EverSolo DMP-A8 with Denafrips Pontus 15th, both have i2S
For the past couple of years I’ve been using a Bluesound NODE (N130) with a Denafrips ARES II DAC (USB). I liked it very much!
Well, I got the itch to not leave well enough alone, if you know what I mean!
I purchased an EverSolo DMP-A8, thinking this all-in-one could replace what I had. It sounds pretty good, but, started missing my Denafrips DAC (which I sold). A couple days ago I ordered from audioman58 (Thank you!), a Pontus 15th Edition, can’t wait to get it!
This brings me to my question please. The DMP-A8 has i2S Output, which I plan on using to input i2S on the Pontus 15th (I hope for compatibility?). Is there still a reason to get a Denafrips DDC? Or, am I most of the way there with i2S on both my streamer and DAC?
Thanks,
Tom
My bad, you’re absolutely right so probably not worth trying my HDMI cable idea. Thinking you’re gonna get similar results with the other cables as well but worth a try. Right now I think we’re back to burn in🤞, and if it’s not more tame after 200 hours I’m honestly perplexed here. |
@soix I'm also gonna try RCA output from the Pontus to isolate that as well. In theory it should sound worse, but I figure why not rule that out. |
I was doing some A/B testing with the Pontus and A8 tonight. My top two choices for brightness testing are anything from Miles Davis in the sixties and anything from Bob Dylan in the sixties or early seventies: Those high trumpet and harmonica notes get grating really fast on a bright system. I was playing Carole King on the Pontus, and the soundstage for the vocals was so impressive - deep, three dimensional and slightly forward. One thing that caught my ear, though, was her voice sounded a bit thin at the top end, almost like the file was being stretched too far. Is it just me, or is that common on this kind of highly resolving DAC? It is an old recording, although I have a 192k version of the album. Playing the same track on the A8, Carole King's voice didn't suffer from the same thinness, but neither did she have the stage presence of the Pontus. I feel like the A8 pushes the treble back and wide, so it is never really in your face. I guess that is why I can turn it up fairly loud and play it for hours. But you don't really get the oomph, that emotionality. My $.02. |
@pkthesublime I suppose it’s possible the Pontus is just revealing the limitations of those older recordings rather than glossing over their flaws. If the Pontus sounds better on higher quality recordings it seems you have a decision to make if further break in doesn’t solve the issue. BTW, are you listening in NOS mode? |
