MHDT Orchid v Denafrips Pontus


I've had an Orchid in my system for going on 3 years now. It's a great DAC, does exactly what I bought it for, which is present music in a natural, non-fatiguing way. I've tube rolled with it, used a couple of different digital cables, one of which did provide slightly more detail (Audio Art D-1SE2). I'm Denafrips curious though and would like to see if someone has had both. From reviews, I'm wondering if the Pontus would keep all of that R2R goodness and present more detail than the Orchid. Thanks!

audiewww

@viggen I see it took you about 10 minutes to sell the Pontus 2. Yours and another one listed and sold yesterday. They do be popular. I'm curious if you left it on for a few days before listening? What I've read indicates they don't work well unless they are under power all the time.

@ericsch the same tube you have WE 396A.  just last night i ordered the 6922 to 5670 adapter that is talked about in the orchid tube rolling thread to try out 6922 tubes.  ordered an amperex to try out.

@audiewww i left it on for 3 straight weeks and left the music playing through most nights.  my theory is it will burn in faster if you give the R2R resistors signal so to keep it physically moving.  ime, it sounded great on day 1 (which led me to sell my other two dacs Ares2 and D90MQA) but took a nose dive during the first week.  then, it gradually got better during week 2 and 3.  also did the chassis tweak which did unstress the mids and highs.

@viggen I have also used the 6922 adapter and an Amperex 6DJ8 tube in my Orchid. Warmed it up a smidge. 

thanks for the feedback on the amperex, @audiewww.  i don't really need more warmth.. i bought a second hand HDPlex 300 and previous owner installed a SR Orange fuse.  it's powering a LTA MZ2, my audio PC and Matrix H element.  sound is much smoother/warmer as result amongst other improvements.  was hoping for more of what i am missing from pontus... more extension and soundstage... at least that's what some users reported getting after installing 6922 into orchid... also have an Orange for the Orchid en route.. it's a 1A fuse tho... but, after i placed order, i read grannyring recommends 1.6A.. sigh

@viggen I just discovered something interesting. Perhaps you already know this. MHDT has an eBay (god...will the overloards strip this out?) store. I just looked at it for the first time and there are 3 DACs there not available on his web site or through LTA. One is a special version ($900 more) of the Orchid with the TDA1541 S2 that also now uses the 6922 instead of the 5670. The casework is also different, I like it. Apparently, there is something special about using the 6922s in his DACs.