buchardt S400’s - but I definitely noticed more space around instruments (almost like they were in their own bubbles, so to speak), more detail and texture, wider (but not deeper) soundstage, and a clarity that the Ares didn’t have. Sometimes I’ll do an upgrade and be unsure whether I heard a difference, but this was not one of those times, and I imagine if I had a better system I’d hear more. I would second the notion of bypassing the Ares and going for the Pontus if you’re on the upgrade path if you can swing it; you’ll save money in the long run. The Iris was not a game-changer for me.
I'd say in the realm of normal people that's a higher end system my bro. Almost about $10k! that's a lot of money, sure some guys have $200k systems but that is extremely rare.
@@NemoPropaganda It kinda starts adding up, ya know? Half of the stuff I bought used.
I have a freya plus and A23+ as well. I was surprised what the A23+ did. It replaced a vintage Bryston 4B and I noticed a difference immediately.
I love my Pontus II! It's insane how good it is, especially after the firmware update. It's got everything that makes me deliriously happy. Just get a budget Pangea AC-14 power cable. It's shielded to keep EMI/RFI from injecting noise into the Pontus II's dead silence. It's fed via i²s from a Denafrips Hermes that my sony stable cd transport, Wiim Pro and JRiver Media Center PC. It is amazing how much better the Wiim Pro sounds when it's output has been processed and reclocked by the Hermes beforehand. I ditched the wall wart and purchased an LHY 5-watt Linear Power Supply from Vinshine Audio as well which made a huge improvement in the sound quality, most noticeably via increased background silence revealing gobs more inner detail. Strangely, the LPS also resulted in a perceived increase in gain which makes no sense to me. I even checked the LPS's output voltage with a Fluke multimeter and it's shows the PSU output firmly pegged at 5.000 volts.
I got the Pontus II 2 weeks ago. I also use the Denafrips Hermes DDC. I believe the magic of the Denafrips DACs is the very high quality Clocks they use. The clocks are responsible for the 3d Imaging you get for these DAC. So even my older Chord/Internal Dac of the Amp sounded VERY similar to the Pontus II when using the Denafrips Hermes DDC. So I was disappointed as the Pontus II + Hermes sounded very similar to my older setup + Hermes. But after a week of use, Pontus changed! I was not expecting that, even the volume level is not the same as before. Now I get what plp talk about. Its an addictive sound. I want to upgrade to the Vinus.
yes! at first I was like okay, sure, it's good, then like 1 week later I went back to my old dac and was like "oh shit" because the difference was much larger than I realized at first.
I love your analogy of listening to The music not listening to the gear. Gear matters but if it takes away from you listening to the music what's the point?
Your comparisons and examples are great as always.
Thank you matt!
Great review. I suggest getting bigger Rack! :) Thanks for the clarification on the upgrade suggestion of 5K or higher to help decide on which DAC to pursue.
Having added an Iris to my Ares II (Mac Mini using Roon > AQ Carbon USB > Iris > Straight Wire Info-Link Coax > Ares II, using a Musical Fidelity M5si on LS50 Meta), I have noticed a step up in overall quality across the board that I would equate to a (to carry on with the Porsche analogy) Cayman to Cayman S. Ok so maybe not a Cayman GT4 jump, but for an additional $550 it has given me a satisfied impression of a near-as-makes-no-difference notch below a Pontus II with no Iris for $400 less (excluding the coax cable cost) than a Pontus II. Curious if anyone else has gone this same route and agrees because I do feel like the Iris has added some additional magic having ensured a cleaner source.
Hey James, I can't use an Iris since I don't use USB but I know a guy that added Iris to his Terminator DAC and said it was the best $550 audio purchase of his life. His system was more than $200k so that was a huge compliment :).
Do you think Ipad Pro will sound better than Mac Mini since will run on battery..?I will compare windows laptop to Macbook Pro and Ipad Pro in the future.
At first I was very happy with my Pontus 2 , then I bought the Iris DDC and Jays Audio I2S cable and went thru the pin configuration , I was even more impressed by the results. Everything went up another level - imaging , musical notes , attack, speed ,soundstage , clarity n noise floor , details , breathing etc. Highly recommended since it is not a big outlay.
I've heard a few people say the Iris is the best $550 they've ever spent in audio.
@@NemoPropaganda Yes sir. That would be a true statement
I kinda knew break-in was a thing but I was never a huge believer. I have to say with my Pontus in the beginning I was like “Meh” after upgrading from the Ares and a Burson composer. Now that it has been running nonstop for a month I have to say the clarity and details are phenomenal. The Ares is going into my second system and the Burson is going up for sale now LoL.
All that to say if you get one don’t judge it right away, it’s like a fine wine it gets better with time!
I had the same experience with my Ares2, my Pontus was a review sample so I don't know if it had hours on it or not.
I bought my Pontus ii for my computer desktop system more than a week ago. Amazing DAC. It does require a fair amount of burn in. I play focus music - classical, chill, jazz usually at low volumes. The holographic imaging and lack of grain makes music listening very enjoyable. My Roon time increased significantly after getting this DAC. Digital doesn’t sound bad after all.
Awesome review brother! Was excited to hear your take, and totally agree! Just got mine and absolutely love it! Paired with Vincent sv-237mk and even my triangle br02 in-betweener speakers (waiting for buchardt s400 mkii) it's sounds "heavenly", as Steve Huff would say :) Also agree with others, you gotta keep it, you're already in love and you deserve it 👏
oooh nice bro, that's an awesome system you have even without your main speakers :D it's really funny to me because I had inbetweeners too for awhile when I was waiting for my original S400 lol so I totally understand.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you dude! And lol, the wait is real with those guys huh?! What did you have for your stand warmers?
