[FooFighter]

It does support Tidal, but I'm not sure if it supports Tidal Connect. It does not support Amazon Music HD or Apple Music.

You can easily try by playing native Tidal app and see if the Streamer is displayed when browsing the target devices.
Anyway I am wondering if
- also an ifi Zen streamer is well enough
- the before recognized signature differences are related to
+ not bit perfect play mode of N130
+ different implementations of the Pontus USB ports vs Coax / SPDIF

As for the latter one: anyone in forum experimented with choosing different digital ports with same source on Pontus and recognized any signature differences?

 

[FooFighter]

Have ordered Ifi Zen Streamer as digital source for Pontus.
Will report once it's there.
Anyone here tried a USB-switch to change between different sources like Streamer or direct USB from laptop for the Denafrips DACs?

 

[barbz127]

Sounds like a silly question but is there anything stopping me from having two amps connected to the pontus? One rca and one xlr?

 

[FooFighter]

Sounds like a silly question but is there anything stopping me from having two amps connected to the pontus? One rca and one xlr?

As far as I remember only one output is allowed at the same time.
It's also listed in the manual.
Therefore I got a "Little Bear" XLR switch

 

[barbz127]

As far as I remember only one output is allowed at the same time.
It's also listed in the manual.
Therefore I got a "Little Bear" XLR switch

Thankyou

Curious to know if this causes issues or just means the balanced output isnt balanced when RCA's are also connected (which is a common issue)

 

[FooFighter]

Thankyou

Curious to know if this causes issues or just means the balanced output isnt balanced when RCA's are also connected (which is a common issue)

Quoting the manual:
"Balanced output via XLR (pin2 hot), singled ended output via RCA. The PONTUS is a true balanced DAC, we recommend using balanced output whenever possible. The RCA and XLR output are shared, please use either of the output at a time. It is not recommended to use both RCA and XLR output simultaneously"

 

[FooFighter]

Gosh
Just got a new C9 and it's wonderful for all IEMs and working well with my Full Size Denons.
Could get a used Flux FA-10 now and not sure if it's worth trying it.
Quite likely it scales beyond C9 for the Full Size cans and heard it's good synergy with Pontus...

Will try the Flux.

General question: the Pontus II does have a very direct, into your face signature, especially in upper mids, right?
I mean I feel it's the most natural but at the same time revealing source I have been listening to besides my DX 220 Max - no matter which amp I have been trying so far.
So I think that nature of being forward might only be tamed more or less by according smoother amps but won't completely change.
E.g. playing on my new Cayin C9 I see myself changing from SS: Class A to SS:AB and sometimes tube mode: Class A/AB to tame the direct character down

 

[iFi audio]

Will report once it's there.

Please do. Internally we're really happy how ZEN Stream does with more expensive DACs, but nothing beats external feedback, be it good or bad

 

[FooFighter]

Flux FA-10 arrived
Best pairing I could listen to with Pontus II and now Zen Stream as a source streaming Tidal
Bringing in the needed warmth to compensate the imho fairly bright and revealing Denafrips house signature.
So far listened only quickly with Traillii
Will test also my Denon AH-D9200 and A-B vs my DAPs tonight and during next days

 

[iFi audio]

Flux FA-10 arrived
Best pairing I could listen to with Pontus II and now Zen Stream as a source streaming Tidal
Bringing in the needed warmth to compensate the imho fairly bright and revealing Denafrips house signature.
So far listened only quickly with Traillii
Will test also my Denon AH-D9200 and A-B vs my DAPs tonight and during next days

I see something on the left photo

 

[jwilliamhurst]

Flux FA-10 arrived
Best pairing I could listen to with Pontus II and now Zen Stream as a source streaming Tidal
Bringing in the needed warmth to compensate the imho fairly bright and revealing Denafrips house signature.
So far listened only quickly with Traillii
Will test also my Denon AH-D9200 and A-B vs my DAPs tonight and during next days

Very nice! I’ve always been curious about that amp. Why did you go with the 10 over the fully balanced 12? Also who made your amazing xlr to 4.4?
anxious to hear more thoughts on the streamer too

 

[FooFighter]

Very nice! I’ve always been curious about that amp. Why did you go with the 10 over the fully balanced 12? Also who made your amazing xlr to 4.4?
anxious to hear more thoughts on the streamer too

I got to know a guy through selling some gear who is crazy like myself about headgear and he was about to put his Flux FA-10 into classifieds.
So I lend him my new C9 in exchange for his Flux
So actually no long-planned deal.
The adapter is from Aliexpress:
https://aliexpress.com/item/4001108541655.html

 

[Lolito]

Thank God I am on MacOS

yes, mac is great with denafrips, LOL

 

[FooFighter]

Any of you using hifi power chords for the Pontus to smooth signature?
I mean does it bring anything?
Not having any humming / noise issues with my 15 bucks cable but wondering what else I can try besides amp and source-rolling to tame the into-your-face signature down to get more warm and relaxed...

 

[daytrader]

Any of you using hifi power chords for the Pontus to smooth signature?
I mean does it bring anything?
Not having any humming / noise issues with my 15 bucks cable but wondering what else I can try besides amp and source-rolling to tame the into-your-face signature down to get more warm and relaxed...

WAudio 10 AWG Hi-End HiFi Audio Universal AC Power Cable Power Cord US Plug - 6.6FT (2M), $50 on Amazon.​

You really won’t need more than this. I‘ve had some really expensive power cords in my days and all have some effects on the sound but not necessarily better. If you don’t have RF issues or noise seeping into your music than you really don’t need to spend over *$100 on a PC. I’ve done some Internet searching and found the one I listed above to be wonderful at almost any price point. It won’t be like going from an Ares to a Pontus so don’t expect it as dramatic as an equipment upgrade but you should be able to hear a blacker background especially if you have dedicated lines.

*But I would be remiss if I didn’t say, don’t be too quick to disregard your $15 lamp style power cord, case in point. I have a Shindo preamp that came with a cord that looks like it came off my kids desk lamp. A generic off white indoor cable you can buy from Walmart for $3. So go figure!