Sonnet Audio Morpheus


No shortage of DACs out there for sure.

But here’s another DAC worth some investigation.
Anyone here own one or heard one?
Opinions, impressions?

I read the 6Moons review where it earned a Blue Moon Award but
I find their reviews cryptic and the writing style difficult to follow.

Built in Netherlands, available in US.
Not cheap but far from the upper end.
128x128rja

I just pulled the trigger on a Morpheus. I made the mistake of selling off my Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE thinking I’d simplify things down into a “all in one”.. who was I kidding 😂.  I miss the R2R/multibit sound so much I’m back into one. I considered the newer AMT IV but decided to try something different and I’ve had EXCELLENT service from Rob at Audio Art with some other things including cables, so grabbed his last Morpheus. Next shipments next leaving Europe until sometime into Sept so no ETA. 

Anykne have any follow up thoughts to share for those that have owned one for a while. Looks like mine is the new MKII version which includes a hardware dip to lower the DB by -10 as some with high gain amps/speakers were complaining it was too hot. 

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@dalims4 perfect. Mine arrives tomorrow. I partly chose the Morpheus because I plan to use it direct. Glad to know it works great direct. 

@rja @kray @dalims4 @audioartcable I’m strongly considering the Morpheus as an upgrade DAC.  I’d need to also purchase the Denafrips Iris DDC and a Phasure cable to use the very highly touted I2S input because I have an Aurender N150 streamer that I really like which is USB output only.

My current DAC is a Chord Qutest.  The Aurender has proven that the Qutest is a very competent DAC but I can now hear some issues that others have mentioned. Also FYI, the Qutest upscales.  My previous decent DACs were both NOS.  Maybe I just prefer a NOS DAC    Should I:

1 - just do it, get everything the reviewers loved, the Morpheus, a DDC (Iris or Hermes) and the Phasure cable;

2- get the Morpheus with a USB input because its USB input is better than reviewers give it credit for; 

3 - buy the Pasithea because it’s USB input is much better and overall it is a far superior DAC.

I’m not opposed to 3 but I also plan to upgrade my integrated amp. Any funds saved can go to that upgrade.  Number 3 would need to be a significant upgrade.

Thanks!

@kray how did you connect the Iris to the Morpheus?  A Phasure cable?  
I’m also considering the Denafrips Hermes DDC. Do you know if it uses the same pin-outs as the Iris or does it not matter because I‘ve read that you can program the pin configuration via firmware on the Hermes?

@txp1 i had both the Hermes and Gaia but they are programmable so doesn’t matter. BUT the pin into the Morpheus is not common. I had a Cardas Clear RJ45/i2S cable made specifically for the Morpheus. 

@kray   Hi kray,  can you give me details on how to do this? Did the cable dealer know what to do or did you need to give specific pin-out details? Or did your Morpheus dealer assist?  As you said, and I’ve also read that some people have needed to “program” the Denafrips Hermes by trying different I2S setups in the Hermes setup menu.  Did you need to do that even with custom cable?

Thank you for the assist!

@txp1 sent you a PM

Yes my dealer Rob at Audio Art Cable, knows the pinout and has the cable end that goes into Sonnet pinned correctly, and working with Denafrips DACs.

I'm selling a Cardas Clear that is already pinned for Sonnet / Denafrips if you're interested.

@kray thanks for the cable offer but I’m now leaning toward the Audio mirror Troubadour SE IV for several reasons, excellent USB input and lower output to my integrated amp are among those.

Srajan, writer of the review on 6moons, eventually bought the Sonnet Pasithea. So good it was, he replaced the termi + in his downstairs system with the Pasithea. Obviously, he is a fan. 

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Which of the two  sonnet audio Hermes (the roon bridge) or  Denafrips Hermes (a DDC)

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