@@jakus514 the wait always can be long for early adapters or pre-orders. I had the Revel Concerta2 M16 as my warmers lol.
@@NemoPropaganda it's worth the wait and of course part of the process of helping smaller companies get rolling, especially if they're creating something so special! But ya can't just stare at all the other components waiting to be played lol. Those revels look great for the price, did you keep them? I like the bros so much I'm gonna find them some cheap amplification and another place to live, but I'm low on spots 😉
@@jakus514 no i hated them, they were very emotionless for my taste in music but the gentleman I sold them to listened to classical and they sounded fantastic for his musical taste.
Can’t wait for you to add on a DDC and eventually the flagship terminator plus.
I think DDC is mainly to improve USB connection from a music PC which I don't use, my digital connections are coax, I could be wrong though.
@@NemoPropaganda hopefully they hook you up so you can test it. In theory I know what you mean but so many reviewers have praised the ddc for lowering source jitter with better clocks and circuitry
@@Peterfromplace I don't think I can use one bro, the Iris only accepts USB input which I don't use. I did recently meet a gentleman who was using terminator plus and iris together in a very expensive system and he said the $550 Iris was the best upgrade he had ever done for the money. He was using PC as his source so he was the perfect candidate to use Iris.
I keep hearing about how good the Aries II is, so I pulled the trigger. I will have a few DACs to compare with, the Bluesound Node 3rd edition, the Cambridge Audio CXN Network Streamer, and the Schiit Gungnir, non multibit. I have two Freya preamps, the S and the original Freya tube. I would like to find another preamp to get a different flavor. Not many out there, stand alone units ike the Schiit gear. I was looking at the Vincent hybrid tube amp. I stilll may pick one of those up. I have a couple of amplifiers, I think I settled in on the Emotiva XPA2 Gen 1 for now, pulling the more neutral XTZ Edge A2-400 for now. Trying to find that natural non digital sound like an LP would give me. Everything I have tried is just not doing it, harsh and bright. I need to put the Freya tube back in the system... KLH Model 5 speakers... My SVS Ultra bookshelves were the same, with worse gear. And don't get me started on my Klipsch... They are in the garage. I just purchased a 15 band Equalizer too... Maybe that will tame a bit of the highs. Hoping the Denafrips is the answer, should ship tomorrow or Friday.
the ares2 should move your system in the direction you're talking about but if you have a strong desire for a thick, lush, and warm sound it's not going to absolutely transform everything but I think you will like it.
@@NemoPropaganda It should ship this coming week... I need to hear the Ares II... The DACs I currently own are a bit harsh to my ear, especially in the top end as my ears settle in. Very fatiguing, even the Gungnir. I have paired with a couple of amps/preamps too, I pulled the class d XTZ and went with my old Emotiva XPA2, that settled down the top end a bit. I'm hoping the Ares II settles this down. We shall see... Or Hear in this case.
@@michaelwright1602 it should, I'd try NOS mode first based on what you're saying.
Hey Nemo ,Once again Great review and loved it when you explained " who is the Pontus for " Very true ..
Hey Anand, yeah bro I never want to be the guy to just push the expensive option. Especially here where the cheaper option is really an amazing DAC.
@@NemoPropaganda Keep it up bud
I like to have two RCA SPDIF inputs one for my CD transport and one for my streamer. I simply don't get the BNC input. The Ares has two RCA inputs but the Pontus does default to the RCA/BNC pair. Vinshine told me they will put two RCAs for your inputs if You specify. No charge extra.
Man .. I have the Pontus II since about two months now. I got the Iris DDC for about 5 days. Again, I'm blowed away!
How is it? This is not a DAC system anymore, it's a f*****g Time Travel Flux Capacitor. You live the moment as it happened. You hear the intention. It's goosebumps after goosebumps.
Plus ... I still use a 10$ HDMI and a 50 cents USB gray-office printer cable. I'm about the get more serious about these connections :-p
Nice bro, I'm glad you're loving it!!
I have the Ares II, just ordered the Pontus II, they are back in stock... Yes, the Ares II took me back to the 70's, running the Iris DDC, Hades and Thallo amps... KLH Model 5 speakers... I'm in HEAVEN! Cannot wait for the Pontus to get here!
@@michaelwright1602 I sent back my Pontus2 review sample 2 weeks ago now and I miss it every day. With that said I am confident you will enjoy it a lot!!
I bought the Pontus 2 and never regretted a tiny bit. But now I will need to upgrade my amp to the Kinki Studio EX M1 plus or the Willsenton R800i from my SimAudio Moon I5 and later change from my Klipsch subs to the Kef KC62 , and maybe get the Iris DDC also. Only then will I hear the full potential of the Pontus 2. But even now I can clearly hear a huge step up from the Matrix Mini I Pro3 my previous DAC. It’s really punching above it’s price point. Would still buy it if it was US700 more.
Check out the Denafrips offerings... I have the Hades and Thallo, paired with the KLH Model 5 speakers, very happy. Just ordered the Pontus II to replace the Ares II... Don't dismiss Denafrips. The system matching, especially with SACD using native DSD out to the Ares II is amazing. I cannot wait to hear it on my Pontus II.
@@michaelwright1602 let me check it out , thks for the tip
Man, you're awesome! I've only watched 1:46 of this one video and I already subscribed!
hey Luca, thank you dude!!
Pontus II has a lower noise flower more likely due to its vastly superior boxed, dual LPSU configuration. By the way to experience the similar quality increase from Pontus as you got from Ares to Pontus, you can best go to the Holo May KTE at around $5-6k which edges out even the Terminator Plus according to the vast majority of reviewers and users, won 2020 Stereophile product of the year and also performs well above its price point, challenging Dacs up to $15-25k.
