Denafrips Pontus II (OG) w/ 12th Anniversary Edition FPGA Firmware Update - Update worth it?

The Pontus II was a loan from a friend of the channel. Thanks!
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Alvin Chee's Firmware Update Guide: • DENAFRIPS 12th ANNV. ...
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Timestamps...
00:00 Intro & Pricing
01:52 Shameless Self Promotion
02:19 What is the Pontus II and this Firmware Update?
06:08 Build & Features
11:14 Test Gear & Sound Before Update
15:14 Test Gear & Sound After Update
19:05 Will the Update Sound Good in Your System?
21:07 NOS vs OS
23:20 Which Digital Input is Best?
27:00 Balanced vs Single Ended
31:34 Comparison w/ Hugo 2
36:15 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

[@yjlconductor]

Thank you for this detailed review. Based on what you say about the firmware upgrade being more forward sounding, I think it's best for me to keep my current firmware to keep the synergy. I life warm sounding devices and it seems like the firmware would bring the Pontus II closer in line to neutral.

[@n00buo]

Thanks for the review, certainly the Denafrips users are lucky to have a team behind their products that actually really care and try to improve every aspect of their toys, 1.4 version it's been released for the Pontus, every DAC will get this new version that has the best of the OG firmware and 1.3, furthermore you can choose now which of these 3 versions you want to have by simply updating the DAC back and forth (takes 1 minute) Simply awesome

[@slowestrider4918]

Thank you for the review. Base on sound quality described by 20 minutes mark, I will stay with the original sound character of the original II version.

[@TheConnoissumer]

I felt like the 1.3 update increased resolution as well, but the 1.4 upgrade they released last week is absolute🔥! I listened louder and longer than I ever have with zero fatigue. The team at Vinshine and Denafrips have incredible taste. I highly, highly recommend the Pontus II.

[@Ustaleone]

Please tell me more about this DAC. What did you have before? Any other ChiFi DAC brands like Topping?

[@TheConnoissumer]

@@Ustaleone I had a Topping E50 that was too clinical for my taste. I still have a Schiit Bifrost 2 which comes close to the Pontus. I would choose the Pontus even at twice the cost. I also have a Geshelli J2 AK on order to compare for fun.

[@soulfulfool]

@@TheConnoissumer my D70 is not clinical but it has different DAC inside

[@beefsupreme510]

Great detailed review! Interested in hearing your thoughts on the ifi ican pro sig. I have one as my main amp & love it

[@eddylam224]

Alvin is a distributor for Denafrips. He founded his company called Vinshine. It will be v difficult for Denafrips to find another distributor who can successfully replicate his service n support levels :p

[@wavetheorysound]

Agreed. Alvin has been an absolute pleasure to work with.

[@chrischan9166]

For such a problematic brand, his support is essential.

[@marcoluca6552]

Do you think is huge the difference between Pontus II and Pontus 12th Anniversary Edition ? An used Pontus II can be found at 1400 usd or less , but I don't known if is better spend 400 usd more and get the 12th Anniversary Edition.

[@michaelwright1602]

Venus II 12th here... I'm good. And very good review, I have my Ares II and need to do the upgrade, I am very interested in the affects of the new firmware.

[@pjlett5688]

In my system oversampling sounds better And I just bought yje 15th pontus Substantially better all the way around.

[@PauloFerreira-hh6zv]

Thank for the excellent review. About the cables, I think the Audioquest Carbon HDMI and AES are a very good option to compare the digital input.

[@tonamg53]

27:05 what the heck is that crackling pop noise?

[@xstensl8823]

have the 12th, fabulous DAC, just to lazy to do the update. you have to take the top off. don't have the right screw driver. very happy with the sound as is. so for people who have the newer 12th like me this update is academic.

[@richarddegannes2928]

Hi Wave Theory, Please help me choose between Denafrips Pontus 2 12th anniversary with Iris DDC or Denafrips Venus 2 12th anniversary ? Which in your opinion is the better choice? TIA.

[@ramlord6669]

I am looking forward to watching your review of the ifi pro ican sig. Very very interesting amp. Do you also have its playmate, the pro idsd in for a review? To review them as a stack would be exciting 🙃

[@fabriziosiano7210]

after seeing your review of the Aries2, and hearing how the timber did not reach the level of the bifrost2, i would like to hear your opinion on timber for the pontus2. and is it worth the 3 times the price of the bifrost?

