Help choosing a DAC

OP,

The Pontus II is a very musical, involving, and just plain fun DAC that makes you want to listen to music. It is NOT the end game in detail, but it is so enjoyable to listen to.

I will say that adding a Denarips Iris DDC before the Pontus II and using I2S to the Pontus did bring out more of everything (including detail) without taking any of the goodness away. I do and could live with that combo for a long time. Eventually I'll upgrade to a T+A 200, or Denafrips Terminator II or Plus....when I get a better streamer.

@shrapnel 

A little over your budget, but something to consider:

Mojo Audio has a used base-model "Mystique EVO" DAC for sale for $2999.  Made in the USA, R2R dac.  (I own the B4B model)

I would look at that, the Pontus 2, and the Weis 204/205.

+1 @jjss49

Buy used. Re-sell at nearly the same price. You have to bear a bit of risk and hassle buying and selling but otherwise, you’re going to take a lot of $$ hits as you try out DAC’s until you’re satisfied.

About TMR, they will check out the gear before you buy it and will stand behind it working for a brief period. But their prices are a little higher than the other used market (generally) and they have this policy:

"Any returns initiated outside of product defects, the customer is responsible for all Shipping and Handling costs, and there will be a 5% restocking fee taken from the refunded amount."

In other words, TMR offers value-added for those who want more guarantees about the gear’s condition and return-ability. This is a big plus for some folks. But that 5% restocking fee, while maybe acceptable for lower priced items, gets unacceptably high for me once I start considering much more expensive items.

If you bought, say, a Denafrips Pontus II from TMR @$1599 and kept it, shipping would cost you $55 and you’d have spent $1650 plus tax, more or less. If returned  to TMR, you’d pay $55 shipping each way ($110) and about an $80 restocking fee. Almost $200 to try out a DAC for a month.

Alternatively, you could buy that same DAC from a private seller (check their ratings), and pay (in this case), $1299 plus shipping. If shipping was the same, you’d be out $1350 for the same DAC, but without an option to return it.

Here. Get this. If it doesn’t work out just return it.

https://www.amazon.com/Musician-Aquarius-Midrange-Andromeda-Monoceros/dp/B096ZLDG36?th=1

Here’s a review…

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/musician-aquarius-r-2r-dac-review/

@jastralfu Thank you for the response and link, I agree that you are likely close to the venus, but I was hoping to be at the one box solution instead of two and buy used, if at all possible, honestly I have not seen any Venus for sale. If I go the Pontus route I will likely go the Iris or Hermes route. Does to bother you to have two boxes though?

@decooney I have watched the DAC space now for close to 3 years just to see what this community settles on and I have the sense that this community to a great extent agrees that Denaphris  makes good DAC's. Like @hilde45 so well put the costs, it can get expensive. That is why I try to avoid doing that.

@paulcreed thank you for your response, you are correct, CJ does have a warm enveloping sound. I might in the future try out the PASS Labs line, but that is also only if I get a smoking deal. I know everyone pairs the Pontus with Iris or hermés, so I was hoping to just get done with a single box and get there (hopefully used)

@oddiofyl  thank you for this suggestion, will give it a read.

@jjss49 Thank you for your advise, I have read your posts. I am leaning the same way as you suggest here, if I decide to stick with the Denaphris line.

@arafiq Thank you for your input, Pontus seems to be the sweet spot.
 

@magnuman  Thanks for that suggestion, unfortunately $4500 is a little steep for me. Ideally $2500 is my sweet spot, extendable t $3000, anything more would be a bit burdensome for me.

@newwater it is to this knowledge that exists amongst you all minus any fluff that I have come seeking your opinions. I will defn check the Wyred4Sound out. Not very familiar with them.

@vthokie83  thanks for your input, What you suggest seems to be the consensus here. Please put a post up when you do indeed move to the Terminator, I for one would be curios on the differences.

@veroguy  Thank you for the suggestion, will defn check it out, R2R is the way I want to go.

@hilde45 Thank you for that example with TMR, I had not considered that. Makes a lot of sense to be careful what to try out. I have never bought on the US Audiomart ever, would it be similar to Audiogon?

@soix I have heard of this one, I will check it out, but do you think I can do an honest evaluation (considering burn in etc) in the short time before return to tell me this would be a good option?