[viggen]

??? I was thinking of whether the LTA p/s/u could be used with non-LTA audio equipment.

Don't LTA also sell their LPS separately? I saw one person selling his on USAudiomart recently.

 

[BzzzzzT]

When I first received the Pontus, I plugged it in and thought to myself "ok I am putting the Ares up for sale". Pontus does many obvious things better than Ares. Wider sound stage, more detail, more air etc. etc. However, I can't stand it for long term listening. Ares, I could listen to it for hours. So, that's why I say Ares is better. I don't regret selling either though. When I had the Pontus, I had a Matrix XSPDIF specifically to provide Pontus with I2S signal. However, I don't think I2S signal was a definite upgrade. I actually preferred using Coax as it was smoother and darker which allowed for longer listening. USB and I2S sounded a bit diff but not sure which I prefer.

I have a Pontus and found I2s to be a big upgrade over USB. I upgraded my I2s reclocker to the Denafrips Iris. I found I had severe listening fatigue with the Iris. It seemed to be making severe 3rd order harmonics over the Nyquist rate. I have a cheap $50 Douk audio I2s interface with a nice ifi power wart. Don't let the price fool you. This is a quality interface and does the job quite well. The Douk sounds even better than the Denafrips and I get no fatigue. I definitely love the Pontus 2! My ears are super sensitive to harmonics. This works well tuning woodwinds, synths and making reeds but is a bear with certain audio equipment.

Douk I2S

 

[viggen]

I have a Pontus and found I2s to be a big upgrade over USB. I upgraded my I2s reclocker to the Denafrips Iris. I found I had severe listening fatigue with the Iris. It seemed to be making severe 3rd order harmonics over the Nyquist rate. I have a cheap $50 Douk audio I2s interface with a nice ifi power wart. Don't let the price fool you. This is a quality interface and does the job quite well. The Douk sounds even better than the Denafrips and I get no fatigue. I definitely love the Pontus 2! My ears are super sensitive to harmonics. This works well tuning woodwinds, synths and making reeds but is a bear with certain audio equipment.

Douk I2S

Maybe I got a dud. It just never fully burned in. But, there are others who I came across who had similar experience who sold off their Pontus as quickly or quicker than me. For the record, I was using Matrix XSPDIF2 powered by HDPLEX300 to provide Pontus with i2s signal. I also have a Singxer SU6 and previously had the SU2. IMO, DDC does a lot in changing the DAC's characteristics (much like your experience with Iris) except the XSPDIF2's i2s output didn't sound too different than that of its USB output into Pontus.

After shifting from MZ2 to MZ3, I think my dac requirement has changed. I don't want a dac that pushes the envelope in terms of bass and detail because the amp already does that with aplomb. Last night, I plugged in a Bladelius USB dac in place of D90/SU6 and MHDT Orchid. It was easy listening all night long.

 

[BzzzzzT]

I don't think you received a dud. This seems to be a genuine issue with the Pontus 2. Some inputs or sources seem to cause this problem in certain instances. I'm glad I was able to resolve it and I'm glad you also found a DAC that works well! There is nothing worse than listening fatigue.

 

[jonathan c]

There is nothing worse than listening fatigue.

….knowing that you will have listening fatigue…(thereby switching everything off)……

 

[iFi audio]

I have a Pontus and found I2s to be a big upgrade over USB. I upgraded my I2s reclocker to the Denafrips Iris. I found I had severe listening fatigue with the Iris. It seemed to be making severe 3rd order harmonics over the Nyquist rate. I have a cheap $50 Douk audio I2s interface with a nice ifi power wart. Don't let the price fool you. This is a quality interface and does the job quite well. The Douk sounds even better than the Denafrips and I get no fatigue. I definitely love the Pontus 2! My ears are super sensitive to harmonics. This works well tuning woodwinds, synths and making reeds but is a bear with certain audio equipment.

It's interesting seeing how much more I2S talk is seen on forums recently. Even though it doesn't have a one standarized connector type yet, maybe at some point it will and any issues related to pins will be no more. At the same time I wanted to ask how much our PSU does for your Douk interface? Have you tried powering that product from a regular wall-wart and comparing the two by any chance? Thanks!

 

[BzzzzzT]

It's interesting seeing how much more I2S talk is seen on forums recently. Even though it doesn't have a one standarized connector type yet, maybe at some point it will and any issues related to pins will be no more. At the same time I wanted to ask how much our PSU does for your Douk interface? Have you tried powering that product from a regular wall-wart and comparing the two by any chance? Thanks!

I'll try finding a normal power supply in my studio and get back to you.