[@n00buo]

I had both and Ares 2 was the calmer of the bunch, with the new firmware 1.4 I'm 100% sure Ares 2 surpasses the Bifrost 2

[@roybenz187]

Would you please help with one question, using xlr from a balanced dac like the Pontus II, does the signal convert to rca inside the ha300bmk2? If it makes sense? I’m wondering if rca or xlr is the best option when going from balanced dac to single ended like the cayin.

[@wavetheorysound]

I don't know enough about that amp to say. Cayin's team is reasonably responsive on Head-Fi tho so if you @ them over there they will likely respond.

[@TripleE76]

Is this worth the investment over say a Geshelli J2 AKM4499 w/ sparkos op amps?

[@payidiot]

Could you say anything about good output cables from this dac to an old school tube amp? I have, for instance, a WOO WA5 LE with WE 300bs and Tungsol VT-231 6sn7s. After 60 years in this hobby I no longer want stuff in my face.

[@REX4340]

How do you judge imaging with headphones? Or was it with speakers?

[@bubblehead5394]

To judge image, one must first have an imagination.

[@Firebottleman]

Hello WaveTheory. Is there some type of XLR to RCA converter box for those of us that do not have any XLR inputs on our amps? If so, would the benefits of using XLR outs of our DACs be lost by going thru this converter? These DAC companies really need to work harder to maximize their RCA output implementations. I welcome anybody's feedback and answers to both questions. Thanks

[@erics.4113]

You could get a cable with XLR one end and RCA other, but I wouldn't do it. XLR is typically double the voltage of RCA. What that would mean on your RCA input side is that the signal would be coming in much hotter (voltage) than the device is expecting. Depending on your amp or preamp or whatever you're connecting to, results could be anywhere from ok to very far from ok. Best just use the RCA outs of your Denafrips

[@ayushbhaumik7980]

Could you please review the new topping l30 II amp. Its supposed to set the new benchmark for entry level amps given its measurements and other reviewers say it does not sound as sterile or analytical as previous budget topping amps but I trust your reviews more and would love to hear your opinion.

[@wavetheorysound]

Not opposed. The opportunity hasn't arisen.

[@fernandocosta5567]

Hi.great reviews. What do you think about This pontus vs matrix sabre 3 on loudspeaker sistema? Thanks.keep good work.

[@wavetheorysound]

Not a set answer to that. The Matrix might be just a hair more detailed, but it's more forward and aggressive sounding. The Pontus is more laidback and smooth. You need to decide which profile you're after.

[@gregkyle2453]

You have to get more to the point. First 20 minutes really didnt say much.

[@ericelmore2742]

Great review . What is your reference Dac at the moment?

[@wavetheorysound]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIqWlGd-et57ZtU

[@aceofspades6667]

Thoughts on running this via balanced outs to something like a topping pre 90. Then using the pre90 to run balanced out into SS amp and then unbalanced into a tube amp? Since you’re using balanced out into pre you’re getting the full ladder and then running rca out into tubes.

[@wavetheorysound]

I don't think a well made preamp will trigger this issue, no. This is probably a good way around it if you really really want the Pontus II sound for all your amps.

[@aceofspades6667]

@@wavetheorysound thanks! I have the Holo spring KTE which suffers from the same issue of xlr out vs rca. Was just wondering if I went xlr to pre and then used balanced/rca out of pre if it would bypass that degradation.

[@alfredopatricio8865]

When they say you should not use both RCA and XLR outputs at the same time, what does it really mean? Can you connect both outputs to different amps but have only one powered on?

[@wavetheorysound]

The best bet is to only have 1 plugged in at a time. Even with another amp powered off you're creating more conductive material that the output will turn into an equipotential conductor.

[@erics.4113]

It means don't use both at the same time 😜

[@beaverish]

This review proves that buying more expensive gears does not mean better sound. In the end, it's all about system synergy and personal sound preference.

[@wavetheorysound]

I don't agree. Synergy is certainly very important. It's also true that 90+% of the time, If DAC A is $1000 and DAC B is $2000 and they BOTH synergize really well with amp X, then the sonic result of B + X > A + X. So while synergy is absolutely a thing and can really increase the bang-for-the-buck of some combinations, I find that over and over and over in this hobby and with all else being equal, you get what you pay for.

