Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0 (vs Pontus II)

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.

@pindac You’re kidding right?  You pull the Pontus outta the box and compare it to DACs that have already been broken in and you think your initial impressions are worth anything???  Go home and come back after the Pontus has at least 100 hours on it, otherwise your first impressions are utterly useless and possibly even misleading.