Denafrips Owners & Discussion Thread

[Guest Mdieterk]

2 hours ago, Lazz said:

Careful with this type of statement. If this was true, then nobody would need to spend a lot more on the more expensive models. Denafrips would need to drop them from their line. At best, the Pontus may have great sound for the money. And take reviews with a grain of salt until you can listen for yourself. I enjoy reading reviews but have learnt that what a reviewer hears or likes can be totally different to what you hear or like. Cheers. 

I have heard them all, mate! I have been in the industry 30 years have  heard many more components than you have... I know what I'm saying and hearing and dig you miss the word 'probably'?

... In a line of electronics   there is usually a Sweet Spot in the manufacturers lineup.. Also dacman said as much!! 

Don't pontificate

[Lazz]

2 hours ago, Mdieterk said:

I have heard them all, mate! I have been in the industry 30 years have  heard many more components than you have... I know what I'm saying and hearing and dig you miss the word 'probably'?

... In a line of electronics   there is usually a Sweet Spot in the manufacturers lineup.. Also dacman said as much!! 

Don't pontificate

Take ya meds. Relax.

[Guest Mdieterk]

9 minutes ago, Lazz said:

Take ya meds. Relax.

Next time read all the words! 

[eman]

On 01/10/2022 at 2:27 PM, rustytrombone said:

Is anyone having issues with R2R audio delay when connected with their tv? I'm keen on an Ares II to pull double duty for hifi and tv but it seems R2R DACs will all have some audio latency.

Have Pontus with tv.

 

First thing I noticed.

 

Don't notice it anymore, but I'm a pretty casual tv watcher.

[Niktech]

Announced by Alvin recently. Anniversary editions of Terminator II and Terminator Plus:

 

https://www.denafrips.com/terminator-plus

Edited October 9, 2022 by Niktech

[cafe67]

Tv sync issues @rustytrombone and others 

 

https://darko.audio/2021/06/one-more-thought-on-the-denafrips-ares-ii/

Edited October 29, 2022 by cafe67

[Willmax]

23 hours ago, cafe67 said:

Tv sync issues @rustytrombone and others 

 

https://darko.audio/2021/06/one-more-thought-on-the-denafrips-ares-ii/

Thanks for this, what about the other models up the range like Pontus, Venus and Terminator? I wonder if it is the same case with regards to (N)OS aspect on all of them?

Edited October 30, 2022 by Willmax

[cafe67]

12 minutes ago, Willmax said:

Thanks for this, what about the other models up the range like Pontus, Venus and Terminator? I wonder if it is the same case with regards to (N)OS aspect of all of them?

Not sure the latency seems to be part of the R2R - whether the more expensive models can process data faster ?? 

[GregWormald]

5 hours ago, Willmax said:

Thanks for this, what about the other models up the range like Pontus, Venus and Terminator? I wonder if it is the same case with regards to (N)OS aspect on all of them?

I have no sync issues with a Pontus II.
 

Optical out from Sony TV to Pontus II and then to preamp.

 

 

Edited October 30, 2022 by GregWormald
additions

[Willmax]

5 hours ago, GregWormald said:

I have no sync issues with a Pontus II.
 

Optical out from Sony TV to Pontus II and then to preamp.

 

 

Good to know as I've recently upgraded to a Pontus II.

[eman]

My new TV sound needs some help.

It was either screw about buying some other thing/s or just plug the DAC in...

[Resonance-2-Rythm]

Hi all

 

I am not sure if this has been discussed here before (if it did please point me to the right thread as I could not find it) but I have recently found something strange about Denafrips Ares II DAC.  The DAC sounds great - love its sound signature and I have been thinking of upgrading to Pontus II. However, I discovered something that makes me reconsider about going up the Denafrips DACs' chain.

 

For the last 10 months or so I have been using it via RCA stereo output to my Audio Research Preamp, Audio Research poweramp, Audio Physique speakers and it works great. However, I have recently added a headphone amp into my set up for late night listening and this HP amp is connected via XLR output of the Ares II ( it has 2 analogue outputs) and this is when the strange issue occurred.