I always see statements like that but they never say which more expensive pieces it outperforms. I'm sure the DAC is very good but which $25k DAC is it besting? Why won't they tell us?
@@NemoPropaganda Few reviewers are hesitant to make such claims as they would be very damaging for the brands that sell sub par $25k Dacs and carry the possible risk of litigation as well. To my ears, the Holo May KTE at the moment bests every Dac I can find on youtube except for MSB Select2 ($100k) and MSB Reference ($40k). It beats lower MSB models which play too warm and soft on transients. You also have to remember like the Pontus II it is sold wholesale, so without the standard 3.5 times dealer markup, so both of those Dacs are realistically worth 3.5 times their price. So that makes Holo May effectively a $21k Dac and therefore less of a surprise that it can beat $25k Dacs. Both brands are able to sell cheaper because they are so good that they require no advertising or local dealer support.
My system consists of Transport: PS Audio Lambda, Pre Amp: Audio Research LS2B, Power Amp: Classe Audio P-200, Speakers: Dynaudio Contour. Originally, I was using PS Audio Ultralink 2 as my DAC but it is now broken? Should I buy the ARES 2 12th or the more expensive PONTUS 2 12th?
I think I answered you in discord, Pontus2 gets my vote!
Couple things that concerns me on the choice would be, the "synergy" with my system. Yeah I'd imagine with a $6 to $10 grand system, the Pontus would compliment a system. But what about a lesser system setup, (Bluesound Node with the Willsenton R8 Tube amp feeding Pendragon speakers)? Would I benefit - or - would it just be an overkill to incorporate the Pontus2 between the Node and R8 integrated amp? Because right now I would like to clear-up some of the "grainy" harsh sound when playing heavier (more multi-instrument involved) music.
Another affecting decisions is "time". I'm getting trigger-happy on either the Ares II or the Pontus2. BUT, every day I visit Vinshineaudio site
and -- boom ---, "Backordered" on the Ares II, and, "Preorder" on the Pontus 2.
Concerns me, because a couple years back (even before covid), I ordered a Shiit Freya+ and found out days later they increase wait time from 2-3 weeks to 6-8 weeks. I cancelled and never looked back at shiit audio equipment again.
You should see a benefit from either dac, I can't comment on synergy as I've not heard the R8 nor the Pendragons. If clarity is what you're after the Pontus offers up more of that vs Ares2 coming from the Node 2i myself, Ares did not seem to add more clarity per se, it was more so presented in a more engaging way where Pontus actually gave me more clarity. Do keep in mind more clarity means picking up more imperfections in the recording so complex & heavier music like metal may never sound the way you want because it's usually not recorded all that good to begin with. I have this issue myself and it just seems to me that metal generally sounds better on gear that is less revealing. Like it's always going to sound a little dirty if that makes sense but there are songs that are more clean sounding like Avalanche by Arch Enemy but even that sounds dirty compared to a cleaner recording like Name by Goo Goo Dolls.
@@NemoPropaganda Yes the little dirty does make sense. I just thought songs from Nightwish & Queensryche wouldn't fall into that bad recording category like Motorhead. Silent Lucidity & Anybody Listening, sound great with just Geoff's vocals until all music kicks into gear, then it gets busy (almost distortion like).
You're right, I'm probably noticing imperfections better than my other system being this one is a Tube amp, better speakers, cables/wires. And undecided whether a DAC or a Tube Pre-amp would solve the nitpick issue.
Thank you much for the very clear details...
@@BumpNrun69 yeah bro, metal will always be gritty/dirty sounding, some are better than others, A song for the Hopeless by all that remains is pretty clean, the intro should sound fantastic but as it transitions to the heavy parts it'll sound just a touch dirty but cleaner than most metal tracks, if that's the experience you have with that song your system is fine and it's just the recordings but if that song sounds like dog shit then maybe your system is just super revealing.
I've learned the hard way that this business of one day your system not sounding as good as before should not be the spark plug that sends me out shopping. I wait and wait until I can completely analyze what is going on and then make a judgement. Scrape together whatever patience you have and do your diligence.
well said, sometimes it's just the mood.
Did anyone catch the model of the power cords Nemo mentions?
I don't remember what I said but if you email Vinshine I'm sure they will give you their most up to date recommendations.
You do excellent job, keep it that way!
I have the Hegel H190 amp, SVS Prime Pinnacle speakers, iFi Zen Streamer, Ares 2 dac.
1. Does the Pontus 2 ,12th anniversary will be the best upgrade I can do with this system?
2. Is iFi Zen Stream with Tidal over wifi a good choice?
3. My iFi Zen doesn't have i2s, but a USB...is that a good choice?
4. Does the Pontus decode the MQA?
Thanks for answer these questions.
1. I'm not sure, since you use USB you may feel the Iris is a better bang for buck upgrade.
2. I have not used it but people seem to like it.
3. I don't have i2S either, try using a Iris since you use USB.
4. No, denafrips dac do not decode MQA.
while you asked many questions I very much appreciate that you numbered them so I can answer them easily :)
Hey man, can you do a little experiment?
Why don't you review the DAC inside one of the professional sound cards Julian Krause has reviewed and measured, that also have ESS Sabre chips, and compare it to your best audiophile DAC? Like the Audient id44 MKII that he measured to have over 125dB of dynamic range in the monitor output. You can even connect these sound cards to an iPad and there you go, you have the best streamer and DAC for less money than those expensive "audiophile" DAC's. It would be an interesting video to watch. You could also use the new Topping B200 Mono amp that is the best measuring amplifier next to the LA90 according to AudioScienceReview.
unfortunately no, I don't do reviews for pro audio gear, desktop & nearfield products, or power amps. Everything you mentioned is stuff I don't review. I prefer to stay in my niche of subwoofers for 2ch music, bookshelf speakers, and integrated amps. If you check my channels videos you'll see DAC reviews are very few compared to subwoofers or speakers.
