Denafrips Dacs

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by bever70, Nov 8, 2019.

  1. Tony C.

    Tony C. Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portugal
    I would say that there are zero doubts that the DACs in question do not provide a true NOS function. I say that partly because this "Golden Sound" reviewer is very thorough in supporting his claim:



    and, more importantly, because Alvin has tacitly admitted it.

    I doubt very much that there would be any significant audible difference between *true* NOS and the Denafrips filter, but from a marketing standpoint, I would say that it is a potentially significant issue.
     
    timind and bever70 like this.
  2. ubiknik

    ubiknik Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
    ouch!
     
    timind likes this.
  3. SHU

    SHU Forum Resident

    Location:
    Netherlands
    If it sounds good it is good as far as I'm concerned (Hence the Pontus on order).

    But I'd rather not have have the button labeled NOS if it's not NOS.
     
    Naka9 and bever70 like this.
  4. AudioAddict

    AudioAddict Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Use both the AresII and a RME ADI-2 and have been comparing them for the last month. The AresII has become my go-to DAC for all music. Wanted to add that the review above is one of the best I have ever viewed. Agree completely with his musical analysis and the technical explanations are precise and telling. Will be looking for more reviews by this person.
     
  5. CrimsonFan

    CrimsonFan Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    First and foremost, merry Christmas!!

    Perhaps Denafrips could solve this by describing the feature as “Quasi-NOS”?
    That way it would be up-front and no one would have any objections to the interpolated version?

    Especially since there is no NOS or Filter silkscreening on the panels of the physical product, it’s just an instruction manual issue.
     
  6. CrimsonFan

    CrimsonFan Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    …Please note that comment refers to the ARES II. More expensive models DO have “NOS” silkscreened on the front panel.
    (Factoring that in, they should abbreviate the label to Q-NOS so they can squeeze the text in! ;D)

    Personally, I have no objection to the Denafrips interpretation of “NOS”.
    I am more concerned about the Buffer issue.
     
    Red and SHU like this.
  7. Shangri-La

    Shangri-La Forum Resident

    Location:
    CA
    Any comparisons between Venus II vs Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE? Denafrips offers DDC which to me complicates things - the DAC would need a DDC to sound its best while the Spring just the DAC itself.
     
  8. oskar

    oskar Forum Resident

    Location:
    Poland
    With Your logic Spring also needs a DDC to sound its best
     
    Dan Rosen likes this.
  9. Naka9

    Naka9 music first audiophile

    Location:
    Portugal
    Ditto... you will not be disappointed for sure. The
    Pontus II keeps improving...
     
    SHU likes this.
  10. SHU

    SHU Forum Resident

    Location:
    Netherlands
    I've heard that connecting the Node 130 via USB (available since a few days) does not fix the skipping issues.

    Has anyone here tried that?
     
  11. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    There isn’t any audible difference. The “NOS” setting produces the same effect as a true NOS DAC — pronounced bass and rolled-off highs.
     
  12. Tony C.

    Tony C. Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portugal
    Even if that were true – and I'd like to see evidence – it would miss the central point, which is that the product was/is being misrepresented. Should an amplifier manufacturer that claimed balanced inputs be given a pass if they were actually unbalanced, even if they were to sound the same?
     
    Leroyd likes this.
  13. Helom

    Helom Forum member

    Location:
    U.S.
    I get your point and it’s certainly valid from a marketing perspective. As sound goes, it’s trivial.
     
    Drekow and Tony C. like this.
  14. Leroyd

    Leroyd Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ireland
    Be it marketing or otherwise, it is disingenuous
     
  15. edo.t

    edo.t Forum Resident

    Location:
    NY
    The USB input is immune to the skipping issue. It's the other inputs that (some, not all) have a problem with.

    Sadly I am no longer a Venus II owner. I just couldn't get it to work with my Oppo 205. Even with the latest beta firmware update a couple of weeks ago. It took a while but Alvin was really good about making things right. I miss that lovely sound in between the skips! Not sure what will replace it. I wish there were more ladder DAC's to choose from.
     
    inzite likes this.
  16. inzite

    inzite Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    no idea but usb shouldnt have any issues. even with coaxial and toslink i dont have any issues other than that one time i updated the node firmware.
     
  17. inzite

    inzite Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    thats unfortunate. hope you find something that sounds great and works well with the oppo soon!
     
  18. Douglas Lam

    Douglas Lam Forum Resident

    Location:
    Asia
    Holo Audio is another company that sells a popular R2R DAC. Might want to check it out.
     
  19. RockAddict

    RockAddict Sanity is an illusion, just like democracy

    Location:
    UK
    In addition to Holo, "Soekris" do R2R DACs. Top of their range is the "dac2541":
    Soekris Audio ApS, Products dac1541

    I haven't heard any of the Soekris products so it's definitely a "FYI" contribution - good luck with your search.

    [Edited to add] A web search for "R2R dacs" will turn up a few more results.
     
  20. CrimsonFan

    CrimsonFan Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Sorry to hear that, Edo.
    Fortunately for me I still have the option of returning my Denafrips DAC to the local distributor if things don’t work out.
    Also, since I listen 95% of the time to analogue, the Denafrips is not so critical otherwise it would be gone by now.
     
  21. Dan Rosen

    Dan Rosen Active Member

    Location:
    Switzerland
    Metrum Acoustics is another manufacturer that has R2R Ladder DACs to offer in VenusII price range. Just FYI.
     
    displayname likes this.
  22. edo.t

    edo.t Forum Resident

    Location:
    NY
    The Holo Spring 3 KTE is probably the DAC I'd like most but I'm having a hard time coughing up that much cash just now. Political, social and ecological considerations seem to be creeping into more and more of my purchase decisions too, but I won't say any more about that here. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

    Since my last preamp upgrade seems to have unexpectedly boosted my digital front end more than my turntable I may readjust the balance by improving my phono stage. I like my analog front end to be better than my digital to compensate for the extra effort it takes to play vinyl.
     
    Douglas Lam likes this.
  23. Harris11235

    Harris11235 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    New review of the T2 by Steve Huff. Cheers to the Denafrips crew!
     
    displayname likes this.
  24. SHU

    SHU Forum Resident

    Location:
    Netherlands
    Pontus has landed! It's a lot heavier than it looks. (And it looks quite heavy)

    Hooked it up and it's a nice improvement over the Node 2i's internal DAC straight of of the box. I'm going to let it run for a couple of days and see what that does.
     
    realgone, adamos, inzite and 6 others like this.
  25. terzinator

    terzinator boots lost in transit

    Was listening to Darko's audio podcast yesterday. Darko and Michael Lavorgna were ranking their favorite DACs over the past year, at all price points. The Ares II and Pontus II were both on the list.

    Interestingly, they discussed preferring OS (oversampling) mode over NOS (non-oversampling) mode. I've been using NOS mode on my Pontus II since I use HQPlayer with Roon, but I might switch to OS for a few weeks to see if I can tell a difference. (I run my CD player through it, too, so that might be a good test.)
     
    displayname likes this.

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