Sorry, I forgot to mention the source to the DAC is an Auralic Aries G1 file player.
Banchmark DAC3B vs. Denafrips Pontus II (12th Aniv.)
So I'm considering one of these DACs. They're about the same price new. Any thoughts on which direction? My pre-amp and amp are both Benchmark and the speakers are Reference 3A NEFES II. I realize keeping it all Benchmark is appealing, but the Pontus looks very interesting.
I have the LA4 + AHB2 mono with KEF LS50 Meta + KC62 sub. I also have the DAC3B in the system but only use it with a tube headphone amp. I would not recommend the DAC3B over a slightly warmer DAC such as the Pontus. Though that would depend on how bright your speaker is. With my neutral sounding LS50 Meta I liked a bit of warmth. I used a Musetec 005 DAC and it was excellent. I sold the Musetec to raise cash for a used Lumin X1 and that is the best match so far with the LA4 + AHB2 + LS50. The X1 is in-between the Musetec 005 and the DAC3B in tone. If I cannot swing the $$ for an expensive DAC I am looking to buy in Sept, I will buy the Musetec 005 again for the Benchmark system and use the X1 on the new Livingroom system (my original plan).
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Interesting that the Pontus has significant problems with intersample overs. Benchmark has an application note that explains this scenario and what they did to fix it in their converters.
If using the DAC with a PC, a workaround is to reduce the output level a couple of steps in the music player or the OS volume control. Not ideal, but better than nothing. |
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I have heard them together ,the star not mentioned is the Gustard R2R26;dac which is better then the both especially in bass and dynamics the way the circuit layout is it takes a 2.5amp slow blow fuse you put in a respectable power cord which applies to all of them ,the Gustard has good size potted transformer the other 2 donot for lower noise ,it takes a bit more current draw ideally put in a Audiomagic -M1 fuse it removes any image density and adds detail .it’s actually a bit better rounded then the Synergistic Purple fuse which is still very good . If. You are willing to upgrade the fuse and use say a $200 Pangea sig mk2 using Cardas best Copper it’s a excellent value for the money .in our audio club we are within 200 miles or less of 5 states I have heard more then most shows just doa search on the Gustard if you buy the fuse ,writing facing Up or 1 withthe notch on the 1 on top . Give it a solid 200 hours runin and very hard to match at under $2k and has multiple filters you can play with. |
Have not heard those, but the Gustard R26 is a very good sounding R2R that I thoroughly enjoy, especially for tracks that are more… “musical” rather than gut punching rock etc.. I find the fast delta sigma to sound better for 24/192 tracks of “busy” songs blasted at, probably too, high SPL.
Sorry if I don’t have all the jargon or terminology down pat.. just saying.. the R26 sounds better than the delta sigma(it is an smsl su-10) for some music and the delta sigma sounds better for others. |
I’m not sure where this thread went but I’ll chime in and also say take a look at the Gustard x26 pro. Has dual chipset and extremely quiet in all aspects. (Clicking being mentioned on others in this thread are non existent with the Gustard and personally don’t think should exist with any DAC at any price) |
GUSTARD A26 DAC MQA Dual AK4499EX Chip with Streamer/Renderer PCM768& (shenzhenaudio.com)
GUSTARD R26 Discrete R2R Decoder with Streamer/Renderer PCM768&DSD512 (shenzhenaudio.com)
GUSTARD X26 PRO Full Decoding ES9038Pro*2 Chip DSD512 Bluetooth 5.0 X (shenzhenaudio.com) I used to own this one. It is a warm ESS DAC |
I would go with the Benchmark. It's a quality DAC from quality people.... don't take a chance on Chi Fi that still has bugs, and more importantly you can't demo it and there is no return policy. Any credible outfit will let you demo their gear, a no return policy is a huge red flag to me. To buy something new and to sell it if you aren't happy is insane to me . Support your local dealer.... |
I have owned both the Pontus II and the Benchmark Dac2 HGC and was able to compare them side-by side for as long as I needed to. My advice is this: If you’re going the Benchmark route (which I have done) there is great value in staying with Benchmark all the way through, from top to bottom – from Dac to Preamp to amplifier. Benchmark gear is incredibly synergistic in how it works together. It’s almost self-defeating to use any other gear with a Benchmark setup. Other gear just seems to subtract from the whole somehow. I had the Pontus II before I moved to the Benchmark gear (I was using Hegel and Primaluna amps). I really liked the Pontus and thought it was an endgame Dac for my system. But when I went to the Benchmark AHB2 and LA4, then compared the Pontus II with the Dac2, it was clear to me that in the Benchmark setup, the Dac2 sounded better. The Pontus now sounded colored and a bit flat sounding (less holographic) than the Dac2. The Benchmark gear is very neutral in its sound. When you insert something that adds color in a Benchmark chain, the coloration is quickly revealed and feels out of place. With my other amps, the Pontus II was just as good, and in some ways even better than the Dac2, but not so in the Benchmark chain. That’s my experience. YMMV. I’ve sold the Pontus II and haven’t looked back. So in your case, I wouldn’t rush to the seduction of rave reviews and worries that somehow you’re coming up short with the Dac3. You’re not. Not at all. |
Looking at these two offerings one thing is common neither support 32 bit inputs. While most folks don't care, for those that are curating 384 Khz 32 Bit Floating Point files to play would not be happy with these products. Simply speaking IMHO everything sounds better at 32 bit, Jimi Hendrix especially LOL! Everything; try it you'll like it too |
So the DAC3B has come and gone in the past 8 months. It was nice, but didn't wow me into loving it. I am currently using an Okto DAC8 Stereo and this one I like. While the Benchmark would allow a much higher output level thus allowing the AHB2 amp to be run in a lower input level, thereby reducing noise, I had found no difference in the sound, as overall distortion is way to low to hear anyway. |
I owned the Denafrips Pontus II for a short time before swapping it out for a Benchmark DAC3 L. I found the Pontus II to be very colored and it was a poor match with my Sudgen IA-4 integrated. The Benchmark DAC3 L has been excellent. Beautiful synergy. I have no regrets. FWIW I also owned a Denafrips Ares 2 which I liked very much, although I was running it through a Hegel H190 at the time. It was a huge step up from the Hegel's onboard DAC. |