@@NemoPropaganda Ok, I appreciate for answering.
Great video. I have the ares ii n love it too but like most wonder bout the pontus ii. Did you end up keeping the pontus ii or sticking with your ares ii?
I did keep the Ares2 but I missed the Pontus2 for a long time, it took me like 2 months to stop missing it lol. I really liked it a lot and it may end up back in my system one day.
In your opinion and wanted to upgrade then is the pontus the way to go? Don’t feel like spending more than $2k on a dac although the ares sounds great w my system already. I still feel like I wanna try the pontus in my system.
@@djradman6794 that's a tough call because it comes down to how comfortable you are with spending money. I think right now the world economy is a bit shaky so its best to save money. If you already have a lot of money saved then go for the Pontus. If not maybe its better to save money bro, thats my advice.
@@NemoPropaganda thank you for the advice. I can live with the ares ii for now. I’m satisfied with it. It does sound good with the system. I need to enjoy the music too than worry bout the next best thing. I’ll save up for now
Do you feel the need to upgrade to anythjng beyond the pontus? What streamer do you use with your system? I have a Node2i and thinking of upgrading to a better streamer
You’re killing me…..I was going to upgrade my amp next year. The Ares was such an improvement now I wonder if I should just jump on up to the Pontus.
Like Nemo said, if you have a price appropriate system, go for it. It's the best digital that I have heard.
ahaha, I'm sorry man that's a tough call.
Great review. Yet another bit of well presented perspective (and comparison) I need in order
to consider the Pontus over the Aries (or any other DAC around $800.00). My system warrants
the cost and promise of the Pontus, so, I must ask .... what is the "diminishing return" ratio
relevant to the higher investment of a Pontus (over an Aries). Well, a commentator below,
KL, opined a 30 to 50% improvement in sound quality for the extra investment. In audio,
that would be considered excellent and almost hard to believe. Yes, I know that this is a very
subjective issue but for myself: if I could listen to classical music at moderate volume and
not have to listen to sibilant violins and then switch to some well recorded jazz and have it
be as the recording engineer intended .... that sonic scenario would be a "very good thing".
Thanks for this ... saw/heard Huff's review and same for A British Audiophile ... I'll watch
them both again. This Pontus is the first bit of Audio kit I've been excited about in a very long
time. Vinshine offers a UA-cam teardown of this DAC ... very impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ua-cam.com/video/q8nLuDUN81U/v-deo.html
Hey Charles, so it's kind of tough to quantify these things but I will try. I do think it's fair to say the Pontus offers an on average 50% improvement across the board vs Ares, not everyone will notice that while others may feel it's an even bigger difference depending on what parts of the sound you're sensitive to or can pickup on. I'll end with this, after I returned the Pontus2 I was a bit shocked that I had a hard time adjusting back to the Ares2 and it felt like more of a downgrade than I expected. After 2-3 days the Ares2 was back to sounding great but stepping back down at first after living with the Pontus2 for 45 days was what I consider a very noticeable difference in the entire presentation. Part of me misses the Pontus2 and wishes I would have bought it but I can't buy every piece of gear that impresses me and like all of us I have to draw the line somewhere with respect to how much money I spend on all this stuff constantly.
I had a feeling you were going to try out the Pontus II. Great video!!
Yeah I couldn't resist lol
By the way, what amps have you tried with the Buchardt s400 MK2 speakers? I’m thinking of using an integrated tube amp(35w). I’m currently waiting for the s400s.
@@chuckisidro8624 ehhh, maybe will be okay at low volumes. I've used the Arylic A50, Emotiva TA-100, IotaVX SA3, and my reference Kinki Studio mono blocks. With only 35w if it starts to sound bad it means you're distorting so pull back on the volume, this is a common issue with people who use AVR. Even if the AVR says 100w we all know it is an exaggeration. MK2 is easier to drive than original S400 but quality power always matters. For S400 (either one) my theory i:s it is the amps output section's ability to rapidly deliver available power that matters and not so much it's watts. Of course your room size and preferred volume are a big factor also.
@@NemoPropaganda awesome! I’ve tried my tube integrated amps (one amp with KT88s and the other with EL34s) with my Graham LS5/9 speakers (88db) and for me, they sound great.
The reason why I asked about the tube amp/s400 combo is because I am also considering a new solid state amp just in case the s400 would not work with my current tube amps. I’m considering the Kinki Studio integrated amp. And, based on what I get from you and some other people/reviewers, the Kinki works well with the Buchardts. I guess I’ll have to wait for the speakers before pulling the trigger on the Kinki. Thanks for your insight, that’s definitely something to consider. More power to your channel!! 👍🏻
@@chuckisidro8624 nice dude, should be a sweet setup either way!
Great review, I own the pontus2 and everything you said about it is accurate and true. It sounds awesome in my rack and can't imagine being without it. I think you should make space some where and keep it🙂
sadly it's already been sent back, I do miss it though :(
Careful! I started off with the Aries almost 2 years ago and have the Terminator Plus in my system now lmao.
I can see that happening lol, I'm guessing you love the terminator though :)
Good review - really interested in checking these out. How are you integrating subs when you are using a dac? Splitters or some other means?
What do you mean? Dac has nothing to do with integrating subs.
@@NemoPropaganda I feel like such a newb - trying to find best way to run from the 2 channel dac to speakers and subs without reprocessing - have a direct “unprocessed” mode on processor but that is also two channel only. Then there is the matter of time alignment between speakers and subs - I put my question on discord as well. Thanks.
