sideshowbob
Champagne fascia aficionado
I'm sure they sound great, and they seem well built and reasonably priced for what they are. I'm also sure there aren't night and day differences between any DACs.
Denafrips DAC owners - how did ownership compare with the hype?
- Thread starter Sibbers
- Start date
Interesting that you should say this, as I kind of thought the same to begin with because it is so revealing, but I find I am enjoying it more and more. Listening through the X16 is certainly the complete opposite of the vinyl experience IMHO. You don't happen to have heard the X26?
flutteringwow
She called me baby, like an old romantic
No I havent, sorry, I don't bother with cheap Dacs anymore, as they all sound relatively the same, and none of them have been any good for me, as I want a fatigue free musical experience, not a measured performance that dosen't do my music justice.
As you have found the X16 to be the complete opposite of vinyl, which OS dacs generally are imo, and if you want a more analogue sound, then I definitely would recommend a good R2R. But they sound very different so you may or may not like it.
Dave H.
Revolutionary relativist
I had a Pontus on home demo for a while and didn’t end up buying it.
The OS mode was a bit OS, ie didn’t have as much of the natural ease aspect NOS DACs specialise in. But the NOS mode was wrong somehow - all acoustic cues and sense of space were kind of blocked out.
IME, YMMV and so on - I’m sure many people love them. I just didn’t personally.
On that basis I definitely consider it worth paying (or at least being will to pay) a bit extra and getting a demo unit from Musicraft or Willowtree if you’re in the U.K.
The OS mode was a bit OS, ie didn’t have as much of the natural ease aspect NOS DACs specialise in. But the NOS mode was wrong somehow - all acoustic cues and sense of space were kind of blocked out.
IME, YMMV and so on - I’m sure many people love them. I just didn’t personally.
On that basis I definitely consider it worth paying (or at least being will to pay) a bit extra and getting a demo unit from Musicraft or Willowtree if you’re in the U.K.
Sibbers
Earthling
I find this all really interesting stuff, thanks for all the thoughts and opinions.
I am, typically for me, rather split on this. Most DACs do sound similar, but my experiences are so limited. I'm so aware that buyers and owners will tell you their stuff is great, unless they've already parted with it when it usually becomes slightly less good than it really may be. I know I like tubes and vinyl and do think it sounds better than solid state and digital (caveats considered) but I'm not getting into vinyl and so to improve my source I have a couple of options - improve, or do less damage to, the signal I have at source with more powerful and transparent EQ or get a more musical and real sounding DAC (which may be where the tube comparison came from, although I was really only passing it along)... in the end I may do both or none, as I'm not a box swapper and what I have now does make me very happy.
Given that I think the the tubes in my pre does sound more real, do you then think I would feel good about choosing an R2R DAC (assuming I choose well, lots to research)... I don't want more resolution than I have with the DAC in my anti-mode (which sounds no worse than MDAC before it) and I guess another question is, by EQ'ing the signal from an R2R dac - do I lose what gains it offered? I only notch the room modes, nothing else so above 61hz the signal is left alone by PEQs.
I like the Halo S3 suggestion btw, the pre-amp sounds like a nice way to feed the whole signal in from the AM and then have it dealt with by the PPL *and* get a pre-amp upgrade too. I think I need to learn more about the versions as the prices caused me to cramp up a bit.
Has anyone here tried out an R2R and just decided they preferred a chip type in the end? And, does anyone who went in with an open mind decide it was undeserved hype in the end?
Thanks again for all the input, every contribution has given me plenty to follow up on - I'm super grateful!
I am, typically for me, rather split on this. Most DACs do sound similar, but my experiences are so limited. I'm so aware that buyers and owners will tell you their stuff is great, unless they've already parted with it when it usually becomes slightly less good than it really may be. I know I like tubes and vinyl and do think it sounds better than solid state and digital (caveats considered) but I'm not getting into vinyl and so to improve my source I have a couple of options - improve, or do less damage to, the signal I have at source with more powerful and transparent EQ or get a more musical and real sounding DAC (which may be where the tube comparison came from, although I was really only passing it along)... in the end I may do both or none, as I'm not a box swapper and what I have now does make me very happy.
Given that I think the the tubes in my pre does sound more real, do you then think I would feel good about choosing an R2R DAC (assuming I choose well, lots to research)... I don't want more resolution than I have with the DAC in my anti-mode (which sounds no worse than MDAC before it) and I guess another question is, by EQ'ing the signal from an R2R dac - do I lose what gains it offered? I only notch the room modes, nothing else so above 61hz the signal is left alone by PEQs.
