Thanks for sharing! You have an excellent reference DAC! 👍🍻

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and watching!

Thanks man! Glad I could help! Whenever I want to change the OS filter it always takes me so long to find out how. We needed one of these! 👍🏻🍻

Thanks man!! 👍🍻 Big fan of Alvin and Vinshine myself!

Nice! Did you notice a jump in audio quality each step?

@@MisterChibs I did. If you have an endgame setup, adding a Venus II, Terminator or Terminator Plus will just open up the capabilities for the rest of the system. Sandu from SoundNews stated the T+ made the LCD-5 sound unrecognizable.

Thanks man!! Glad you enjoyed it 👍🍻

Thank you for clarifying!

*Delta-SigMa

R2R, and Delta Sigma are the two most common types of DACS. If the ladder is built using discreet matched resisters it is an R2R. If the ladder is built on a chip it is a Multi-bit DAC. Schiit has several good ones.

Cool, what do you have it hooked up to?

Thanks for sharing! Currently testing the Singxer SU6 DDC. 👍🏻🍻

Totally agree on the DDC. I own a venus 2 with the gaia. I did not love the venus 2 until I added the gaia. Venus 2 sounds best with I2S input.

Totally agree, thanks for sharing! 🍻

Thanks so much Ip Man!! 🍻

Nice!

Wow, You've run the gauntlet, thanks for sharing. Totally jealous about your T+. Really want to demo that one day!👍

@@MisterChibs It wasn't planned. A used Venus2/Gaia came out not long after I got the Pontus2/Hermes, at a decent price, so I decided to go for it. Then not long after, an even better priced T+ came along. Quite crazy indeed, this sudden upgrade madness. In fact i got into the DAC game only just a couple of months before I got the Ares2. It was a used SMSL SU-9. In some ways, the SU-9 was better than the Ares2 - more dynamic, forward and exciting but less smooth than the Ares2. By the way, thanks for your great review.

@@davidyan5502 Thank you David! Life happens in-between our plans. It's awesome how things sometimes work themselves out like this, eh?

Holy smokes haha, amazing.

Hello. Could you share your experiences after addition Hermes to your system along with the Pontus II ? I am using Sotm sms 200 neo streamer and I just purchased Pontus II 12th anniversary. This is a great dac! I would like to buy Hermes DDC but I can't decide what to do. I also want to buy Sotm Sms 200 neo Ultra and Sotm sps 500 power supply. I have a limited budget. I can only buy Ultra neo and sps 500 or only Hermes. What would you suggest me to do ? Thanks anyway.

Thanks Steve! Glad to have you here!! 👍🏻🍻

That's great, thanks for the update. I currently use Mogami AES from my U2 Mini and it sounds great. Haven't tried Gotham but maybe I'll hunt one down and check it out. Definitely want to now that I found out they're purple! 😆

Nice! 👍🏻🍻

Thank you Gilberto! It's supposed to be a noticeable jump in sound quality from what people on the forums say. Please let me know if you end up doing this and how it compares! 👍

Thanks for your comment. I’f like to review the T+ at some point! 👍🏻🍻

Thanks for that! I've had some of those companies contact me and I politely decline. This channel is a passion project for me and I like picking what's next. Stay tuned! 🍻

Yesssss!! So similar to my story. If I could just go back and tell myself what to get, I'de save so much $ and time side-grading. That's one of the ways I'de like to help people on here. Enjoy your Pontus II José!!

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve always wondered how different Ares II sounds. In my research I noticed a lot of people upgrading to Pontus, so thought it best to start there. It’s an awesome DAC! 👍🏻🍻

Much appreciated! Thanks for watching! 🍻

Nemo Propaganda - Lets go!!!!!!! Just sub'd your channel so I know when it hits. Great channel!

Sure is, thanks for sharing your experience. I find the difference is more noticeable than chip dac filters. It's subtle though. Enjoy!!👍🍻

Thanks for sharing Robert. 🍻

Thanks for watching!!

Thank you Todd! 👍🏻🍻

Thanks Gary, would love to try top tier too. Terminator Plus / Hollow May. One day! 🍻

Thanks for your comment, Steve. Have never tried an Ares but can appreciate a difference between my Venus vs just about everything else I’ve got (in my system of course). Best advice I can give you is buy from dealers with a return policy. I also really like Chord so far. They are dealer based so maybe you can get one for a demo. If you get the chance, check out my Mojo 2 review. 🍻

Thanks Jaqen!! 👍🍻

Glad you enjoyed!

Thanks Nia!! 👍🏻🍻

Hi Shaun, Thanks man!! You can see my setup in my H190 Video. The subs are SVS SB2000 Pro's. I hear good things about the KC62's though. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nOCGq92X096ndX0.html

Nice James! Would love to compare the Holo Spring to my Venus one day. Thanks for sharing your experience. 👍🏻🍻

Hi, I have that same DAC and PRE setup. What tubes do you use in the Freya Plus?

