Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0 (vs Pontus II)

@painter24 the "left channel drop" happened to me once while switching the DSD up conversion rate. I dropped the DSD rate down, then stepped it back up to 1024 and the left channel came back, but concerning none the less since you mentioned it and this problem worsened for you.

Has your new unit perform better?

Customs did a comple number on my unit, like I was shocked at how they went through everything and kinda just threw stuff back in. The dealer offered me a new unit, but he called it from the get go and asked me to look to see if the unit was "retaped on the bottom" which it was and had the obligatory customs corner punch mark underneath.

@ja_kub_sz

I was gutted with the first unit, the Standard version, as I took a punt on Cen Grand over the Pontus. I tried various things, while on the phone to my distributor here in the UK, but nope, definitely a fault with the unit.

I asked my distributor to order me a Pontus after this, as I was very concerned, but he sent me a Cen Grand Super Clock model he had in stock while he waited for the Pontus to come through from Denafrips

The Super Clock has worked perfectly since, and I kept it. I can’t say I noticed anything untoward with customs checks; everything appeared as it should.

@ozzy62 Hi Ozzy. The only R2R I’ve heard is the Ares 2, but it’s been a while since I let it go. I’m not sure if you’d like it (Cen Grand), all I can say is, it pulls out all the details from music I could wish for, but doesn’t sound analytical and clinical at the expense of "soul" and emotion like I know some DS chip based DACs can do. This is really important for me. My system can and does bring me to tears, in a joyful way 😊

I still want to have a Pontus at some point, in addition, as I would like a good R2R, but for now, I’m more than happy with the Cen Grand sat on my rack 👍

@painter24 appreciate the feedback. I'll mention this all to my dealer, they've been super attentive throughout the process.

@ja_kub_sz I'm glad to know your dealer is working with you on this; it can be nerve-racking buying gear from a relatively unknown manufacturer (unknown in the West anyway). I know my dealer spoke to Cen Grand about this, as he's taken a gamble too when deciding to distribute for them in the UK. I met my distributor at an audio show here in the UK during the summer; he said he'd sent the unit back to them to look at, with a full breakdown of the problem.

But, as I say I couldn't be happier with the Cen Grand Super Clock, works flawlessly. Very happy with the distributor too; I'd email him, and he'd call me within the hour when I was having problems with the original Standard model. Of course, the heavily discounted/free upgrade to the Super Clock was very generous and most welcome too. Hats off for great dealers/distributors 🍻

So, since the Cen Grand seems similar to the PS Audio DS, can anyone who has heard both compare the two?  Love my DSJr., but it’s getting old and am considering something new.  Appreciate it.