I like the Halo S3 suggestion btw, the pre-amp sounds like a nice way to feed the whole signal in from the AM and then have it dealt with by the PPL *and* get a pre-amp upgrade too. I think I need to learn more about the versions as the prices caused me to cramp up a bit.
Has anyone here tried out an R2R and just decided they preferred a chip type in the end? And, does anyone who went in with an open mind decide it was undeserved hype in the end?
Thanks again for all the input, every contribution has given me plenty to follow up on - I'm super grateful!
flutteringwow
She called me baby, like an old romantic
R2R's can be chip based, but also ladder based.
For example, the S2 La Voce is chip based, the S3 is a ladder array.
Personally, I found cheaper end R2R's not great, I would probably say you get better with OS dacs and budget end, but once you move up into more costly units, R2R's really come into their own.
By the sound of what you like, I think an R2R would be a definite worthwhile investigation. Elite Audio do home trials/no quibble returns, and they hold Metrum and Aqua, which are at the forefront of R2R's and have been for some time.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
China bashing is quite popular in right-wing Western circles. It's pointless, stupid and racist in equal measure.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
Complete nonsense. DACs don't have souls. X16 is an exceptional piece of equipment.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
The PWB is likely made there.
flutteringwow
She called me baby, like an old romantic
Quite possibly, but it hasn't been here.
In your opinion..
Quite possibly, but may also not be.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
Definitely not your "bro."
flutteringwow
She called me baby, like an old romantic
Cool story bro.
I think if you're very happy with your speakers and amp, the right DAC can be the finishing touch...By that I mean, an R2R DAC won't necessarily correct for any deficits, but can certainly be additive.
I've an Ares 2 - it's a decent performer and better than what I was using before (Node 2I). I wouldn't join the chorus of internet hype on it though.
I've an Ares 2 - it's a decent performer and better than what I was using before (Node 2I). I wouldn't join the chorus of internet hype on it though.
Mike Hughes
pfm Member
Neighbour and friend has a Terminator Plus. I have a Hugo TT2. Is there a difference? Yes. Is it “night and day”. No. I’m more than happy with my DAC in my system but the Denafrips is an excellent device. Given the need and opportunity I would have no hesitation. It ticks a lot of boxes. Neither my friend nor I could give a damn where it was built. It sounds a tad warmer and more full bodied than the Chord. I largely think the whole analogue/digital binary things is tedious and inaccurate. It simply sounds musical. It doesn’t immediately impress but give it an hour and the penny drops. It’s just one of those lovely devices which come along periodically where it sounds so right that you find it just that bit harder to understand why others find it so difficult.
Alvin was by all accounts a joy to deal with and the device itself is well packaged, hefty but clearly worth every penny. The other weekend we found it ludicrously painless to do a 15 hour listening session with friends and food and a little drink from 10am to 1am. 6 of us, 2 with mild tinnitus. Everyone lasted the distance. 2 have since purchased. I am nothing but jealous.
I think it’s right to be cautious of hype and right to be cautious of purchases across borders but there is a world of difference between hype and what ultimately is a succession of people with very very different tastes and review styles all coming to broadly the same conclusion. It may still not be to everyone’s taste ahd it’s certainly not what I would call an analogue sounding device but if you get the chance to audition then it’s well worth it.
Alvin was by all accounts a joy to deal with and the device itself is well packaged, hefty but clearly worth every penny. The other weekend we found it ludicrously painless to do a 15 hour listening session with friends and food and a little drink from 10am to 1am. 6 of us, 2 with mild tinnitus. Everyone lasted the distance. 2 have since purchased. I am nothing but jealous.
I think it’s right to be cautious of hype and right to be cautious of purchases across borders but there is a world of difference between hype and what ultimately is a succession of people with very very different tastes and review styles all coming to broadly the same conclusion. It may still not be to everyone’s taste ahd it’s certainly not what I would call an analogue sounding device but if you get the chance to audition then it’s well worth it.
earlofsodbury
Wastrel.
Seconded. Strongly. No question that some decent kit emerges from PRC, but the World's wealthiest communist dictatorship is as varied in quality and trustworthiness as it is vast, populous, and entirely devoid of citizen's rights... As for 'customer service'...? Good luck, you're going to need it. HK, less-so; and Taiwan, superb, IME.
Nice virtue-signalling generalisation. Lovely.
DimitryZ
pfm Member
Thank you for making my point for me. More fear mongering to scare audiophiles from excellent gear at sensible prices.
My experience is that brands like Topping, Gustard, Denafrips and SMSL,along with companies that represent them have done very well with customer service.