Smoothstereo
100+ Head-Fier
In my headphone system, I strongly feel the Pontus 2 sounds better with XLR output. Others may disagree. But in speaking with Alvin, even he acknowledged the XLR is the way to go.
Denafrips 'Pontus' R2R ladder DAC - close up view
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I used RCA out of my Pontus II 12th Anniversary Edition. Excellent.
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Which is fine. Unless your HPA is RCA only.
centuriones
100+ Head-Fier
My Auris HA2-SF headphone amp also has XLR inputs, but it's single ended and not really balanced.
trondav
New Head-Fier
XLR are always the preferred connection if possible. I myself use RCA on my Pontus II 12th to connect to Denon PMA-2500NW since the Denon amp does not have XLR. Higher outputs in volt on the XLR.
Riccioli30
Head-Fier
on paper, xrl is better. (provided that there is a truly balanced circuit). But, when you listen, it's not always true. With the P/2/12, - in my system, for the tests made, and in any case IMO - there is no difference between balanced and single end. Perhaps a slight preference for the SE. Less "hard" to listen. Less "clean" but perhaps more musical. Without loss of detail. What has also been experimented with other DACs. which i tried. But they are personal tastes.
Ps: (two channel system with speakers)
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centuriones
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks everyone for your opinions
ColSaulTigh
Headphoneus Supremus
Just to add one more voice to the choir - I ran an A/B test with Tara Labs Omega RCA's vs. some "World's Best" XLR's into my Woo WA5-LE. Literally could not hear a difference. Not sure if that speaks better to the performance of the RCA cables or the poor quality of the XLR ones, but aside from the locking connectors (which is why I prefer XLR), audibly I could not hear any appreciable difference. Just my $.02 worth, YMMV.
Centuriones I also have an Auris HA2 SF and the Pontus II. I tried both XLR and single ended outputs on the Pontus and could not tell a difference between the two probably because like you stated the Auris is a single ended amp with XLR outputs. I’m using the RCA’s. Keep your interconnects as short as possible due to the Pontus’s lack of an output stage. I found that reducing the length from 1 meter to 0.5 meters did make an audible difference. I also noticed an improvement by using the 1/4” headphone socket from my amp as opposed to the XLR socket.
centuriones
100+ Head-Fier
Hi Hoshi, thank you for your reply and suggestion regarding the length of the cables.
One question, have you updated the Pontus firmware to version 1.4?
One question, have you updated the Pontus firmware to version 1.4?
I have updated my firmware to 1.4 a few weeks ago and prefer it to 1.0. I am upsampling everything to DSD256 in HQPlayer and my primary headphones are Meze Empyreans so my overall presentation is more on the polite side just to keep things in perspective.
centuriones
100+ Head-Fier
Guys can anyone help me?
I installed firmware 1.4 on the Pontus II but then went back to firmware 1.0.
Unfortunately the DSD channels are inverted, I tried to fix them as indicated by Denafrips with the MUTE and then OS/NOS key combination, but once the Pontus II was turned off and on again the DSD channels are still inverted.
Anyone have any idea how to fix this?
I installed firmware 1.4 on the Pontus II but then went back to firmware 1.0.
Unfortunately the DSD channels are inverted, I tried to fix them as indicated by Denafrips with the MUTE and then OS/NOS key combination, but once the Pontus II was turned off and on again the DSD channels are still inverted.
Anyone have any idea how to fix this?
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Quick tip would be to never turn it off
centuriones
100+ Head-Fier
Un consiglio rapido sarebbe quello di non spegnerlo mai
Bellissimo
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