DAC better than Denafrips Pontus II

I have a Qutest, tweaked with a used M-scaler (from here) and a LPS for each.

I went this route because I mostly listen iTunes, and the M-scaler can upsample the files in the music library I already have! Plus I can get music on Bandcamp, in ALAC files, for a great price when I want new music. 

I still wonder how a comparable ladder dac sounds with Hi-res, and I know more $ can buy better sound and Hi-res files, but I have no desire to change what I have. 

I've heard great things about the Pontus II.

I sold my Pontus 2 and bought an ANK 4.1x assembled by Digital Pete.

Used they go for $2,500-$2,800. 

For the same Pontus 2 @ $1,700 but  better SQ you would be looking at obscure

stuff from eastern Europe. No features either.

Keep the Pontus and be happy until you are ready to up

your game.

In December of 2021 I bought the Pontus II and the Gustard X26. After listening closely and switching back and forth repeatedly with precise level matching I felt there was relatively little difference between them but I preferred the greater transparency and larger soundstage of the X26 vs the slightly denser sound of the Pontus II and sold it. During the Black Friday sales last month I bought the new Gustard R26 and there was no need to spend weeks switching back and forth trying to hear small changes between it and the X26. The R26 connected to Roon over the built in LAN connection was immediately and obviously better than the X26. I haven’t tested any of the other inputs but with Roon and an ethernet connection the R26 is fantastic. Based on other owners comments I suspect it is just as good with all the other inputs. It is a great value at $1650.