Denafrips Pontus 12th Anniversary

@christianb5s4 I'd love to try the aes input, or any other actually, but lack a player with those outputs.

@ozzy62 I'm glad the DAC is moving in a consensual direction.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on break in, if you'd care to share them.

@soix The DDC route is interesting, if only to utilize the I2S input, honestly.  Some people swear that it's an improvement.  Some have said it makes things sound too clinical.  Since I'm not certain that I'm keeping the Pontus 12th, it's not a move I'd consider yet, but I'm glad you've had success with you, and would love to hear you detail what differences you notice using the Iris, in any detail you can afford.

I had the day off today, spending all day listening to it, and the sound has been changing still, but not as dramatically.  Mostly in treble emphasis.  But it mostly sounds good, and for moments, amazing.

would love to hear you detail what differences you notice using the Iris, in any detail you can afford.

Background became much clearer, and imaging separation and soundstage improved.  In general, clarity went up significantly and haze I didn’t know was there was removed.  It was not a small improvement.  This was compared to SPDIF BTW — I didn’t get to try AES/EBU. 

@backgroundblur Be patient, my Venus II took 500 hours at least until the magic happened. (It sounded edgy and highly detailed until it warmed in the midrange and the edginess disappeared, bass got much better too.) If getting a DDC I suggest the Hermes, more options for future inputs, better clock. I run a Venus II and Hermes with Intusik Argentus I2S.

Agree with @fthompson251 about the Hermes if it’s in the budget, or alternatively you could look at the Musician Leo that’s very similar but like $600 less expensive. Still, the Iris or Musician Pisces will still make big improvements if you don’t need the SPDIF input of the pricier options. 

@fthompson251 yeah, I was geared up for a long break in.  I figured on 300 hours, but what’s another week and a half? :)

I’m at about 200 hours, and today it sounds really good.  Better than yesterday.  Bringing back memories of the original Pontus I heard, but with better top end, and firmer bass.  We’ll see what it sounds like tomorrow.

@fthompson251 ​​​​@soix   what I’m curious about with DDC’s, is did either of you notice a change in tonality?  Did music get brighter, darker, lose or gain density?  I’ve read from users that they unanimously agree that seperation and staging improve, but does this improvement come at any cost to density, tone, or overall balance?