Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0 (vs Pontus II)

Quick update on my OP; I did place an order with the importer/distributor, but not for the Pontus II. I ordered the base (Standard model) Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0, it arrived yesterday

Just some early observations:

Build quality - nice and solid, weighs around 10kg

Manual came in Chinese only, but the distributor sent me an English electronic copy, rang me and talked me through how to put the DAC in to "direct/fixed volume" mode as it was in variable volume mode out of the box. 

Started playing tracks via my Innuos Zen Mini Mkiii via USB - I was getting some bad hissing on tracks greater than 44.1khz - quickly resolved in the Sense software settings - Sense recognised the Cen. Grand immediately and displayed it as such in the connected devices/DAC's window. The hissing was irradicated by enabling the "Native DSD Support" in the Sense settings for the connected DAC/Cen. Grand.

The hissing made my heart sink until I thought about it logically and explored the settings and did the above - phew! 🙄😜

I put around 8hrs playtime through the DAC yesterday, so early days yet (around 200hrs recommended burn in) but I am quietly impressed. My existing DAC is a hand made, made to order DS DAC built around a Wolfson/Cirrus Logic WM8741 chip which is really nice for £500, and probably punches above its weight, as the manufacturer does not advertise and has no retail distribution costs. I imagine the cost would be significantly greater, should he have those costs. Just for some context to what I had. 

As for the Cen. Grand early impressions: greater separation of track components and clarity of individual instruments and backing vocals when there are any. 

Bass is strong, meaty, palpable with a tiny bit more bloat to it, but the distributor warned of this prior to delivery, and assured me this would tighten up over time. 

Mids and highs have a lovely clarity - resolved but smooth, very dynamic, lovely clarity - female vocals are beautiful (haven't tried any male vocals yet). 

I'm not a vinyl guy at all, so it would be disingenuous to say the DAC is analogue sounding, but I will say it feels like I'm listening to an "analogous" reproduction of the track, not a digital reproduction. Acoustic instruments - guitar, acoustic and double bass, and brass instruments - sax and trumpet are startling in their lifelike, in the room presentation. In a good, satisfying, pleasing way, as are female vocals (recording and mastering permitting of course). 

I need to spend a lot more time with the DAC of course, but my initial trepidation and anxiety about buying an unknown/untested (in the West) brand have dissipated somewhat. The distributor will let me return should the DAC not agree with me, but I'm not at that point by any stretch of the imagination, but will have to live with it and spend some quality listening time over the Christmas Holidays then hopefully have a fully-formed view of it. 

Thanks for reading 👍

I have one, very similar time to you. Just under a week, with about 70hours play on it. 
I have come from a Chord qutest with a separate power supply. The power supply moved it up a level. I was looking for something less harsh, I have a set of ZU speakers and they can punish some recordings. The CEN.GRAND has already really helped that issue. Soundstage has improved, instruments sound better. 

previous experience, from memory, not current side by side comparisons, include Bluesound node, marantz model 40 built in dac, and lyngdorf 3400 used as dac and streamer. The CEN.GRAND sounds nicer than these.

I am going to keep this one. The build quality also feels great. 

Congrats and 🤞🤞🤞things just keep getting even better!  You really couldn’t have chosen a more different design/philosophy from the Denafrips, but there’s more than one way to skin a cat so be interested in your thoughts going forward.  If you ever get the chance to demo a Pontus ll (or Musician Pegasus that’s very similar) it’d be very interesting to hear your impressions. 

Thanks @soix 👍

Christmas was busier than I envisaged, so didn't get to spend as much time with the new DAC as I would have liked, but I did squeeze some listening in.

Apart from the observations I've already highlighted, I'm starting to hear a wider dispersion of little effects on tracks, like little high percussion hits, subtle guitar plucks; track dependent, but sometimes these seem to originate quite far outside of the lateral plane of my speakers, quite startlingly so sometimes, to the point I'm not expecting it even though I'm very familiar with the material.

There is also greater sense of a 3D presentation, rather than a flat 2D plan/wall of music sat just in front of the speakers. 

All in all, so far, I'm feel far more immersed and engaged with my music withe Cen. Grand. It's a relaxed sounding DAC, but that doesn't mean it's not resolving, it most certainly is, but, and here's where my descriptive skills fail, it's resolving but doesn't throw track parts at you, it's all very civilised, but very engaging. 

Forgive my descriptions, I'm a bit rubbish describing what I'm hearing, and the above is my best effort at approximating what I am hearing/experiencing 😜

@mpoll1 congrats on the Cen. Grand; I hope you're enjoying it so far 👍. Ive lost track of how much play I've had through the DAC, probably pushing 100hrs.

Id be interested to hear your thoughts so far 👍

Thanjs again guys 😊

I have heard a Brand New, Out of the Box, Pontus II during a demonstration at a HiFi Group meet up.

It was demonstrated as a A/B against an older Technology DAC and a Valve CDP.

The Older DAC and Valve CDP both had a presentation where there was a perception that the upper frequencies were not with a bite, there was a softer edge, when compared to the Pontus II.

It could be a analogous impression being made when there is a perception that there is lots of detail being delivered, but the ears are not feeling a forced presence. 

As a preference I was not attracted to the Pontus, but was well aware it was in need of time to settle in. 

One attendee, who was has a 'die hard' history with Hi End Vinyl and has rolled DAC's with a value of £600ish, in their system regularly, shortly after the demonstration purchased the Pontus, they seen something on offer that was worth the jump in purchase value.

The former  owner of the sold DAC purchased a Venus. 

I would very much like to receive a demonstration of the CEN.GRAND, it does seemingly be a very capable DAC and to hear the outcome of the previously claimed different  circuitry at work would be an interest as well.

There is never going to be a one device suits all preferences scenario.