Denafrips Pontus vs LKS vs Gustard

@routlaw  I second melm as i'd really like to hear your opinion especially because it is the LVL1 version.

You bet I will do this. Yes it was good to have a rep located in the US, but I have to say that Alvin of Denafrips was always very responsive and informative as much as one could hope with an ever so slight language barrier. My guess is all of these DACS are great but the reason I chose for now the Holo Spring was due to some of the more advanced and interesting technologies the designer employed to overcome some of the drawbacks of R2R Ladder DACS. 

From what I know it will still be a week or two before mine is shipped out, apparently they are all made to order.

Interesting that you would mention your support directly from the Asian maker.  I have also been impressed with the email support form LKS's Jinbo who has excellent English skills.  He walked me through the USB set-up with JRiver.  Even more impressive, when some were concerned about updating firmware to the Amanero USB to I2S board he produced a 9 page illustrated guide.  No detail left out.  

I write this, I guess, in case anyone is really concerned about support from these very small Asian manufacturers who provide amazing value.  In addition, each of the brands has a small but lively and helpful following on a forum or two as I'm sure you will be discovering.

@melm, I'm glad you posted this, very good info.

Likewise I also had great response with Jinbo at LKS too. Didn't mean to leave him out but the further I looked into this I became enamored with the R2R Ladder DACs and this is what I wanted to try which of course eliminated the LKS. But you are so right to encourage others if they are sitting on the fence not to worry. I have nothing but positive things to say about these small companies across the pond.

In the meantime I received the Singxer SU-1 and Intona USB Isolation devices yesterday, Spring DAC has not shipped yet. Regardless using my Mac Book Pro USB out to the Intona>SU-1>AES/EBU was nothing short of transformative and perhaps one of the most profound things I've heard in digital audio. The Intona cleans up the USB signal to such a degree, even feeding the built DAC (Burr Brown) on my Emotiva XMC-1 it floored me.

in case anyone is really concerned about support from these very small Asian manufacturers who provide amazing value.

+1 regarding the level of support

I've had the same experience with Vinshine Audio, the distributor for Denafrips. Excellent support!