It should all depend on your system as a whole. Maybe the money would be better spent on a new amp or speakers. Only time to upgrade the DAC is when you feel it's your main bottleneck imo. for example, If you had a gusterd X-16 I would say yes upgrade immediately!

Haha thanks Lawrence!!

Thanks Anton!

Ahh you spotted it! Answer’s in my latest video. Sadly, the DAC may stop being more expensive than my speakers 😂

@@MisterChibs ah yes, the road to Cornwall, I have it saved to watch, so I’ll find out soon! Those speakers are huge, the sound presentation is going to be night and day different to your KEFs so hopefully you’ve been able to demo them!

@@Benvos Cornwalls are amazing speakers!! 👍🏻🍻

Thanks for watching! 🍻

Thanks man. Hmm tough call for me because I haven’t tried either DAC. If I were to guess I would say the Ares 2 would be a bit of an upgrade because it’s R2R. At the very least you should notice a difference in SQ. A lot of people who get the Ares end up trading up for the Pontus so I would check for sale forums for a good used one and save some cash. Pontus would be my recommendation if you can save a bit longer though. Even with just headphones, it’s a beast of a DAC!

Thank you Sean!!

Hey man, thanks for sharing your thoughts! Hegel’s H190 DAC is definitely good and very smooth indeed. No worries there. My situation is a bit different, I already had the Pontus before buying the H190. Initially I planned on keeping that hooked up to my headphone rig in my office and keeping the H190 separate with those LS50 Metas (in media room). Now I have figured out an other DAC for my Headphone rig (reviewing that eventually) because of the sound the Venus + H190 gives me. If you ever get the chance to demo one of these with your Hegel, let me know what you think. It’s a really nice and different experience. Is it a must buy? Of course not, but it is awesome! Enjoy your H190, amazing Integrated!👍🏻🍻

@@MisterChibs Thanks for your reply i really enjoyed watching your video by the way, you make very entertaining reviews. Have you considered moving up to the Hegel H390? For me personally i think that would be the way to go. In the UK the H390 is 2K more than the H190 roughly the same price as your Denafrips? The DAC in the H390 is very high quality and it has better amplification than the H190 also in comparison its close to the bigger H590. At this price point its out of my budget but if i was spending that kind of money on a DAC and amplifier together i think i would probably lean towards this option.

@@hclandscapes glad you liked the review! From what I hear, the H390 is a phenomenal integrated and I’d love to demo it one day. Having said that, I don’t think I’d like to be without an R2R DAC for my loudspeaker setup.👍🏻🍻

@@MisterChibs the 390 is definitely out of my price range but im super impressed with my H190. I decided to swap my H120 for the H190 to power the Dynaudio emit 30's. With the extra power the dynaudio's sound phenomenal, massive soundstage with an effortless power reserve.

@@hclandscapes yesss I don’t feel the H190 is limiting me in amplification either. It’s amazing!!!

Thanks for sharing your experience! It also helps to run a humidifier with distilled water during the winter months. I'm very careful now. 🍻

Thanks for sharing your experience Michael! 👍Glad you're enjoying your system with the new Venus!!🍻

Thank you David! They make great knifes!!

@@MisterChibs Indeed.

Would love a remote.. The Spring is supposed to be an awesome DAC. Would love to demo one of those + a May at some point. Great stuff, thanks for sharing your trip!

Oh man, would love to demo one of those!

Is it worth 2.4 times the price?

Denafrips and digital glare shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence 😂

Thanks for watching Jos, I have used the Node with the Venus but like anything else in audio, there's always room for improvement. Check out my Lumin U2 Mini review where I directly compare both streamers. 🍻

Thanks Michael! It's an awesome DAC! Let me know what you think.🍻

@@MisterChibs Trust me I will... Debating on Roon. I just ordered the Mercury V2 pi streamer with the i2s output, along with AES, etc... Debating on Roon. What to do? I have a Mac mini and a mini PC I can use... I don't know, seems like another headache seeing what you went through with your Node.

@@michaelwright1602 Try the Demo and get totally sucked in. You will probably end up getting it 😉 Once you try it there's no going back imo. Here's my referral link. Don't think I get anything since they already have my $. It gets you an extra 30 days to demo though. Not that you'll need it, I was hooked on day 2. 🤟 roonlabs.com/r/ginFcYS3XUOkWa4H6UrYmQ

@@MisterChibs LOL! Will do, thank you for the link! And I just received an email from our friend Alvin, he gave me a nice discount on the Venus II, just a class act. I wish more audio dealers treated customers like this.

@@michaelwright1602 That's awesome Michael, congrats on the Venus II!!

Thanks, that’s not my car but I’m definitely male! 🤣

@@MisterChibs 😂

Thanks 🍻

Thanks Mark! Let me know how you like the Venus. 🍻

@@MisterChibs I will .

Just took delivery of the Venus II 12 , I’ll run it in fir a week I’ll leave my impressions.

