I updated the firmware 3 days ago and it sounded much better than before. The tonal balance is much better from top to bottom. The bass used to be a little heavy comparing to my other dacs, Chord TT2 and Merason Frerot (BB chip based). I am very happy with the new firmware upgrade. The detail and sound stage have also improved noticeably.
As far as the synthetic, glassy sound in the highs, I do not experience that. It is maybe due to the warm sounding of my tube preamp, tube power amp, and speakers.
My front end: LHY SW-8 -> Lumin U2 mini (via Roon) -> Titan Helen (via Wireworld Platinum Coaxial) -> Pontus II (via Wireworld Platinum I2S)
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I tried it with IFi Zen Stream -> Pontus II (via usb) this late morning. It sounded very good too. So far I only put about 20 hours after the update. I also need to mention that the articulation of the mid has improved. It added more emotion to the vocal. Before the update, the Pontus II was well behind the Merason Frerot. But, It is very musical now. So, the update has been very positive for me. (Denafrips did ask me to send a screen shot to confirm a successful update.)
However, if you still have the synthetic, glassy sound in the highs after the burn in. you then really need to contact Denafrips. I believe they would like to hear from you about your issues. Especially, you didn’t have that problem before the update.
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Besides the burn in, there are still other issues needed to be considered, such as system synergy and weak link in the system. The new firmware may not be the weakest link in your system. Or, it may just be not suitable to your system. And, if you don’t try you will never know. I would say "Take this opportunity. It is free of cost. :)
My highest appreciation to Denafrips and Alvin.
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@audiofilo123 "Auralic Aries Femto connected with Audioquest Carbon USB and Belden 8402 from the dac to the amp."
"After some listening hours I get the impression that, despite the enhanced soundstage and definition, there is also some kind of artificiality to the sound.
There is more clarity in the mids and I can hear more details and voices / instruments are better scaled, but the bass is weaker and the treble seems more glassy. "
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I have 3 streamers, Auralic Aries Femto, Ifi Zen Streamer, and Lumin U2 mini. The Auralic has been with me the longest time. Ifi Zen is just for curiosity. And at last, the Lumin is serious and mature. It is more analog sounding, relax and musical. It will take the full advantages of the firmware update.
Good luck and good listening :)
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@audiofilo123 "Changing my system to pursue the dac “new sound” seems really absurd to me."
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I would have to agree with you on this. Now it comes to the realization of whether the new dac sound is actually an improvement to your system. This would be the system synergy.
By changing the streamer may not be enough, you probably have to change the interconnects, speaker cables, and so on. It is absurd to me too. For the past 40 years in this habit, I have had so many gears passing through my system, from the classics of Marantz Model 9, Mcintosh MC225 to Krell, Pass Lab, Joule Electra, Legacy Whisper, and on and on. After down sizing of life, luckily I am now still having the Kimber Select interconnects and speaker cables that I will not let go. And, just by changing the Kimber pure silver to silver-copper hybrid, the sound becomes warmer, relax, and musical. And the price for the pure silver ic is almost double the hybrid. This is system synergy. And it is not about the price.
To me, the updated firmware is great. It leaves us with a lot of potential. :)
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I can only share my point of view and my system. After hearing the Merason, I knew the P-II was lacking the emotion in music especially the vocal. I was about to sell the P-II. Then the update firmware came along. It’s free of cost so I gave it a try. And the rest is history. I am sticking with Denafrips. The new update is not only improving the tonal balance and articulation, but also improve on soundstage and transparency.
After I read
liangx5’s post: "I have seen enough positive responses not to be tempted to give it a try. The bad news for me is that my T-Plus is the last one in line to get updated, the good news is that hopefully by then they would have already learned and come up with a better/improved firmware :) "
I went back to watch Steve Huff’s "T-Plus 12" and Hans Beekhuyzen’s "T-Plus" reviews again. The way Mr. Beekhuyzen described the sq of T-Plus was like he was describing my post updated P-II. However, he did also contribute to the improvement to his latest new amp. As for now, I am waiting to hear the comments of updated T-Plus. I would be likely to replace the P-II and Chord with the updated T-Plus 12.
So, my conclusion is it all depends on both of whether your system could take advantage of the update or not and your personal preference. :)
Note: I have had the P-II for more than a year and It improved the area that was important to me right after the update. And it would be nice that it will sound even better later on. :)
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To everyone who is benefited from the updated firmware, I would put a value to this update solely based on my own experience.
After the update, I felt my Chord TT2 has fallen behind. Then I figured that if I fed the P-II with Wireworld Platinum I2S, I should give the TT2 a better cable (just to be fair to TT2, and, I am also a cable believer). So I order the Audio Sensibivity’s Signature Silver S/PDIF (BNC), and paid a small dough for the burn in. It costed me about $500. Now I am getting "the same kind of listening enjoyment" from my TT2. I don’t want to name who is better. I only wanted to point out that Denafrips and Alvin have saved us at least $500. :)
Note: Could someone provide me a link for advices on what SPF module, Ethernet convertor, and Optical cable that are best for connecting LHY SW 8 to SW10 because I already had the SW8. On YouTube. I remembered Alvin had mentioned that. Thanks
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I would like to give another input on this new firmware update.
To tweak the DAC to your system or personal preference, we have the functions of NOS/OS and sharp/slow filter on OS. This is done by simply pressing some buttons.
Now Denafrips has given us another tweak for free, the new FPGA firmware, the root of the existing NOS/OS and filters tweaks.
On the Chord TT2, the bespoke FPGA DAC, it offers 4 programming filters:
FIL1 – Incisive neutral: the default, filtering characteristic; the absolute reference.
FIL2 – Incisive neutral with HF roll-off:
FIL3 – Warm: a secondary filtering, a subtle warming tonality.
FIL4 – Warm with HF roll-off:
Therefore, the new firmware update maybe be an upgrade to one but may not be to the other. It is just like NOS/OS and Sharp/Slow filters. It all depends on your system and personal preference. However, I believe Denafrips and Alvin think it is an upgrade to the DAC. And to me, it is a major upgrade.
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Reporting on burn in.
I updated the new firmware on 4/6 and felt it immediately improved the sq like what sat7 had stated. With the advice from Vinshine, I have been patiently and curiously to hear any burn in difference in sq. Up until 4/30, it was still sounding good as before. During this time, I had 10 days with streamer/P-II on all day and amp off. However, everything changed on 5/1. It sounded much much better. At this point, I believed I had put in at least 350 hours in the new firmware. Now, the presentation is warmer and fuller or richer sounding. Or, it is more mature.
BTW, I am comparing the updated P-II to the DAC that costs 3-4 times the price. It is incredible how fast the digital playback has improved.
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I had the first update on PII and fully burn in now. I don’t think I will try the newest FW. As of this morning, my PII sounded very good, actually "Fantastic".
IMHO, the Lumin U2 mini plays a major role in the sound. And last week, I did the U2 mini LPS Mod from Alvin. It did improve the performance of the U2 mini.
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It seems to me that 1.3 and 1.4 FW are all improving the sound stage and transparency over the 1.0. However, if the system has tendency to harshness, the 1.4 is more suitable. And, if your system is on the warm side, then the 1.3 is preferable.
My system is on the warm side and 1.3 is just fine with me.
Thanks to Alvin for the upload.
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These FW updates are system dependent, involving the system synergy. You have to try it in your own system to know if it is an improvement or not. After the first 3 days, if you like it, then that is it and it will get even better after the burn in. However, if you don't like it, then that means your system can't take the advantage of the FW update. No problem, you can always go back to your original setup. It is just like any upgrade that all audiophiles do.
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