On my Venus II, I did not get any output on 1/1/1 with Pi2AES HDMI out until I used the jumper across W1 pins 1-2. Once I did that, I got sound. I just used a computer jumper pin I had laying around in my spare parts baggie. No other pins were messed with: Now, frankly, I'm hoping we get some sort of i2s streamer device that supports DSD1024 (ok, even just 256 would be nice) and higher rate PCM than Pi2AES does at this point. It's for that reason that I'm still using USB out from a basic Pi4 functioning as an HQPlayer NAA as I find I like it better, still, than internally upsampled i2S.
Is I2S the main draw of the Pi2AES? I honestly would have thought that by now I would have had a streamer going through the Pontus I2S input by now, that was my initial intention. Taking it slow gave me opportunity to read up more and more to the point that I was seeing some opinions that were saying to just go with a high quality USB implementation because USB has improved a lot since the time when it wasn't so great and I2S/hdmi offered better performance (?). Is it because of the bandwidth capability? That would make sense, so anyway even though I have a recorder that can do dsd, I just shudder at what the file sizes would be like for those and just stick to 24/88.2 for needle drops, etc. I was looking at the Allo USBridge Signature for a rpi solution and that's as far as I've gotten. It comes in a pretty nice package deal that includes their beefy power supply for around $400. Mainly just curious what the Pi2AES offers.
Honestly the appeal is mostly in the name of the device - it's the only Pi endpoint option that can offer AES/EBU output. That it offers two types of i2S out is definitely a bonus, but it's really not the primary focus of the device. It's a really good device, don't get me wrong, but just like anything else in this hobby - the system it's going in can dictate how effective it can be. With my old Convert-2, or the Yggdrasil 2A before it - Pi2AES was THE best endpoint one could reasonably feed into those DACs under... 4 figures? Not sure, but it's quite good and it's almost a disservice to it that it's relegated to the pile of "Pi-based" endpoints. But those DACs couldn't make use of the gaudy datastreams the Denafrips DACs can chew up and spit out, so its effectiveness is completely overshadowed by a humble Pi4 using a basic HQPlayer NAA image and literally nothing else. Network cable I made, stock wall wart, and (for now), an off the shelf USB cable into the Venus II. Pi2AES via AES and a very good cable --> Venus II --> OS/Slow mode - it's definitely a very good fit. But the Pi4 endpoint and its ability to fully leverage some insane HQP filters and DSD256 with the "EC" modulators... the system just kinda "disappears" better with this setup versus the Pi2AES. It's more real, more natural. And I can't overstate this - up until 3 months ago, I swore I'd never try USB audio ever again. I hated it, with a passion. That's the whole reason I went with the Pi2AES in the first place, to get as far away from USB as I could. But, it seems I've been wrong, I'm just not sure for how long. I tried USB from a Sonore MR + Uptone PSU into my Gen 5 USB Yggy and it was still nasty. But AES/EBU from Pi2AES or a nice Jay's CD transport was excellent, to my ears. So it could be a lot of things, but USB seems to be quite better these days for high end, high datarate audio. I've got a Ghent Audio dual head USB cable on the way to throw on the end of the Pi4 hopefully in a month or so, to see if it even makes a difference into the DF DACs.
to someone who has Pontus, I’ve got reply from Michael Kelly regarding jumpers on pi2aes. “According to the DAC Manual the Pontus does not need 5V for the I2S interface. But, you do need to set it into the correct mode. That would be with all 3 LED's on (111). Regards, Michael Kelly Pi 2 Design 505 Hatchery Rd. North Kingstown, RI 02852 +1-401-408-3177”
Alvin also told me +5V was not necessary on i2S. I decided to give it a shot anyway. It is required on USB as it's a trigger only to turn on the USB input. No idea why it's needed on my Venus, but it definitely does not output sound if I don't also have that jumper in place.