@@kyleo2113 okay, I will reply in the discord bro. Nothing wrong with being a newb bro, we all start somewhere :)
Denafrips has some really interesting products. Would be great to hear your take on their amplifier stack and how it compares to your kinki studio...
Maybe one day, I am curious about them too :)
need a Pontus ii vs Gustard X26pro comparison
I'm not really interest in that one, usually I review stuff I'm personally curious about and I was always curious about the Pontus ever since I saw Jay review one.
@@NemoPropaganda I understand.... however I went from an Ares ii to a X26Pro and with the X26Pro, i experience what you are hearing with the Pontus ii... the X26Pro is cheaper... X26pro is dual power supply like the Pontus ii, but has dual AKM Pro DAC chips and a Class A output stage.... vs the R2R topography... I think they are both could be very close in sound quality and experience... it would be a very interesting comparison, that nobody has done
@@SantanKGhey1234 the gustard sounds like a great piece, it's $1500 where the Pontus2 is $1800, to me the price is close enough that both should be more similar than different. If the gustard was like $1000 and everyone was saying it was as good as Pontus2 or almost as good then I would be more interested. Keep in mind I don't have any relationship with Gustard so I would have to buy that DAC at full price to review it as my channel is very small and not many companies will send me a review sample.
Another great video. Which streaming sources would you recommend with this DAC? Would bluesound node as transport only be a good pairing?
I use bluesound node 2i :)
@@NemoPropaganda thanks.
@NemoPropaganda Will you review Gustard R26 please?
probably not brother.
How about buying a Pontus 1 vs Ares 2 from the used market (both at very close pricing) ?
Hi bro, i never heard Pontus1 but I’m sure it’s still better. I would for sure buy a used pontus1 instead of a new ares2. Vinshine audio can answer this question better if you want to be 100% sure :)
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for the quick reply. I guess Vinshine might ask me to buy a new Pontus-2. Alvin is a one man army , he is doing a really great job for the company. Hopefully I will meet him in a week or so (if he is at the audition place)
@@tango_gru i dont think so bro. They are really cool people.
Would you compare this analogy to the Rel HT line and the T/x line. As in, if your system is below a certain price point/level of resolution you might be better to take the value in the HT line etc. For instance, I’m debating if the T/9x will satisfy my HT needs knowing the 1205 might not be quite as resolving. But at 3k-4K for the system, maybe the HT line makes more sense. The added 200watts and lower freq range might also add to the value of the HT range, I’m not sure?
mmm yeah kind of, the 9x will always sound better, even on the cheapest of systems but if you're worried about not having enough bass you can save some cash and go for the bigger 1205, it's still a great sounding sub and one of my favs, the 1205 tonally matches everything I've even thrown at it.
If your speakers are super fast and resolving and need the sub to keep up (say, planar or electrostatic speakers) then you almost certainly want the t9. I have it paired with my Maggie 1.7 setup and it's fantastic. More than good enough for HT use, but I'm not running a THX surround system or trying to rattle the walls. If you want to pressurize a room, get something from SVS instead.
dude, great review!
Do you have Amphion speakers standing there?
No, those are Buchardt S400 MK2. I tried to get Amphions in for review but havn't heard any update from them.
Your description of these DACs being about how they make you feel as opposed to how they sound as such resonates with me - even though it is a simplification and of course it's particular characteristics of the way the sound is presented that make the end result possible, as an Ares II owner who also owns a Delta-Sigma Topping D90 DAC, the Ares II has some sort of magic in it that "glues" all frequencies together and adds a tiny bit of wamth (thus sounding less "digital") and creates a beautiful space (not only the size of the soundstage but the holography within it) where instruments can breathe and therefore sound more life-like.
Do you have any experience with headphones? I am wondering if the upgrade would be worth it in my case given that I only listen to music through headphones, albeit very high-resolving ones - Focal Utopia and Hifiman HE1000se. My personal expectation would be to get more of the same in terms of the life-like experience but with more refinement, especially in the bass area, and better attack/punch.
Hey thanks Michal!! I don't have any experience with headphones but the youtuber midfi guy has a lot of headphone & DAC experience. He has the Ares2 also and has used much more expensive DAC's in his headphone rig so maybe he can answer the question. Currently I have Venus2 and I can tell you it just keeps getting better on speakers. I'd imagine this improvement should carry over to headphones especially resolving ones like the Focal. I'm currently using the Venus2 with Kanta No1 so kind of the speaker version of what you've got :).
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for your reply. Before getting the Venus, did you end up upgrading your Ares II to Pontus II? In your video, even though you seem to think that the Pontus is definitely a better DAC, you did not seem convinced about whether its better sonic qualities justified its bigger footprint (at least that's how I interpreted it).
@@MistaLova-Lova it's sonic qualities absolutely justify its larger size, I just can't keep everything I love. Did I miss the pontus2 after I sent it back? Absolutely! But I also miss the pair of REL T5X I sent back, the Emotiva RS11, the Buchardt amplifier, and so on, I just can't keep all of it :). Hope that clarifies things.
@@NemoPropaganda Hehe, as an owner of an Ares II I'm trying to glean enough info from various reviews to see if selling it and getting a Pontus would be a mistake and the above in your review made me think that although you liked it very much, there was a part of you that considered your Ares II already good enough for all your needs 😃 That's the problem with making purchase decisions based on educated guesses 🙈
@@MistaLova-Lova My system sits around $12-$20k depending on how I have it setup so I'm already getting killer sound. The Ares2 is way too down market for the rest of my gear and I should be using something like Venus2 but I don't buy stuff too often for myself. I'd just take the advice I gave in the video, if your system is under $5k between speakers and amp then Ares2 is your best value but if your system is above $5k between amp and speakers then Pontus2 makes a lot of sense. At the end of the day though what you're trying to do is be financially responsible so it you're trying to find the "value" but this is a hobby, there's no established value aside from the value you assign to it. If you want the Pontus2 and you can easily afford it then I say go for it! If it's going to break the bank then maybe stay with the Ares2 :).
