View Full Version : Denafrips DAC's, are they really that good?
Floyddroid
04-06-2024, 09:48
Well? How good are they? They seem a tad expensive. Are there any R2r ladder DAC's other than this brand worthy of concideration? It seeems that Denafrips have a monopoly.
A hole in the ground you get water from.
I guess it all depends if you like it, or not.
Covenant
10-06-2024, 19:23
You are paying for a solid metal case and a very nice transformer. Had mine about two years and not had any problems.
I only have the Ares 11 but don't think an upgrade to the next level is worth the doubling in price. This is based on reviews and comments I have read.
Floyddroid
10-06-2024, 20:30
You are paying for a solid metal case and a very nice transformer. Had mine about two years and not had any problems.
I only have the Ares 11 but don't think an upgrade to the next level is worth the doubling in price. This is based on reviews and comments I have read.
Would you say that the Denafrips sound is more analogue sounding as reported?
Ali Tait
10-06-2024, 21:55
Have a Gustard R26, great bit of kit, very happy with it.
Floyddroid
11-06-2024, 12:54
Have a Gustard R26, great bit of kit, very happy with it.
Yes Ali, i am thinking the R26 is the way forwards for me.
Ali Tait
11-06-2024, 14:58
Be a good choice, it's better than the DAC in my Lumin to my ears.
Covenant
11-06-2024, 18:17
Would you say that the Denafrips sound is more analogue sounding as reported?
I think so, its certainly has all the qualities that we all look for. I find the sound analogue with a wide soundstage, instruments sound real to me. Denafrips have released firmware updates that can improve SQ but I haven't installed the latest as its a bugger to do.
Floyddroid
17-06-2024, 17:05
Have a Gustard R26, great bit of kit, very happy with it.
The R26 seems a good choice. I am also considering a Metrom Hex.
Lawrence001
17-06-2024, 23:51
The R26 seems a good choice. I am also considering a Metrom Hex.What's your current dac Steve?
Floyddroid
18-06-2024, 09:06
What's your current dac Steve?
NJC Reference.
Lawrence001
18-06-2024, 17:34
NJC Reference.Is it quite a small one designed to match the headphone amp and comes with an external SMPS? If so although it was well reviewed I imagine a better dac with good PSU would beat it.
Doesn't have to be NOS though, there are some good analogue sounding ones like Audio Gd (of which I have 4, but one has stopped working).
Floyddroid
19-06-2024, 18:02
Is it quite a small one designed to match the headphone amp and comes with an external SMPS? If so although it was well reviewed I imagine a better dac with good PSU would beat it.
Doesn't have to be NOS though, there are some good analogue sounding ones like Audio Gd (of which I have 4, but one has stopped working).
Which Audio GD DAC do you use?
Lawrence001
19-06-2024, 19:11
I think it's an NFB 3.1 in the north east and a later (better) model in London but I'll have to try and find the model as they made so many.
The common theme in all the ones I like is they use dual WM8741 chips rather than the ESS versions he also made.
Lawrence001
23-06-2024, 14:54
Just checked my dac it's an NFB 10 (probably 10.32).
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB-101/NFB10.1EN_Tech.htm
Floyddroid
24-06-2024, 21:14
Bollocks, iv'e ordered a Pontus II 12 year anniversary. A present to me from me.
The Black Adder
25-06-2024, 07:55
Looks very interesting, Steve. I've been reading this thread for a while. It's good to hear that you took the plunge. Bet you can't wait.
I've gone for the Weiss DAC 204, proper kick ass sounding. Not cheap but, bloody wow!
My review is here in case you missed it on my other thread.
https://www.tannoyista.com/2024/06/weiss-dac-204.html
Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
Floyddroid
25-06-2024, 21:50
Looks very interesting, Steve. I've been reading this thread for a while. It's good to hear that you took the plunge. Bet you can't wait.
I've gone for the Weiss DAC 204, proper kick ass sounding. Not cheap but, bloody wow!
My review is here in case you missed it on my other thread.
https://www.tannoyista.com/2024/06/weiss-dac-204.html
Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K
Excellent review Josie.
Floyddroid
28-06-2024, 15:00
I received my Denafrips Pontus !! 12 on Tuesday and only just got round to listening to it today (Friday 28/06/24). First impressions are all very positive. Very insightful and revealing sound with a solid bass. Starts and stops on a sixpence. Build quality is off the scale. Big up to Iain at Willow Tree Audio, excellent dude to deal with.
However, having bought this beautiful piece of kit it has really brought it home just how good my NJC Reference DAC is too.
Just running some of me fave tunes through it.
https://i.imgur.com/bxwhC6T.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/6MkMCNZ.jpg
Pontus seem to be the sweet spot of quality without breaking the bank. It was top of my DAC wishlist before I picked up a Resonessence Labs Veritas second hand which does just what I want from a DAC. If it ever dies on me the Pontus will be back on my shopping list, so I am really interested to learn how you get on with yours.
vinyljunky
31-12-2024, 23:02
Aurlic get good rep but as ever it's the law of diminishing returns
vinyljunky
31-12-2024, 23:16
Https://www.fac.txt
Floyddroid
02-01-2025, 22:35
I use a Denafrips DAC and its fookin good like!