I did find i2s to be a major improvement. It was on a greater order of magnitude than just upgrading the DAC. Cutting out that extra conversion and sending it straight to the DAC chip made a huge improvement. I was skeptical at first but I figured what the heck. The $70 dollar Douk was not going to break the bank to try it. I'm really glad I did! The little box actually sounds better than the more expensive units. It's honestly the best upgrade I've made to my equipment. Bass was much better and there was greater detail that was more than superficial. I know i2s is hotly debated, but it worked for me. My Pontus DAC allows you to select the proper pin-out since it is of course not standardized. Listening on my Adam S3XV monitors and a tube amp with i2s is a religious experience for me.

 

[iFi audio]

I'll try finding a normal power supply in my studio and get back to you.

I did find i2s to be a major improvement. It was on a greater order of magnitude than just upgrading the DAC. Cutting out that extra conversion and sending it straight to the DAC chip made a huge improvement. I was skeptical at first but I figured what the heck. The $70 dollar Douk was not going to break the bank to try it. I'm really glad I did! The little box actually sounds better than the more expensive units. It's honestly the best upgrade I've made to my equipment. Bass was much better and there was greater detail that was more than superficial. I know i2s is hotly debated, but it worked for me. My Pontus DAC allows you to select the proper pin-out since it is of course not standardized. Listening on my Adam S3XV monitors and a tube amp with i2s is a religious experience for me.

Thanks. From your description I gather that this Douk Audio interface is still getting USB from your transport, but sends out digital signal to your DAC via I2S, isn't it?

 

[BzzzzzT]

Thanks. From your description I gather that this Douk Audio interface is still getting USB from your transport, but sends out digital signal to your DAC via I2S, isn't it?

It takes usb right from the computer then feeds it directly to the DAC. It is just reclocking the signal for i2s and sending it straight to the DAC chip. There is no conversion going on like usb, optical etc, if that makes sense.

This results in the higher fidelity signal that is unaltered from the original source that is sent from the device. People argue that inter-chip stuff should not be sent as that's what i2s is. I don't see any degradation of these small voltages over a well shielded usb and hdmi cable. I am not going to delve into that whole debate.

Check out this video to learn more.

 

[iFi audio]

It takes usb right from the computer then feeds it directly to the DAC. It is just reclocking the signal for i2s and sending it straight to the DAC chip. There is no conversion going on like usb, optical etc, if that makes sense.

This results in the higher fidelity signal that is unaltered from the original source that is sent from the device. People argue that inter-chip stuff should not be sent as that's what i2s is. I don't see any degradation of these small voltages over a well shielded usb and hdmi cable. I am not going to delve into that whole debate.

Check out this video to learn more.

Understood. We're well-aware of I2s and I've asked about this specifically because in your setup your DAC also doesn't rely on its USB receiver. That alone most likely impacts overall sound quality too. In that context this is most likely about what that I2S interface does on its own, plus data your DAC gets from it and how.

 

[Powermankw]

Well, here I sit with no tunes. I sold off my gear, to buy a Z40 from a memeber here. It is currently at LTA getting upgraded. Not only was I trying to get a end game headphone amp, I also realized with the Z10 that I could power my speakers as well. Of course, this is the Z3 thread... and no reason to start a Z40 thread here... Mainly I am just bored, with nothing to listen to, thinking of my amp I should get in a couple weeks.... sighhhhh.

 

[jamato8]

Well, here I sit with no tunes. I sold off my gear, to buy a Z40 from a memeber here. It is currently at LTA getting upgraded. Not only was I trying to get a end game headphone amp, I also realized with the Z10 that I could power my speakers as well. Of course, this is the Z3 thread... and no reason to start a Z40 thread here... Mainly I am just bored, with nothing to listen to, thinking of my amp I should get in a couple weeks.... sighhhhh.

Upgraded. That will be niiiiiiiicccce!

 

[Powermankw]

Upgraded. That will be niiiiiiiicccce!

I just needed sub out, but not as simple as adding an output. Made more sense to do the full "+" upgrade. Can't wait to get back to my Utopias. Now I will be able to run the ZOTL and my Pontus with 707s. Pretty excited to get tubes. At some point I'll have to explore other tubes. I won't be swapping the EL34s though.

 

[Powermankw]

I got my Z40 today. The upgrade isn't even burned in. I'm in complete shock. I can't believe what I'm hearing. My 707s are phenomenal. I don't even have my sub on. But Utopias.... Speechless. I only thought I knew what good bass was. Just... **** me! And that's on a pure crap USB connection waiting for my streamer. And resolution... Again... Clueless. I thought resolution was hearing an artifact... The information, texture, complexities.... END GAME.

 

[iFi audio]

I got my Z40 today. The upgrade isn't even burned in. I'm in complete shock. I can't believe what I'm hearing. My 707s are phenomenal. I don't even have my sub on. But Utopias.... Speechless. I only thought I knew what good bass was. Just... **** me! And that's on a pure crap USB connection waiting for my streamer. And resolution... Again... Clueless. I thought resolution was hearing an artifact... The information, texture, complexities.... END GAME.

Quite the amp, isn't it ?