Part 02 - Denafrips Pontus II & Iris Review - does D2D matter?

[@johnkom2339]

There are other reclockers you could use. More than a year ago, I had bought the Singxer Su-2, a so-called "USB bridge". The other day I purchased a new USB cable, an Oyaide Neo Class A which did sound nicer than stock USB cables. Then, as audiophiles are wont to do I had try every configuration of my system using what I had lyinig about, with the new USB cable. And voila, I was very surprised to find out that with the new Oyaide and my Singxer Su-2 in the signal path, the sound was much improved. Sorry to have to say that but it was true. So you don't strictly need to shell out for the Denafrips reclocker. Actually I just spotted a pre-owned Su-2 currently for sale at Usaudiomart, for only $350. My wisdom on this is that probably the "blame" is to be laid at the feet of the streamer (or transport). A truly good streamer or transport would eliminate the need for a reclocker such as the Iris or the Singxer!

[@michabuszynski7326]

Im using singxer su-6 DDC , recommend this investment because you get most of the DAC You have and future upgrade DACs. Golden Sound proved its the best measurements DDC on market and its fair price. 2x less then Totl Denafrips. Cheers for this video, planning to sell my ARES and get Pontus waiting for more videos and thanks for our work !

[@SineCraftAudio]

I've been super interested to try more D2D units after my experience with the Iris. The Singer stuff has been on my radar since I noticed KitsuneHiFi lavishing their KTE tuning on the SU2.

[@mrpmj00]

I have 2 Denafrips DACs (Pontus II 12th-1 and Ares II 12th). The Denafrips Iris 12th makes the sound even better with either DAC. The Cardas Clear USB cable sounds even better than the already great freebie cable from my Eversolo DMP-A6. The Cardas Parsec RCA cable sounds even better than my already great WorldsBestCable (using Mogami 2549 and Neutrik connector). streaming source=Apple Music lossless.

[@SineCraftAudio]

Thanks for sharing. I might check out that Cardas USB cable, still haven't heard one that made a noticeable difference for me. How do you like the Eversolo paired with the Denafrips gear? They have their own streamer box now.

[@robertwang7825]

I have this set up , you can buy it for 1,700 brand new I’m China and use a Jays Audio I2S cable ( 100 ). I use Apple Music from my IPhone via USB to the Iris. I’m pretty happy with it - going into a Willsenton R800i Class A SET 50W tube amp. ( rolled tubes ofc). Next I want to try a Jays Audio CD2 Mk3 transport around US1.3k, to see if it’s better. Chi fi is pretty affordable IMO.

[@johnratcliffe6438]

The Hermes is a better choice for the Pontus and has a superior TCXO clock. Iris is really for Ares II, but that saus, Denafrips must give Ares II the I2S input...

[@cantfindanamefree]

I have a pontus ii and I'm not sure I'd be able to justify this. I would for sure love to listen with the iris if I could demo one to hear a difference. But the pontus USB input I thought was optically isolated anyway. And the Coax was galvanically isolated. Plus the pontus also buffers the digital signal and reclocks it, so what could this box add technically to make a difference? If you know would be interested to hear. Update: after checking the circuit diagram it seems to suggest that all digital inputs are isolated optically not just usb using optocoupler so no electric interference should occur. Maybe it's the power input that uses galvanic isolation as well. I'm not an engineer though so not saying I'm correct at all just a brain dump.

[@rangerscoach]

I would be stunned if I could hear the difference the input on the Pontus 2 which I have is galvanised and isolated from power. That takes care of feedback ground loops and a myriad of distortion. The Pontus has its own clock so the timings aren’t governed by the pc either. It’s really interesting that this is a seperate box to me

[@carminedesanto6746]

Good morning from Toronto ☕️❄️❄️ I was wondering about the IRIS …but it seems that you’d want to reclock all your digital signals and output them to an I2S of a DAC ..so have 2 optical , 2 Coax , 2 USB at least ..and make that your systems master clock 😵‍💫😵‍💫 Am I missing something??

[@charlesclifton1006]

As you ramble on with your thoughts I find myself smiling because they parallel my own in many ways. Still, I love this "hobby" and the fascination it has held since I witnessed (age 5 or 6) my first mono tube amp/speaker combo back in the mid 50s. I get older but the sonic industry gets newer by the day. (who designed this Universe?) I starting using D to D conversion a few years back. I use a Schiit Eitr. For the older Schiit DACs (pre Schiit's Unison USB "thing"). The idea is "is" ... computers are noisy via any electronic signal so a conversion from USB to SPDIF fixes this. That's what the Eitr does but now Schiit claims that there new Unison USB accomplishes the same. Does this Iris do this but yet take it to the next level? There is an Audio Science review on the Eitr although Schiit no longer makes the unit.

[@HevyGee]

Parts 1 & 2 were great!

[@juneguts]

cool vid. I'm definitely considering getting one of these, for any dac. I'm still early on in this hobby though so that's a while away for me.

[@mjmonjure]

Why didn’t they clean it up in the DAC?

[@johnkom2339]

Because then they'd have to charge you more.

[@JTB--]

Had the Pontus II on my radar, but it's just too big. Check out the Hifiman EF400 R2R DAC/Amp AIO. Amazing value @$600

[@rangerscoach]

You get a chance to listen to it?? I bought the think like it more than some family members

[@JTB--]

@@rangerscoach I have the EF400. Never heard the Pontus II though. The EF400 is a real bargain at $600