Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0 (vs Pontus II)

Quick update on my OP; I did place an order with the importer/distributor, but not for the Pontus II. I ordered the base (Standard model) Cen. Grand DSDAC 1.0, it arrived yesterday

Just some early observations:

Build quality - nice and solid, weighs around 10kg

Manual came in Chinese only, but the distributor sent me an English electronic copy, rang me and talked me through how to put the DAC in to "direct/fixed volume" mode as it was in variable volume mode out of the box. 

Started playing tracks via my Innuos Zen Mini Mkiii via USB - I was getting some bad hissing on tracks greater than 44.1khz - quickly resolved in the Sense software settings - Sense recognised the Cen. Grand immediately and displayed it as such in the connected devices/DAC's window. The hissing was irradicated by enabling the "Native DSD Support" in the Sense settings for the connected DAC/Cen. Grand.

The hissing made my heart sink until I thought about it logically and explored the settings and did the above - phew! 🙄😜

I put around 8hrs playtime through the DAC yesterday, so early days yet (around 200hrs recommended burn in) but I am quietly impressed. My existing DAC is a hand made, made to order DS DAC built around a Wolfson/Cirrus Logic WM8741 chip which is really nice for £500, and probably punches above its weight, as the manufacturer does not advertise and has no retail distribution costs. I imagine the cost would be significantly greater, should he have those costs. Just for some context to what I had. 

As for the Cen. Grand early impressions: greater separation of track components and clarity of individual instruments and backing vocals when there are any. 

Bass is strong, meaty, palpable with a tiny bit more bloat to it, but the distributor warned of this prior to delivery, and assured me this would tighten up over time. 

Mids and highs have a lovely clarity - resolved but smooth, very dynamic, lovely clarity - female vocals are beautiful (haven't tried any male vocals yet). 

I'm not a vinyl guy at all, so it would be disingenuous to say the DAC is analogue sounding, but I will say it feels like I'm listening to an "analogous" reproduction of the track, not a digital reproduction. Acoustic instruments - guitar, acoustic and double bass, and brass instruments - sax and trumpet are startling in their lifelike, in the room presentation. In a good, satisfying, pleasing way, as are female vocals (recording and mastering permitting of course). 

I need to spend a lot more time with the DAC of course, but my initial trepidation and anxiety about buying an unknown/untested (in the West) brand have dissipated somewhat. The distributor will let me return should the DAC not agree with me, but I'm not at that point by any stretch of the imagination, but will have to live with it and spend some quality listening time over the Christmas Holidays then hopefully have a fully-formed view of it. 

Thanks for reading 👍

Yep, I think I'll swerve Cen. Grand for now; just not enough to go on. The distributor says he's sold a few of the higher tier versions after taking them to a clients home, and the units have stayed with the client. 

There is a Chinese site, looks like the equivalent of ASR, with measurements of the DAC; Google Translator mangled what was written, but what was legible wasn't very flattering. But there weren't any listening impressions given, only measurements. 

This may well be a hidden gem, just like Denafrips DACs were to begin with, but I'm not going to risk it. The distributer has offered 7 day return if I don't like it, but that's not a lot of time to see if I can live with a DAC, what with work, dogs, life etc so I'm opting for the tried and tested Pontus II

Thanks @soix 👍

Christmas was busier than I envisaged, so didn't get to spend as much time with the new DAC as I would have liked, but I did squeeze some listening in.

Apart from the observations I've already highlighted, I'm starting to hear a wider dispersion of little effects on tracks, like little high percussion hits, subtle guitar plucks; track dependent, but sometimes these seem to originate quite far outside of the lateral plane of my speakers, quite startlingly so sometimes, to the point I'm not expecting it even though I'm very familiar with the material.

There is also greater sense of a 3D presentation, rather than a flat 2D plan/wall of music sat just in front of the speakers. 

All in all, so far, I'm feel far more immersed and engaged with my music withe Cen. Grand. It's a relaxed sounding DAC, but that doesn't mean it's not resolving, it most certainly is, but, and here's where my descriptive skills fail, it's resolving but doesn't throw track parts at you, it's all very civilised, but very engaging. 

Forgive my descriptions, I'm a bit rubbish describing what I'm hearing, and the above is my best effort at approximating what I am hearing/experiencing 😜

@mpoll1 congrats on the Cen. Grand; I hope you're enjoying it so far 👍. Ive lost track of how much play I've had through the DAC, probably pushing 100hrs.