 

When both outputs are connected, the Ares II became distorted when i try to listen through my speakers. To diagnose this, I had to go to components elimination process but the problem persisted at every change. However, when listening through headphone amp, it sounded fine and so this indicates the DAC is working ok. I then went through different sampling modes to see if the issue is fixed but none of that matters.

 

The funny thing is that as soon as I disconnected the XLR output to the HP amp. It sounded fine again through my speakers. This happens regardless of whether the HP amp is on or off, just as long as the XLR output is connected to the HP amp. Ares II is some how increases its output signal as soon as analogue output is enaged.  By the way, my HP amp is THX 789.

 

I contacted Vinshine and Australian dealer and this is what I received from Alvin at Vinshine - Vinshine got back to me very promptly by the way

 

It's not advisable to connect both outputs simultaneously.
Once both outputs are connected, regardless whether the device is on/off, the DAC will 'see' it as a connected load (resistive/inductive/capacitive).
It may have an adverse effect on the sound. 

You may consider output selector like this:https://www.amazon.sg/Nobsound-Balanced-Converter-Audio-Selector/dp/B07D7P7366

DAC->XLR->Output Selector
Output Selector->XLR->Amp1, RCA->Amp2

Does that work for you?
 

Happy Friday Eve!  ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯ 

 

 

I am not sure how his suggestion would help my case if I want to keep both preamp and HP amp are connected at the same time and the current solution is disconnecting and reconnecting the HP every time I want to use headphone but this is a bit of a nuisance. I have not try different preamp or HP amp. Maybe I will do that when i have more time but I do not think how that would change anything.

 

I am wondering if Ares II owners here have experienced the same issue and if there is a way around it. Also, if you have this issue with up the chain Denafrips DACs. I very interested to know before deciding my upgrade

 

Tia 

 

 

 

     

[Demondes]

If you have a read of this article it seems they are a shared output, and denafrips recommends a modified XLR cable be used

 

https://www.denafrips.com/single-post/can-i-connect-the-dac-output-to-two-devices

 

 

[Resonance-2-Rythm]

1 hour ago, Demondes said:

If you have a read of this article it seems they are a shared output, and denafrips recommends a modified XLR cable be used

 

https://www.denafrips.com/single-post/can-i-connect-the-dac-output-to-two-devices

 

 

Thanks Derek, If I understand it correctly, the only way to output it to 2 devices is to split XLR output into 2 RCAs. Hmm.... that is cumbersome. I hope this does not hold true for the rest of the Denafrips DAC line up. 

[GregWormald]

It seems to me that routing the output of a DAC (or any other source) is really the job of a preamp.

 

Can you not connect the headphone amp to your preamp and not double up on connections from the DAC.

 

BTW—the Pontus II beats the Ares II easily in my system.

The headphone amp is connected by a "line out" from the pre. That way all sources (tape, 3 x digital, phono, tuner) are all available for headphone listening.

[Nada]

6 hours ago, Resonance-2-Rythm said:

if there is a way around it.

 

 The Denafrips DACs have a minimalist design where the output comes straight off the resistor ladders. Theres no buffer. That may be one reason they sound so great.

 

The ladders are balanced.

 

If you have a preamp with RCA that has a high input impedance and also connect a low impedance headamp via XLR the RCA output will be very attenuated.

 

Worse is low RCA impedance with high XLR as the XLR will be heavily imbalanced.

 

What to do?

 

Just get the input switch Alvin suggested. What is your problem? Do you need to play the speakers and headphones at the same time?

 

 

[Resonance-2-Rythm]

3 hours ago, Nada said:

 

 The Denafrips DACs have a minimalist design where the output comes straight off the resistor ladders. Theres no buffer. That may be one reason they sound so great.

 

The ladders are balanced.

 

If you have a preamp with RCA that has a high input impedance and also connect a low impedance headamp via XLR the RCA output will be very attenuated.

 

Worse is low RCA impedance with high XLR as the XLR will be heavily imbalanced.