Thanks for your great review. I was thinking to add Pontus II to my system, Rotel and Whafedale 4.4. USB connection produce 384 khz PCM, would there be a huge improvement to my system, if I were to add Pontus II to my system? May I have your opinion please? Many thanks
if you're using the internal DAC currently then yes absolutely it will be a difference. Many people who use USB also use the denafrips Iris. I've been told that is one of the best upgrades you can do for USB audio.
HI! I really like your style when reviewing audio gear. But I'm really looking for help in taking a costly upgrade decision. My audio system consists of a Linn Majik DSM/3 streamer amp, and a pair of FyneAudio 502 floor standing speakers. I was considering upgrading my Linn with the Naim Unity Atom streamer. Your review (as well as other reviewers) keep me thinking if an upgrade for a Denafrip Dac will be a better sounding and economical option than getting the Naim Unity Atom that costs around $3700. Will love yo hear yours and others comments.
Hey my man, that's a tough question to answer as I've not heard the Linn nor the Atom so I don't really know how they would compare. You're currently using the internal DAC so I would guess a DAC upgrade might make more sense and get you a few more years of use out of the Linn :)
Thanks for the reply. That's my opinion too. Let's see if there are other comments who can address this question.
@@Gilawi I'm blown away by the Ares II and Iris DDC, running through the Denafrips Hades and Thallo amps, out to the KLH Model 5 speakers... I just placed my order for the Pontus II, wiring the monies in the morning. I cannot comment on your specific gear, but I can say this, the Ares II was a game changer vs the other DACs I own. I have only had the Ares II for a few weeks and love the sound, but after hearing and reading many reviews, I think the Pontus II upgrade is going to be a marked improvement. The review Steve Huff just did was interesting, may be worth checking out. I think as of right now, the Pontus II will be the end of my audio carousel.
I have borrow Pontus II and ares II do a compare A-B test with my Mytek Brooklyn 6 years old Dac with my hifiman. Susvara headphones because I pull the trigger .Sorry to say mytek still better then both , ares Ii totally out it cant drive my headphone due to low gain output
I don't use headphones so I don't know about any of that. I am happy you like your mytek, I've been told it's nearly the opposite sounds versus Denafrips, that doesn't make it better per se but as long as you like it that's all that matters.
Hey man, just sell the Aries take the proceeds by the pontes at what is basically a discount
I am running a Yamaha AS2200, Cornwall IV, AudioLab 6000a CD player , Blusound node 2i ...would the Pontus play nice in this system?
Your system is definitely high end enough to use Pontus. If it will be to your taste or not will be hard to know without experimentation :) Based on what you have I think you will experience the biggest upgrade in midrange texture & tone.
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for the reply! should be delivered next week!
@@baronofgreymatter14 oh damn, you already ordered it? We have a free discord if you want to join, you can tell us how it pairs or show off pics, link is in all my newer vids.
@@baronofgreymatter14 How does it sound? I have a similar setup with the Yamaha A-S1000 amp and Chorus 2 speakers, they are older but similar to the Cornwalls. Thoughts?
What percentage improvement over the say node i dac, would give these two dacs?
That's not how my brain quantifies these things so I can't really answer.
@@NemoPropaganda is it 1k improvement ?
@@williammorales8204 With my system, yes absolutely.
Another fantastic aggregate review Nemo. I am a big fan of Steve Huff too! He don't wear cables hard like u tho.
I just pictured myself in a grocery store wearing RCA cables as a necklace lol
@@NemoPropaganda Always gotta rep your chains man 😁
Thanks- good information
I dont understand why they didnt made a remote for Denafrips dac's, it's super annoying and inconvenient because I have few different digital sources and I switch between alot :(
most likely to keep the cost down, you're already getting a lot for the money.
which headset amp would you recommend pairing ares 2?
What do you mean by headset amp?
@@NemoPropaganda I want to connect my DUNU SA6 IEM to my denafrips unfortunately it is missing a headphone jack... Headphone amplifier have a headphone port like the SHIIT Valhalla
@@saab_9 oh i see, sorry bro I don't use any headphones so I don't have any experience.
Love your videos and reviews bro good honest man, im new to this tho trying to understand the benefit of dac if you dont mind explain some day, im currently using denon x3700h as receiver connected to pc. Will dac considered like a sound card? Between pc to receiver and improve sound in music? Thanks bro
Hi Noy, basically your PC only has digital audio inside of it and that signal has to be turned into analog for the speakers to make sound. Either the PC can convert it or your x3700h can convert it, or an external DAC can convert it. The external dac will generally give better results.
@@NemoPropaganda thank you ! ^^
DAC is hugely important and they get better the more you spend. If the rest of your system can keep up with a nice dac you will be rewarded with even more refined sound. Its the brain of your system. If your system is pretty basic, really any budget dac will do the job.
@@Audfile but is it replacing the receiver? or its basically just another station between the pc and receiver? how do i know which ones i need and gonna be enough for my system tho? i have denon x3700h svs ultra and svs sb-2000 pro thats basically my system
Your comments about the Aries2 reminds me of my thoughts regarding my Yggdrasil GS , I'm glad I picked one up when they were on sale for 1599 . You stop analyzing the technicalities and just listen.
Nice bro, I'm glad your dac does that too, it really is an awesome experience.