Id be interested to hear your thoughts so far 👍

Thanjs again guys 😊

@soix thanks for your kind words; extremely generous 😊👍

Hi @ja_kub_sz thanks for your post. I'm glad you're enjoying your Cen Grand. Can't believe mu OP was over a year ago; boy how the time flies 

Anyway, thanks for your post; your observations certainly match my own. I did however have issues with my first Cen Grand unit, the Standard edition, and eventually had to call the distributor again. I was going to give up on Cen Grand at this point (left channel kept dropping out, after changing ICs, I couldn't get any sound out of it at all). The distributors customer service was top notch. 

I asked him to order me a Pontus II and I would return the Cen Grand, but he offered me the next up in the Cen Grand DAC line; the Super Clock edition which comes in at £3200, for no further cost of what the Standard version cost £2500 iirc.

This was last Spring and still going strong, no problems whatsoever, and the Super Clock just raises the bar over the Standard, more of everything.

I've also had a speaker upgrade since the Cen Grand; swapped out my Triangle Comete 40th Anniversary for a pair of ATC SCM 40's, and also brought in a Marantz Model 30 in place of my Atoll IN200. 

At the moment, not looking to change anything; very happy.

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you and your familes all have a great festive period, and a Very Happy New Year 🥳🎄🥳🎄🥳🍻🍾👍

@ja_kub_sz

I was gutted with the first unit, the Standard version, as I took a punt on Cen Grand over the Pontus. I tried various things, while on the phone to my distributor here in the UK, but nope, definitely a fault with the unit.

I asked my distributor to order me a Pontus after this, as I was very concerned, but he sent me a Cen Grand Super Clock model he had in stock while he waited for the Pontus to come through from Denafrips

The Super Clock has worked perfectly since, and I kept it. I can’t say I noticed anything untoward with customs checks; everything appeared as it should.

@ozzy62 Hi Ozzy. The only R2R I’ve heard is the Ares 2, but it’s been a while since I let it go. I’m not sure if you’d like it (Cen Grand), all I can say is, it pulls out all the details from music I could wish for, but doesn’t sound analytical and clinical at the expense of "soul" and emotion like I know some DS chip based DACs can do. This is really important for me. My system can and does bring me to tears, in a joyful way 😊

I still want to have a Pontus at some point, in addition, as I would like a good R2R, but for now, I’m more than happy with the Cen Grand sat on my rack 👍

@cd318 I used own the Ares 2, but that's not really a fair comparison with the Cen. Grande. For what it's worth, the distributor I deal with is also a distributor for Denefrips as well as Cen. Grande. 

He feels that the Denefrips doesn't compete with the Cen. Grandes with respect to the Pontus II vs Cen. Grande Standard; the same as you move up the respective lines. 

People obviously want to buy Denefrips from him; they're immensely popular at the moment, but his preferred DAC, and what he uses at the moment is the Cen. Grande Deluxe version 

@audiofilo123 me too. I took a punt on the relatively unknown Cen. Grande, but would look forward to reviews/comparisons as the brand gains a foothold in Western markets.

I've never heard the Pontus in the flesh, so not much use I'm afraid 🤔🥴

@ja_kub_sz I'm glad to know your dealer is working with you on this; it can be nerve-racking buying gear from a relatively unknown manufacturer (unknown in the West anyway). I know my dealer spoke to Cen Grand about this, as he's taken a gamble too when deciding to distribute for them in the UK. I met my distributor at an audio show here in the UK during the summer; he said he'd sent the unit back to them to look at, with a full breakdown of the problem.

But, as I say I couldn't be happier with the Cen Grand Super Clock, works flawlessly. Very happy with the distributor too; I'd email him, and he'd call me within the hour when I was having problems with the original Standard model. Of course, the heavily discounted/free upgrade to the Super Clock was very generous and most welcome too. Hats off for great dealers/distributors 🍻

@doni

I can't help you there I'm afraid; never heard the PS Audio. There is a good, sober review of the Cen Grand Super Clock which I have, by The British Audiophile. He mentions a hum, but mine is deathly quiet however, all my electronics are fed by the Puritan Audio Labs PSM 156 and grounding companion. Anyway here's the link:

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