I’ve recently got the Fiio K11 R2R dac , which I’m enjoying being my first R2R dac and for not much money … I’ll try to remember to bring it up to NEBO in February
Interesting to read others’ comments . I’m just reviving my hifi and generally find that good vinyl beats my digital stream by a mile in terms of body and ‘being there’ presence. But I’m usually feeding usb into my rme adi-2 from a MacBook or even iPhone.
Are the R2R dacs what most vinyl lovers reach for these days? Or should I be trying a transformer coupled valve dac? And is DSD relevant ?
I had a Denafrips Pontus 15th DAC for a couple of months, which I bought new. Initially i liked it but over time i found the bass lacking and a bit muddy with limited bottom end extension and the presentation in my system was vocals pushed back into the soundstage and drums and guitars pushed to the front and far more 'present' in the mix than the vocals. A fatiguing listen for me.
Turned out i had an impedance mis-match between DAC and amp via RCA. The Pontus has a high output impedance and my amp unusually low input impedance. One other consequence of this was that my amp ran much hotter than normal. Via XLR didn't suffer the same impedance mis-match and was clearer but a bit too 'hot' for me and soundstage and bass still the same issues.
It's the only Denafrips DAC i've heard so don't know if i just didn't get on with their house sound or not, but if you are thinking of a Denafrips DAC i'd check the input impedance of the amp is a good match for the output impedance of the DAC, else risk disappointment.
I had a Denafrips Pontus 15th DAC for a couple of months, which I bought new. Initially i liked it but over time i found the bass lacking and a bit muddy with limited bottom end extension and the presentation in my system was vocals pushed back into the soundstage and drums and guitars pushed to the front and far more 'present' in the mix than the vocals. A fatiguing listen for me.
Turned out i had an impedance mis-match between DAC and amp via RCA. The Pontus has a high output impedance and my amp unusually low input impedance. One other consequence of this was that my amp ran much hotter than normal. Via XLR didn't suffer the same impedance mis-match and was clearer but a bit too 'hot' for me and soundstage and bass still the same issues.
It's the only Denafrips DAC i've heard so don't know if i just didn't get on with their house sound or not, but if you are thinking of a Denafrips DAC i'd check the input impedance of the amp is a good match for the output impedance of the DAC, else risk disappointment.
Someone on another forum recently had the same experience. I pointed out the high output impedance as the probable culprit however they were sceptical. Still sold the DAC on as no happy with it. Hard to see why the output impedance is so high, there's seemingly no reason other than sloppy design which isn't really warranted by the very high price. Of course with many pre-amps it won't be an issue.
Lawrence001
14-08-2026, 09:44
I've had a few dacs in the past where the output of the chip went directly to the output, it's a hair shirt philosophy a bit like NOS. So I wonder if Denafrips have done this which would explain the high output impedance. You could always add a valve buffer, but then you could always buy a different dac [emoji23]
Floyddroid
16-08-2026, 10:23
I haven't experienced any of the above issues. I am in the process of selling a Pontust 12th anniversary edition, though not for reasons of being displeased in any way. I need the cash and it is as simple as that. I think on the whole, my PontusII is excellent. I use it balanced with the AES cable and it sounds pretty darned good. I was informed that the 15th anniverasary edition wasn't as good as the 12th. Sometimes manufacturers should leave well alone when they have a decent product on their hands.
Someone on another forum recently had the same experience. I pointed out the high output impedance as the probable culprit however they were sceptical. Still sold the DAC on as no happy with it. Hard to see why the output impedance is so high, there's seemingly no reason other than sloppy design which isn't really warranted by the very high price. Of course with many pre-amps it won't be an issue.
I agree, an odd design decision and to be honest impedance matching was something I'd never even considered before. My problem though was less the DAC and more the unusually low input impedance of my amp. Careful matching required.
I've had a few dacs in the past where the output of the chip went directly to the output, it's a hair shirt philosophy a bit like NOS. So I wonder if Denafrips have done this which would explain the high output impedance. You could always add a valve buffer, but then you could always buy a different dac [emoji23]
That makes sense and I did run it in NOS mode. From what I can divine Denafrips route the R-2R ladder output straight through minimal passive filtering. Hence the high output impedance.
I haven't experienced any of the above issues. I am in the process of selling a Pontust 12th anniversary edition, though not for reasons of being displeased in any way. I need the cash and it is as simple as that. I think on the whole, my PontusII is excellent. I use it balanced with the AES cable and it sounds pretty darned good. I was informed that the 15th anniverasary edition wasn't as good as the 12th. Sometimes manufacturers should leave well alone when they have a decent product on their hands.
I have no doubt that if I had a different amp or a high quality separate pre-amp I wouldn't have had an issue. I'm not knocking the Pontus 15th, I'm sure it sounds great in the vast majority of systems. Just not mine.
I agree, an odd design decision and to be honest impedance matching was something I'd never even considered before. My problem though was less the DAC and more the unusually low input impedance of my amp. Careful matching required.
Well it was a combination of both really, either on their own would probably be fine with most equipment.
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