Vincent Ong is an excellent guy from Vinshineaudio
I have to agree, I have had multiple conversations with Vincent, he is top notch, as is Alvin, both have gotten back to my questions in 24 hours or less. I just ordered the Pontus II, completing my Denafrips, KLH system. Very happy!
I have The Kinki Mono Blocs, runnin' DynAudio Contour 20s, a Denafrips Athena Preamp, a Marantz SACD 30n for streaming & discs (source) and Vinshine is giving me a discount on a Pontus II (that is another whole story)…I will be bypassing the Burr/Brown chip-based DAC in my Marantz and using The Pontus II Instead. Hoping that this brings my system up a notch. 🤔 I am doing a wire transfer (no rip-off currency-exchange fees.), at my bank 2moro morning…This is all in place and I come home from a job today and here is your video, making me even more excited! Can't Wait!!! 😁👍🏼 Thanks Nemo! (You KNOW that you are keeping The Pontus II!) 😂😂😂
Resistance is Futile!!!!
ahahaha, always great to here from you Bob, it seems you've been on a nice upgrade path lately, hopefully those mono's were up to your expectations. Did you ever plug in your old amp after a few weeks to see the difference?
@@NemoPropaganda hey Nemo………no…I have not put my vintage Bob Carver back in just "yet"…I thought I would just start throwing money at this situation (if for no other reason than to entertain my friends! 😁)…so…I replaced my Freya+ with The Athena, have the Pontus II DAC shipping Monday AND I have a Schiit Loki Max on order (6-8 weeks for delivery on that) to "tweak" things. I've gone NUTZ! LOL! Based on Tarun's latest, less than stellar review of the Hades/Thallo combo…I think that my ears are hearing (actually not hearing in this case) some of what he is talking about there. He kind of validated what I think that I am experiencing, here…but I am having fun and once I have all my elements in-place and tweaked…I definitely will put the Carver back in! OH the humanity!! 😂
@@bobb.9917 sounds like a tough life lol, let us know if you need any emotional support 😂
Before going to upgrade to Pontus, get a chance to get Terminator Plus, as well Holo Audio May... you will be surprised! Both i love, bit more on May DAC for me, as I love their R2r setup..DAC will stick a while in my system... i never would go over 12k for a DAC...you just pay for the brand... Weiss, dcs, bms, aqua acoustic, Linn, Lumin.. name it
Great review man. Really looking forward to hearing one of their DACs in the future.
And Nemo. Been meaning to mention this for a while now. If you haven't already, and I don't think you have. You absolutely have to get a transport/streamer for your system. I have the Pro-ject Streambox S2 Ultra myself, and could never EVER go back to a computer. Or some cheap excuse of a streamer. There's cheaper alternatives out there. And it's just a teeny, tiny little thing too BTW. So your OCD shouldn't be a problem here. The iFi Zen looks to be a good alternative to this one, for a lot less. But these are available used pretty cheaply. Think I paid about $550 for mine, all in. You can thank me later. And you will too. I assure you. 😉😁
I'm not a CD guy, I stream all my music and use the Node 2i.
@@NemoPropaganda That's what I'm talking about, a streaming transport, not CD's . A streamer like the Node is exactly what I'm talking about. Although that wouldn't be my 1st choice. It's much better then a computer. But there's better out there for not much more. Like the Pro-ject Streambox S2 Ultra I've got. Hans Beekhuyzen calls it "The Giant Little Dwarf" because of it's small size, but amazing performance. When did you get the Node? That's fairly new no?
@@amb3cog I'll actually be reviewing the Pro-ject speakerbox 5 soon so maybe after that I will ask them about the Streambox S2 :D, thank you for the tip bro!
@@NemoPropaganda No problem. They have a ton of stuff I would like to try out besides that. But I'd be happy with reviews even. You rarely see any reviews of their gear unfortunately. And the selection is friggin HUGE too. I guess they're more popular in Europe then here though.
I think you'll be keeping the Streambox if you try it. And if not. I may have to get a Node then. Because it sounds spectacular IMO. And simply wipes the floor with everything else I've tried so far. And you would never even notice it in my rack either. LMK if you get it too. Because I know all the best settings for it.
Those speakers look real nice too man. The S2 ones I assume? They have a better pair called DS2 that is hard to come by. But has a ring radiator tweeter. A bigger woofer (6 inch), and is 89db sensitivity too. Those look really, really nice to me. ✌️
@@amb3cog no i actually went with the cheapest $350 model, a good friend of mine sang high praise so I had to try them.
Hey I'll get on this discord soon, my life is just slammin jammin right now. Just wanted to say I have 1TDXs with the nice crossover on the way. Heeeell yes!
what is a tdx?
@@NemoPropaganda 1TDX. Watch CheapAudioMan "shall we crown the king of diy speakers".
@@NemoPropaganda $1400 kit. Competes in the multithousand dollar speakers.
@@Audfile oh yeah the CSS kit, I've read up on it in the past. I don't have the soldering skills to handle the x-over nor the woodworking skills to handle the cabinet but I'm sure it's great!
@@NemoPropaganda crossovers are super easy. I built a new one (GR Research) for my first real hifi speaker a million years ago. For the finish, I'm either going to a cabinet maker, or an automotive body shop for paint, or a high end vinyl wrap.
The power cord is huge. Makes humongous difference.
100% denafrips was have a wine or a beer and enjoy
Thanks for the review. I’m seriously considering pulling the trigger on this DAC but now I am wondering will I get the full value if my CD transport is no where near that quality/price range? I have a Rotel CD14 which ran about $600 when it came out. I do have some hi res audio files to play via Roon, Amazon Music as well as Apple CD, but wondering how the CD transport factors in. Thanks.
Why not go for Ares2 instead then?
