I had DDC-I2S issue after updating firmware for my T-Plus and was told the problem was due to old (2-year old?) DDC (Iris), no firmware fix was planned by Denafrips. I ended up buying a new version (12th) of Iris, everything has been working perfectly and the combo sounds great now.

I too really enjoy T-Plus V3.7 fw with Iris 12th (original Iris was not compatible with V3.7). Only difference is that I now like OS/slow better than NOS. It wasn't the case with V1.0

Interesting. Sounds like the old DDC only works with V1.0 DAC, and the new 12th DDC works with DAC running updated firmware, but not backward compatible. You probably should try v1.4 to make sure the new DDC 12th doesn't have a defect, and you may like the sound as well ;)

Same here except I started with Ares, Ares II, Pontus II, and jumped from Pontus to T-Plus. I could tell difference (improvements) clearly during each upgrade... BTW, the latest Iris DDC 12th is also head and shoulder above my older (2021) Iris, not to mention it is compatible with T-Plus...

My apologies, I checked again, they only mentioned Venus, not Pontus. Here is the original email message from Vinshine about V1.8: "Good day to you. Yes, sir, the forthcoming firmware update for the Ares II will feature the identical enhancements found in the current Terminator Plus firmware...

Yes, there is more than just fw change in my case. I had to bypass DDC and I2S connection, use direct USB connection from streamer (Melco N1z) to T-Plus. I also hope they could fix the DDC/I2S issue so I can try V3.7 without having to change connection.

Just got a confirmation from Vinshine support team that Ares fw V1.8 is equivalent to T-Plus V3.7, they will release the same for Pontus and Venus soon.

OK, thanks for the clarification. I'll stick to my original firmware V1.0 (TPlus) then, it sounded better than the V3.7 in my system.

I guess they are releasing V1.8 equivalent for other models (e.g. Pontus, Venus and Terminator ) soon? Would be happy to try...

Thanks for the info. Fixing the issue with switching noise is great. But changing sound quality is so subjective and system dependent, now we have 3 new versions already in a short period of time, how many future changes are we expecting??

V1.5?

Glad to hear you enjoy the update. Did you try playing both DSD and FLAC files? Some of the older DDCs (e.g. mine) are not compatible with the new fpga firmware so no any I2S setting is good for both PCM and DSD playback... Denafrips is still working on a fix.

That's what I experienced as well, NOS is more musical, bigger but a bit diffused soundstage, not as refined as OS/Sharp... I have to use USB connection to bypass DDC/I2S for the new firmware as I am still waiting for Denafrips to fix the compatibility issue between my Iris DDC/I2S output and...

Same here, 99% matching as well hahaha :) Seriously, for my T-Plus, I didn't like the updated version at all at the beginning, but after 500 hours or so, I am not so sure, the added detail and texture in sound are very nice too. Don't know if it is due to burning in or my ears getting used to...

After 400 hours break in, listened to my Terminator Plus again today, the brightness in high frequency is now smoothed out and more tolerable comparing to the sound right after it was updated to V3.7. I then reverted it back to V1.0, played the same tracks. T-plus with fw v1.0 sounded more...