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.
I can resume like this: more Imax and less substance (meat-on-the-bones) can be OK at first but I miss the previous Firmware natural tone and palpable quality.
I am considering going back to the previous Firmware... although I must say that the “clicks” issues with all my CD transports (especially the Cambridge CXC) are now completely FIXED.
Denafrips Pontus II FPGA firmware upgrade 2023
After submitting my request for the upgrade yesterday, in the today morning I got the password and instructions to proceed. I got the time to do it this afternoon.
Now, I am listening for little more than an hour and my first impressions are of more clarity and tridimensionality. To assess things more easily I am using my Tidal playlist and so far I am very impressed with the SQ improvements - Auralic Aries Femto connected with Audioquest Carbon USB and Belden 8402 from the dac to the amp.
It is easy to say that now the soundstage depth and especially width are significantly enhanced. There seems to be another notch on realism and scale. Things are very composed and natural.
My system was already performing beautifully in terms of engagement, totally commanding our attention to the music, and continues to be, detailed but non-fatiguing, but I feel that there is now a bit more liquid quality to the sound, a bit more relaxed in a good way... but I have to listen more of course.
So far, well done Denafrips.
Note: the firmware upgrade was less straightforward than I expected, but it was mostly Windows 10 related
Showing 5 responses by audiofilo123
I will give it the mentioned break-in time and more, but now, after 4 days it still makes unhappy... let’s see how it goes. I haven’t change anything in my system and I was having a blast prior to the firmware upgrade. The sound was very natural and a pure pleasure to listen. I was 100% happy, and I still fell that I will be again with the previous firmware. Of course, my system still performs amazingly with my other CD players and dacs, My reason to upgrade was to stop the occasional sound “glitch” when connected to the Cambridge CXC, but I loved the sound. |
@mksun I admit that don’t understand why a Firmware change needs burn-in but I am not an Engineer so I choose to believe what the brands says, So I will wait, let’s say another full week until I reporting any more, just to be fare. Although I am still waiting for Denafrips response to my email, (asking for the previous firmware) to learn more about it. Previously I have always listen with the OS slow filter. A few days ago I didn’t change it to NOS but I.wasn’t impressed. I will give it another go today. The previous Pontus II performance was so special that it became a natural reference for digital reproduction, and Now I expect nothing less :) |
@mksun thanks for the information. In my use scheme, it is around 40 days (8 hours a day)... so far 8 days have passed. Now the sound is less glazzy and a bit less congested. But still not natural at all. And the qualities I miss the the most are: depth, center image , decay and separation. The sound, although less tin, is flat and uni not involving at all. I really hope to get back those qualities. |
Hi, I must say that I was expecting to hear some improvements on the FW1.3 but that never happened, in fact was the worst digital experience of my audiophile life. Then I have returned to the FW1.0 and all was instantly amazing again... in fact it is the best digital experience of my audiophile...in my system. So I totally recommend the original FW, and Denafrips products and the outstanding customer support. |