 

I sort of understand what you're saying about impedance but I still do not fully understand why It sounds fine with Headamp and not with Preamp.  So what you're saying is event hough Ares II has RCA and XLR outputs but only 1 output should be used?   

 

3 hours ago, Nada said:

What to do?

 

Just get the input switch Alvin suggested. What is your problem? Do you need to play the speakers and headphones at the same time?

 

No. As mentioned, I only use one OR the other. This means is one is completely turned off when the other is on. 

 

I just thought a DAC with 2 outputs should be able to output to 2 devices. If I have to get a switching box then this is adding extra component into the chain.   

[Resonance-2-Rythm]

6 hours ago, GregWormald said:

It seems to me that routing the output of a DAC (or any other source) is really the job of a preamp.

 

Can you not connect the headphone amp to your preamp and not double up on connections from the DAC.

 

I get your point but in this case the preamp connection has a problem and not the HP amp. Also, if I output to preamp and then to HP amp then I have 2 sets of volume control to take care of. 

 

6 hours ago, GregWormald said:

BTW—the Pontus II beats the Ares II easily in my system.

The headphone amp is connected by a "line out" from the pre. That way all sources (tape, 3 x digital, phono, tuner) are all available for headphone listening.

Ta, I want to upgrade too but I like to utilise both analogue outputs and I dont want to have the same issue. 

[Niktech]

Unfortunately, my suggestion is for another component. Rather than the Nob sound - if you do choose this route - I would go for something of better quality like the Schiit Lokius. Yes, it a an equalizer, but that can be bypassed if need be. It has both balanced and single ended connections that are on all the time and operate independently.

 

I had a Lokius for a while. It worked well switching between components connected to my Pontus II - background was dead silent too.

[GregWormald]

10 hours ago, Resonance-2-Rythm said:

<snips>if I output to preamp and then to HP amp then I have 2 sets of volume control to take care of. 

So the preamp doesn't have a line out? Say something like an output to tape or to AV system?

[Resonance-2-Rythm]

2 hours ago, GregWormald said:

So the preamp doesn't have a line out? Say something like an output to tape or to AV system?

Yes, it does. 2 line outs but one is going to AR power amp and the other one is going to Accuphase power amp driving 2 separate sets of speakers for different genre of music. But I can not run Preamp output to my HP amp - it would be running preamp out into preamp in.

[Nada]

17 hours ago, Resonance-2-Rythm said:

1 output should be used? 

Correct. Only one output can be active.

 

You either

1. go XLR to the pre to the headamp

2. get the Douk switch or

3. plug and unplug your cables.

 

[GregWormald]

12 hours ago, Nada said:

On 19/12/2022 at 2:55 AM, Resonance-2-Rythm said:

1 output should be used? 

Correct. Only one output can be active.

 

You either

1. go XLR to the pre to the headamp

2. get the Douk switch or

3. plug and unplug your cables.

It's been a while since I tried to run multiples out of my pre but I seem to remember that a Y cable splitter on a line level out didn't cause any issues.

[Resonance-2-Rythm]

14 hours ago, Nada said:

Correct. Only one output can be active.

 

You either

1. go XLR to the pre to the headamp

2. get the Douk switch or

3. plug and unplug your cables.

 

I got my NAD m51 out last night and It has both RCA and XLR analogue outputs and both can be connected without any issues. My streamer has mulitple digital outputs so the NAD will be used for this purpose then. 

[DnaAnalytics]

Greetings Members!

 

I have a Node N130 streamer paired with a Parasound 2125 V2 amplifier, Bowers & Wilkins 706 S2 bookshelf speakers, and Bowers and Wilkins ASW610 subwoofer.

 

My next upgrade will be a stand-alone DAC that I will eventually pair with a Linear Tube Audio (LTA) amplifier. LTA recommends the Denafrips Enyo (formerly Ares II), Ares 12th, and Pontus II DACs.

 

Thoughts as to which one (Enyo, Ares 12th, Pontus II) is the best value?

 

Best,

 

Raymond