Denifrips pontus ii 12th Dac vs Enhanced Node N130 Dac

Node N130 was good ($699),TeddyPardo mini external linear power supply ($365) better, LHY pc board ($119) more better, Pontus ii 12th incredible($1800).Pontus plays everything well. So depending on your budget you can get different levels of improvements. I apologize that you need to zoom in to see the left light(Bluesound node) and the right light (Denifrips Pontus 2 12th).

[@everettspain2739]

what connection types are you using streamer > Pontus (coax, USB, opt)?

[@stevethetoolman2435]

I was using coax. I just received my curious usb cable. The original yellow at 350.00. I’m breaking it in now. That’s from my node n130 streamer to the Pontus dac. Big improvement in using usb and then the curious. This hobby can drive you crazy chasing the small improvements.

[@everettspain2739]

@@stevethetoolman2435 lol the hobby can definitely drive you nuts but I think I'm finally getting close to stopping the madness. I also have the N130 and Pontus II combo. The linear power supply upgrade is on the way for the Node and I ordered the Denafrips Iris DDC to clean up any last bit of noise that could be generated from the Node via USB. While I wait, I just put in the Audioquest Carbon USB (Node to Pontus) and immediately noticed a difference from coax. Wider stage, more fidelity, tighter bass, less warm but not sure if I loss some analog🤔..probably does need some burn-in. Once the Iris gets in, the plan is to go i2s (DAC > DDC) and I'm done...I promise. Time to enjoy the tunes.

[@stevethetoolman2435]

@@everettspain2739 that sounds amazing! I was actually looking at that piece. My old ears probably wouldn’t tell the difference. I am seriously looking at a Rel t7x subwoofer. But my wife might strangle me. Lol

[@everettspain2739]

@@stevethetoolman2435 very nice sub. I have two Martin Logan Dynamo 1100X...probably the best sounding subs I've heard.

[@stevethetoolman2435]

@@everettspain2739 what are your main speakers. Awesome subs!

[@rontoolsie]

The standard N130 analog outouts are no better than 1980s musicassettes...dynamically flat, constrained to L-R speakers with very little in-between them and ponderous LF reproduction. And a dull HF that lacks shimmer. Adding a DC interface board and linear power supply was a great improvement, giving some semblance of a 3D soundstage and pitch control and restoring some of the missing HF, but still way behind what an entry level Rega turntable could manage, with the exception of the noise floor. The Node really only becomes a viable hi end source when used with a DC interface board/external LPS as a digital only streamer... into a DDC and external DAC. It takes thousands of 2020's $ to come even close to what a $200 analog source offered in the 1970s.

[@18yearsoldnot]

I’d argue high end cd players are digital and are fantastic

[@18yearsoldnot]

Also when I compare my allo digi one signature to my node, it’s very very different in character. Very warm and relaxed! Node is engineered by NAD to sound worse than NAD.