@@NemoPropaganda because folks like you keep reviewing this joint 😂😂😂 yeah maybe baby steps with the Ares II.
@@imammarc nooo, hardly any reviews on this one lol, you just want the big shiny metal box lol, it's okay, I want the shiny metal box too :D
@@NemoPropaganda yes!! Give me all the shiny objects! 😂😂😂
How big of a difference does a DAC make overall? If speakers make an impact equal to a number of 100, what number would you assign to a DAC?
hard to say as its really dependant on the rest of your system. My Kinki gear paired with Focal Aria 906 for example I love but the midrange is on the cooler side so adding something like an Ares2 or Pontus2 that richens up the midrange and brings more dimension to everything is a very welcome upgrade and worth every penny.
@@NemoPropaganda thanks Nemo
You're not sure if you will keep it because you have no space in your rack, yet it's sitting perfectly on top of the rack, are you serious man?
on top of rack is not the same as inside the rack, its been sent back now :).
@@NemoPropaganda That's really unbelievable...you do know the top of the rack has been used since the dawn of time to stack gear on...
Just when I think I've seen it all, the interwebz shows me...
Shaking my head...
@@crtgamer2355 This shits all just furniture when it's not in use. Like most people I want my home to look a certain way.
@@NemoPropaganda Hey man, I enjoyed the video and everything, and I respect your opinion it's your house to do as you please.
Just I can't help feeling that is just a little extreme, but that's just me.
@@crtgamer2355 we all have those few things we're just a little more OCD about than usual :)
Funny that Steve says like „if you want to spend up to $4500 for a DAC get the Pontus 2“, when you can also have the Denafrips Venus 2 and still having some budget left.
I think he meant like if your budget is up to $5k don't assume this cannot compete just because it's only $1800 as based on his experience it can totally compete. He has not reviewed the Venus so my guess is he just can't comment on that but I would imagine it's also very good. Personally I'm very curious about Venus.
Like you I watched a lot of UA-cam audio reviewers. Jay Iyagi gave his Dac of the year award in 2020. I emailed Alvin at Vinshine and listed all my gear in my system. He came back with Aries 12 or if I’m a serious audiophile Pontus 2 12th. So I put my order in for the Pontus 2 12th. Easy to order and they burn in the unit 100 hours for you. I’ll probably get it in a week to 10 days. Anyway great video I enjoy your channel.
thank you bro, congrats on owning a great dac! I'm still using Ares2 myself.
Bro… are you kidding me? You gotta buy a new & bigger audio rack! As someone earlier mentioned… you deserve it bro! 🔥💪🏽❤️‼️
noooo, I like my rack lol
@@NemoPropaganda 😂🤣
@@NemoPropaganda GO RAMS 💙💛💪🏽🔥‼️
@@edmundgil6008 FOOOOOT BALLLLLL!!!!!!!!!
Another good product is Holo Audio DACs. If someone is in the market for Chord Dave, or similarly costing DACs, give it an audition - to Holo May 3 DAC.
I happen to audition Dave, with Holo May 3 KTE and Holo Spring 3 KTE, and settled for Holo Spring 3 KTE.
Moreover, try hqplayer instead of Chord M Scalar. Save thousands of dollars!
Isn't that like twice the price of the Pontus 2 (4-5 grand)?
@@BumpNrun69 Yes, the Halo offerings are 4 to 5 grand or more, and many months out for delivery the last time I checked. I will take the Pontus II, I just ordered mine to replace the Ares II. On a side note, the Ares II was a game changer vs the Delta Sigma DACs I have been suffering with.
Most of the 4-5k DACs that are being challenged by DACs like the Pontus are chip-based and produced under less cost effective circumstances. I wouldn't want to be a manufacturer in that field right now...
indeed!
Great review but I can barely see you. Some white fill light wouldn’t hurt.
I know :( I'm not a pro at lighting, sometimes I get it right and other times I drop the ball lol, I film all my content on a cell phone so it's never going to be amazing but the lighting on this one is especially dark for sure.
Bro, what do you MEAN you don't pay attention to decay structures? Everyone knows it's all decay structures and ball bearings these days.
Great review! ;)
I know I left some bread out and it's decay structure seems random and smells odd lol
@@NemoPropaganda LMAO
I’m not a fan of how it’s not the same width as typical audio gear.
I'm okay with different sizes as long asthere is accompanying equipment like here you can do a Hestia, Hyperion, and Pontus2 for a killer & compact setup :)
Just get a jays audio DAC. Sorted.
Bro that’s literally $1300 more money. How is that sorted? 🫣
Fair point, but I’ve been led to believe jays audio DAC beats the Denafrips flagship Terminator. Jays audio doesn’t get same publicity as Denafrips.
@@Coneman3 I have not heard either Jays or the Terminator, I'm sure they're both great though :). The Jay's looks cool because it could also serve as a preamp as long as you don't need analog inputs.
Get another rack 😉
I think Steve from HiFi is now using a 12g Chord Dave.
If I get a new rack it'll be another 4 shelf vertical, that's the aesthetic I like.
You don’t have room for it on your rack?! C’mon Brother! Gotta call you out. If anyone can spend $1800 on a DAC or $10k in monoblocks can afford some new/bigger/taller racks
On a serious note, great review!!
ahahahaha you're not wrong lol I like my rack though :D
OH MY AMPS AND SPEAKERS HAVE TO BE WORTH MORE THAN $5000. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM. ARE YOU EVEN FOR REAL. LET ME TELL YOU PAL,,🤬 .... I BUILD MY OWN COMPONENTS AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A SLOTAIRY CLUE.
Triggerred much? Are you on steriods or something? Context is king and I would appreciate it if you didn't take my words out of context. If you want to have crazy person anger problems that's on you, don't bring that mess here.