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REVIEW: DENAFRIPS Pontus II DAC Processors

Model:	Pontus II
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	$1800
Description:	Discrete resistor DAC
Manufacturer URL:	DENAFRIPS
Model Picture:	View

Review by sbrians on November 26, 2022 at 09:38:00 IP Address: 98.97.59.135

Add Your Review for the Pontus II

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The short story is that if people knew about this at this price, all chip DAC-makers would stop selling them as they do not come close to comparing to this.
The only reason the others may still be in business is that there is no money-back guarantee on DENAFRIPS since they are made far away and this enables lower prices.

After ~30 years of trying to have digital sound good, I have finally achieved that.
With a few exceptions, I can generally pick out a multibit DAC from its sound and much prefer those, as I hear high frequency noise from the DS DACs that I can't handle.
I have tried several DACs over the years, including Metrum Octave, Schiit Bifrost original, Uber (hated that as the clean analog sectiion just amplified the DS noise), and multibit (not bad). Gungnir original and MB.
I never cared much about imaging as I just wanted enjoyable sound, but this thing has great imaging. I tend to use NOS mode for non high-resolution sources. I can't describe the sound other than it seems perfect and is missing nothing.

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Product Weakness:	Very heavy (though this is also a strength).
Product Strengths:	Best build quality of anything I own. Hex bolts throughout. Blows away the competition.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	CI D-200 monos on bass, Anthem AMP2 SE upgraded on top. SVS SB16 Ultra sub
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CJ PV10B; custom active xover
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Custom PC USB out
Speakers:	Magnepan 303
Cables/Interconnects:	Morrow ICs, USB; Zcable & Transparent speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Groove Salad, Qobuz (all kinds)
Room Size (LxWxH):	27 x 20 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Wool rug & cotton insulation on walls; carpet
Time Period/Length of Audition:	~1 year
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster HTS3500 on some items.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	Primary

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