Just received my Pontus today. It's my first stand-alone DAC, so I'm afraid that I cannot compare it to others, but very impressive right off the bat. Associated equipment includes a Hegel h160 integrated amp, SimAudio Moon 260 CD transport, Harbeth 30.1 speakers.
Hello guys, The latest licensed Thesycon Driver (For Windows PC) v5.0.0 is available to download here: link. https://www.denafrips.com/support The history file with changes can be downloaded at: http://www.thesycon.de/usbaudio/TUSBAudio_history.txt
Correction to the above : I have my Ares 2 sounding just as good as in the first six months...so what was the issue leading to my earlier post above...I had moved it to a different place months ago on a nearby rack because I didn't have any more place on my audio rack. So I had to use a 2m (7ft) RCA going into my preamp. I recently re-organised things and put it back where it was originally, near the preamp. On top of that I had been fiddling with my speaker setup for months and only now everything clicked. Listening to and enjoying the Ares2 again with ALL my albums. Yes the Parasound P5 dac is still very good and surprisingly close but I'm back to my first love .
Denafrips have now their own CD transport using NOS Philips transport. They bought 3000 of them so plenty spares. https://www.willowtreeaudio.co.uk/denafrips-avatar
Just a sidebar here regarding AES-EBU connections, it strips SCMS and possibly some DMR schemes when recording via AES-EBU digital recorder.
Hi @alvin1118 Does the USB input of the Pontus have an advantage over the Coax/Optical? My transport does not have a USB out. Will that be a deal breaker? Thanks
I don’t have any Denafrips kit, but usually a USB input if for connecting a computer. I don’t know if any CD transports have a USB out, mine doesn’t, but I may be wrong.
The Schiit Urd CD transport is rumored to have Unison USB out. But are we talking a CD transport or a streaming/network transport? Because for the latter, USB can pass much higher PCM and DSD rates than optical, coax, or AES/EBU and DF DACs can leverage those very high rate media, so it could be significant.
I am talking about my network transport which only has Optical and Coax out. I am only interested in PCM of 24/192. Will USB still have any advantages on SQ compared to the other inputs? Thanks
It's a difficult question to answer. Some customers prefer the USB input, and some other customers prefer the SPDIF input. In general, presuming the transport digital output quality is the same: USB input is more details, greater extension in treble; whereas the SPDIF input is more organic, fuller (thicker) sounding. I have some customers spent a few thousand dollars on the SPDIF cable because they like the fuller sound signature.
@alvin1118 : Sorry to trouble you again because it is really confusing. I just saw this on the Denafrips website. The Pontus is being referred to as the Pontus II. So does that mean if one orders the Pontus now, we will be getting the Pontus II when it starts shipping?
Hi @brownmagic , PONTUS II R-2R DAC We started shipping the new Pontus in Q3/Q4 2020. Some upgrades already implemented: 1. Beefed up power supply 2. Improved caps & tuning 3. Upgraded DSP board These were the reasons why the Pontus received rave positive feedback in late 2020. DENAFRIPS decided to call these upgrades a PONTUS II this batch instead, it deserves the new badge. Hopes this clarifies!
New goodies to feed my Venus II Ian Canada RPi4 mods: FIFO Reclocker with AccuSilicon clocks good for DSD1024 Battery (LifePO4) PSU with 5 outputs HDMIPi i2S/LVDS transmitter So far I've confirmed that just the Pi4, RoPieeeXL and HDMIPi can output DSD64 to Venus II via LVDS, so that's a great start. Next up is waiting for batteries to arrive Then it's time to wire it up Then... find some way to enclose it all? That should be a treat. I'll be powering with the PSU: FIFO Reclocker (2 inputs - one for FIFO, one for RPi), the HDMIPi board (eventually), and the optical ethernet converter I just installed tonight. You may be asking yourself, why?!? Essentially this will be a Digital to Digital converter with excellent clocks, all discrete circuitry beyond the Pi4 which really is just an i2S passthrough at this point, with a *really* good PSU for this and a few other devices. Boredom is a hell of a drug.