AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Digital Audio Devices => Topic started by: mresseguie on June 15, 2017, 07:18:07 AM
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Have any of you run across threads discussing Denafrips DACs? There are 4 models - Ares, Pontus, Venus, and Terminator. I think the Ares is $600(?); Terminator is $4000. [The price of the Terminator just increased a couple hundred clams if I remember correctly.]
The factory is in China, and there's a dealer in Singapore who distributes them. I've contacted the dealer, Alvin, about the DACs. Just as with the Exogal Comet, which I have not yet auditioned, I'm curious how good the Pontus and Venus are.
https://www.vinshineaudio.com
Michael
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Update:
After a few emails with Alvin, I have decided to audition the Denafrips Venus DAC. It's an R2R NOS/OS switchable DAC. I will take it to an upcoming audiophile G2G in the Seattle area in July. I believe there will be a Lampi Atlantic DAC, an older Metrum DAC, and one other at the G2G.
It ought to prove to be an interesting and educational event. I'll be sure to post impressions after the G2G.
Michael
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Just make sure you break it in properly before comparing. Have fun
charles
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Update:
After a few emails with Alvin, I have decided to audition the Denafrips Venus DAC. It's an R2R NOS/OS switchable DAC. I will take it to an upcoming audiophile G2G in the Seattle area in July. I believe there will be a Lampi Atlantic DAC, an older Metrum DAC, and one other at the G2G.
It ought to prove to be an interesting and educational event. I'll be sure to post impressions after the G2G.
Michael
Michael,
Will be looking forward to your comments. Seattle, especially in early fall, is beautiful. Have only been there twice, though. Have fun!
Nick
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Just make sure you break it in properly before comparing. Have fun
charles
Rollo,
No worries there. Alvin has burned it in already. He wants it to shine at the G2G. He knows there will be a few heavy hitting DACs there.
Update:
After a few emails with Alvin, I have decided to audition the Denafrips Venus DAC. It's an R2R NOS/OS switchable DAC. I will take it to an upcoming audiophile G2G in the Seattle area in July. I believe there will be a Lampi Atlantic DAC, an older Metrum DAC, and one other at the G2G.
It ought to prove to be an interesting and educational event. I'll be sure to post impressions after the G2G.
Michael
Michael,
Will be looking forward to your comments. Seattle, especially in early fall, is beautiful. Have only been there twice, though. Have fun!
Nick
Nick,
My wife and I stayed in Vancouver, BC for 8 days and only returned last night. Driving back through Seattle along the I-5 corridor was HELL. If I were a city/state planner, I'd suffer nightmares worrying about how to fix the infrastructure issues.
I will happily report back here my findings. Here's a list of the gear that will be there.
mresseguie - Daedalus Apollos & DENAFRIPS Venus DAC
Aldcoll - Modwright KWA 150 SE
JakeJ - Musical Paradise MP-D2 DAC NOS 5AR4 and JJ gold pin 6922 signal tubes, & Audio Experience A2 preamp
rajacat - Musical Paradise MP-D2 DAC NOS USAF 596 rectifier and ? signal tubes
Sonny - Schiit Jotunheim DAC
mca - Lampizator Atlantic or Vinnie Rossi LIO
alexcotti - Metrum Acoustics Pavane DAC
It's going to be FUN!! :thumb:
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Vinshineaudio has a very interesting lineup of dacs at sane prices.
https://www.vinshineaudio.com/products
Build quality looks impressive
(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4b933e_4014faa1914a4b96899c4ed39cb49954~mv2_d_3968_2976_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1040,h_780,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/4b933e_4014faa1914a4b96899c4ed39cb49954~mv2_d_3968_2976_s_4_2.jpg)
Enjoy the Venus, Michael
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Thanks, Emil.
I figured the Ares was close enough in SQ to my Gustard DAC that it wasn't worth the effort. I originally thought to try the Pontus, but decided that if I was going to the trouble of auditioning one of Alvin's DACs, I may as well go for a bigger fish like the Venus. That begs the question "Why not try the Terminator then?"....I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of spending so much on a DAC especially since the technology keeps evolving so quickly....but I may still get to that point some day.
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Looking forward in hearing how it compare to the Lampi Atlantic.
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MCA on AC has a very much upgraded Lampi Atlantic. I don't know all of the details, but it has the preamp function. His Lampi cost him ~$6500. It flat out trounced all the other DACs at the G2G on Saturday. All of us kind of stopped in our tracks when we heard it play. Damn! Nice! Sounding!
The Ares had about 160 hours burn in at the G2G. Everyone agreed that it hadn't yet opened up/bloomed. It would have been nice if it had arrived a week earlier to allow more burn in time. I'm still burning it in - currently at about 190 hours now. Acoustic instruments have been developing this depth that wasn't there before. I played a track that I hadn't listened to in a while and I was very impressed with the drums. The track is "The Sands of Molopo" on the African Rhythms CD. I didn't remember the drums sounding like that on my old DAC MagicPlus or even my Gustard X20u. Guitar, Cello, horns, and voices are much more distinct now. Bass (both acoustic and electric) have taken on extra punch (?) and clarity. All this quality sound on my very modest Nuprime IDA-8 using the Venus as DAC. I'm using a $10 power cord and el cheapo RCA ICs to the Nuprime. My speakers are Jeff Bagby's Adelphos. It's all very sweet sounding.
On Sunday, I told Alvin of Vinshine Audio that I expected I would ship the Venus back to him. However, as burn in approaches 200 hours, I'm seriously considering keeping it. I still have a few more days to decide. I wish I could get my wife to leave the house for a while so I can open up the volume a bit.
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Typo alert!
I typed 'Ares' above. It ought to be 'Venus' DAC.
Michael
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....... I wish I could get my wife to leave the house for a while so I can open up the volume a bit.
Been there. :roll: