Denafrips FPGA Firmware Update

I recently installed the 3rd version (version 3.5) of the firmware update for the Venus II 12th anniversary. This one is supposed to flesh out the midrange and upper bass a bit. So far, I really like - I think the folks as Vinshine really nailed it.

I will say that it took a bit of emailing back and forth to Vinshine to make the update work on my mac - there was something wrong in the file name when I tried to run the install file. BUT - now that it's fixed, I can say really worth the effort. 

Only a few hours in but my impressions are that the mid range does indeed feel a bit more warm and dense. The clarity and detail are still there, but the sound is a bit  more rich, which is what I like. 

One interesting takeaway from this is that the FPGA chip that drives a DAC does in fact do something akin to equalization. That is, it must be giving some kind of weight to different frequencies when decoding the digital file, and I bet that all DACs do this to some degree, but the companies don't want to publicize this much as they know many audiophiles view any kind of equalization as a mortal sin.

What do folks think??

@liangx5  It was very interesting reading your results with' the iris and t+.  I recently read a review by another iris/t+ owner that had a different outcome.  I don't remember which update he did but after the update he sold his iris and went back to usb direct saying that sq was better using usb without the iris. I'm about to buy a t+ and will be going from an Aurender streamer via usb directly to the t+  i'm going to try to find the review i mention to see what version update was used and for that matter that I didn't misunderstand what he said to begin with.  I guess like the old saying goes, ymmv:-).

@marco1 Was that also Iris DDC 12th? The version of DDC could make a difference, I think, since the new 12th has some improvements e.g. power supply, new FPGA chip, etc. I could not compare the two DDCs since the old one is not compatible with my T+ after updating to firmware V3.7. I also remember hearing improvements over USB direct when I first installed the old Iris DDC 2 years ago, that time my T+ was running on V1.0 fpga firmware. BTW, I have clock sync set up so the DDC is using T+'s OCXO clock instead its internal TCXO clock. 

@liangx5  Can't answer that.  Still trying to find what I read 🤔

Found it!  He did not have the 12th version of the iris or T+.  So the upshot sounds like pre 12th versions the units were not compatible.  So Denafrips re-engineered and now they are.  Well that’s progress for you.