Battle of the Older DAC

moonwatcher

I'd have to say it's a combination of both. But over the past couple of years, I have the Pontus driven by a Denafrips Iris DDC via I2S; and that has a lot to do with the way they sound in my system. I find the Pontus/Iris bass to be weighty, punchy, textured, and is well defined. It also is very slightly smoothed out and integrates well with the midrange.....part of the reason I suspect that the combination is such an easy DAC to love.

I find the Pontus/Iris to be fun, energetic, but also not in your face or at all fatiguing.....just all around enjoyable. I've upgraded a preamp, 2 amps, and speakers; and the Pontus/Iris have not yet been outclassed to the point of needing to be replaced immediately.

I've compared the Pontus/Iris combination to a bunch of other DACs, but never pulled the trigger as I didn't think they would greatly improve the overall sound. Yes some were more detailed, some were more punchy in the bass, and some quicker....but only the Holo Audio May KTE DAC (at $5,600 new), Denafrips Terminator II ($6,000 new) and Terminator Plus ($7,600 new) bettered the Pontus/Iris in total.....I even preferred the Pontus/Iris combination to the bigger brother Denafrips Venus II at $3,100 new.

It's not as punchy as say a Holo Audio May DAC, nor a Chord.....and I have never done a direct comparison between a Yggy and the Pontus II, so not much help there. But for $1,600 for a used Pontus II 12th, and an Iris DDC at $400; the Pontus II and Iris is a great combination.....not just for the money, but just a great combination.

Yes I will replace the Pontus/Iris in the next year, but the replacement will be much much more expensive.....something like the T+A 200, Denafrips Terminator Plus, Berkeley Audio Alpha, Grimm MU2 streamer/DAC, or Lampizator.

I still use an old Weiss DAC202 and i am perfectly happy with it. The only reason to change it will be to get a different sound, otherwise I have no desire to do so.

@jasonbourne71 "Buying a DAC based upon someone’s opinion is stupid. You might as well ask a Ouija board for advice."

I bought one of the best measuring DACs on the market and it was based on reports over at ASR, and their opinions about the best measurements resulting in good sound. Well that turned out to be one of the least engaging components I’ve had in any of my systems to date. DAC got returned, tested fine. Refunded, thankfully.  

Some of the best DACs I’ve had were based on other people’s experiences and opinions and recommendations which turned out to be really good. Go figure.

@decooney 

I bought one of the best measuring DACs on the market and it was based on reports over at ASR, and their opinions about the best measurements resulting in good sound. Well that turned out to be one of the least engaging components I’ve had in any of my systems to date. DAC got returned, tested fine. Refunded, thankfully.  

Some of the best DACs I’ve had were based on other people’s experiences and opinions and recommendations which turned out to be really good. Go figure.

It's funny, isn't it? Imagine buying audio gear based solely on measurements, and convincing yourself that is sounds great because someone else hooked it up, took just several data points from the many millions of pieces of data that affect how the unit actually sounds, and explained it measured great! So they blindly come to the conclusion there is no point listening to anything else, taking anyone else's advice or experiences, or actually arriving at your their own conclusions and deciding for themselves because the "numbers" don't lie! They are using their sense of sight to hear.

Talk about a doctrine.