[@Michael_mki233]

Very sad to hear that you shouldn't use both RCA and XLR at the same time. I'll be looking over this one.

[@nespressoman]

I sold mine and went back to Chord.

[@jessieheeet]

Denafrips DACs are overrated and overhyped IMO. I like their DDCs though.

[@nespressoman]

@@jessieheeet I started to feel that way too. I actually preferred the Ares sound to the Pontus and I am glad I don’t own their stuff anymore.

[@wavetheorysound]

As I said in the review, there are 2 valid approaches: 1) cut down on features & connectivity to maximize performance and 2) meet a wide range of system needs. I don't think that 2 necessarily always makes a huge impact on sound quality, but there are some things that certainly can. I think it's fair for any user to make the individual decision that at a given price point their expectation is flexibility or their expectation is maximal quality. I think it's also fair for manufacturers to choose which side of that market they want to serve.

[@erics.4113]

That's a non-trivial ask, to have the DAC run two pairs of outputs at the proper voltages at the same time. If you need multiple pre-outs done well, run the DAC to a good preamp and have it dole out multiple sets of pre-outs.

[@carlosr.2027]

What’s a better buy gustard r26 or Pontus ii

[@floriangopel3909]

Gustard easily

[@carlosr.2027]

@@floriangopel3909 is it do to the built in feature streamer/remote control or sound quality, thanks 👍🏼

[@floriangopel3909]

@carlosr.2027 lan is best connection, the build in streamer is good, but i would suggest you to use it as roon endpoint with roon music server as additional core. You can go step by step the path also with external clock and this thing keeps giving and giving.. its on the lvl of terminator 2 and i think that should be enough😉👍

[@simonirvine1628]

Denafrips have made an error in their marketing strategy. If its not broken do not fix it. If a company is going to change then do a big change. The whole 12th anniversary was a personal change, it was not necessary. Denafrips should have waited for 2 years and then came out with the Pontus (3) and Venus (3) and ditched the Terminator and Terminator Plus and Go for the Terminator (3).

[@donr62]

Denafrips have just released another firmware update 1.4 to address these issues kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5uanpqDiLiXpJY

[@ejk3435]

Are you saying that the update turns the Pontus II into a 12th anniversary edition by just doing the update?

[@wavetheorysound]

Not quite. The update that existed at the time of the review brought the firmware inline with that of the 12th anny Ed. That made the sound signature more like that of the 12th anny ed. It does not do anything with the hardware. The 12th Ed has some hardware upgrades too. However, after this review was published Denafrips released another firmware version for the OG that, by reports (I wasn't able to hear it as I sent the unit on), returns the OG to its own sound signature while maintaining functionality of the 12th Ed firmware.

[@gleamtarrest6310]

Had one, didn't care for it at all. Didn't sound great!

[@lesterrobinson3169]

I might add, in your opinion and on your equipment.

[@gleamtarrest6310]

@@lesterrobinson3169 well obviously! Still didn't like it... $249.00 Schiit Modius sounded just as good.

[@lesterrobinson3169]

@@gleamtarrest6310 you are perfectly entitled to your opinion…. Just do not see the point in your comments.

[@gleamtarrest6310]

@@lesterrobinson3169 go away ...!

[@gleamtarrest6310]

@JohnDoe-dd2jx Dear John Deer... why don't you stick to driving around on your john deer tractor & watching vids on that crappy ChiFi garbage! Tell Alvin I said Hi & Bye! So go watch your vids on all the Holo audio & long for the day yours comes in the mail. Just let me know how the customer service is .

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

there are other good dacs out there it seems like every audio youtuber has covered this dac. it's boring.

[@carlosr.2027]

What other dacs would you recommend over pontus ii I’m considering a gustard r26 or LADDER Schumann over Pontus

[@nespressoman]

Denafrips DACS aren’t true NOS.

[@bubblehead5394]

🤓

[@lesterrobinson3169]

I don’t care 😂

[@AudioThings]

Don't care. What's bad is that they lie about it.

[@nespressoman]

You support a lying company. Says it all.

[@erics.4113]

It's true my Denafrips sounds great though.

[@pjlett5688]

In my system oversampling sounds better And I just bought yje 15th pontus Substantially better all the way around.