The V2-12 fresh out of the box surprisingly sounds exceptional , I took delivery late Monday by Tuesday afternoon I was surfing through my library of music everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Rammstein. Those first selections I was immediately drawn into the music I was surprised and thrilled at the same time . Well recorded vocals the tone and timbre were particularly well produced having a more natural sound then my previous dac , horn sections Harry James , Count Basie generally big band and Jazz are beautifully rendered , Chesky’s beautiful recording in that NewYork church of Mozart’s Ave Verum really got to my emotions, I don’t normally listen to choir/ organ however this piece aways manages to put a momentary 1000 yard stare on my face so my wife mentioned on occasion. I like what the Venus 2-12 has brought to my speaker system entry level speakers TeKton Lore with factory upgrades, Accuphase 280 integrate , recondition Pioneer SX-5590 receiver, Sugden AU 41 amp and pre , DIY server used mostly ripped cd library and as crazy as this may sound the monster Pioneer lit those TeKton lores up , I very much prefer it over the Accuphase and the Sudgen .

@@marks.2909 Thanks for sharing! They say it gets better with burn in but my initial experience was similar to yours. Really good right off the bat. Enjoy your new DAC!!🍻

I mostly leave my Venus on now. As for LED's, it's peace of mind to know bitrate is changing. When I started this hobby I was unable to get bitrate to change due to improper setup with my computer. I appreciate that visual confirmation. Thanks for watching and enjoy the Pontus (should you get one)! 👍🍻

Thanks 👍🏻

Thanks Cameron, glad you mentioned this. I do have something coming down the pipeline that involves using the i2S port. Have not tried it yet but excited to do so!

@@MisterChibs Having the Mano Ultra MK2 streamer via I2s to the Venus2, amazing!

Cameron is right. I2S on the Venus is taking this DAC to the next level. However I2S is something you need to learn about. If done wrong your experience is downgraded. You can buy a I2S device like one Alvin suggested or start working with a Rasberry pi with some add board from Ian Canada . That’s what I use.

@@RonnieLibbul oh man, you're making me want to try this input! Crazy that it can make such a noticeable difference. Can't wait!

@@hansbogaert4582 Hopefully I figure how not to do wrong. I'm assuming you're talking about the type and length of hdmi cable? Or is it something else?

Was it the one where the guy had a Pontus, Venus, and Terminator? I remember reading that article. Do I agree with it? Not really. They're both great DACs and your budget should dictate which one to get. I can also assure you, in my setup the Venus is beyond engaging. It's actually at the point where it's married with 2 kids in middle school. 😉 Thanks for watching! 🍻

@@MisterChibs Yes , that was the one. I currently own Ares II and I am at the verge of pulling the trigger for the Venus . I was hoping for a more resolving sound, but still full body , without leanness. Your experience reassures me. Thank you my friend, yours and youtube.com/@SmallRoomAudio?si=XABoIJ_BNFg-0wG1 's amateur approach to reviews , is very dear to me :)

@@s37en_gr thanks man! Let me know what you think of the Venus (if you get one). Should be a big jump for ya! 🤟🏻

Thank you!🍻

I mainly use Supra cables for digital. I have USB, Coax, optical cables by them and use whichever suits the situation. Mogami makes good cables too. My advice is to try out both usb /coax and see which you prefer. Inputs can sound different and yes, i2s does sound best on my DAC. Getting into that in my next vid. Thanks for watching. 🍻

@@MisterChibs thanks for the review and the response. Looking forward to your next video.

Thanks Peter. The Pontus will be better in EVERY way. Try going back to your burr brown after a while and you'll see what I mean.

@@MisterChibs we shall indeed see! So much hype but it seems founded at this point.

@@peterwood2633 Let me know how you do with the Pontus!

@@MisterChibs first I'm going to stack Linton heritages and continue on current Arcam irdac. Think it will then be easier to see what a new DAC does. Thing is I like rock and metal a lot but also electronic, some people say r2r bit slower? I reckon a chord qutest would match Lintons well, perk them up a bit not that they're lazy or anything but not the most resolute speaker

@@peterwood2633 I looked into the Lintons recently and found that their top end is a bit rolled off and not as resolving as a result. Either the Chord or Denafrips DACs should definitely improve things but I’m wondering if you should demo a different set of speakers instead. Since your into that heritage vibe, Forte / Heresy IV (I’m a sucker for Klipsch) but also KLH Model 5 come to mind. Both of those will still be balanced for your type of music while giving you more treble detail. Not meaning to confuse things for you but it may make more sense going after the root of your problem first. Then later on, upgrade the DAC and be even happier with your setup. 🍻

There are possible ways around it going forward. Working on my Chord Mojo II review, and how they handle it is smart. It’s light changes colour depending on which bitrate it is, so you know from across the room.

Yea, I may have made it a bit to hard to find. It's like a split second type of thing you would have to pause the video to figure out. Then you'd be like "OOHHHH YAAA!!!!" Hoping someone gets it eventually! Thanks for watching and trying to find it though 👍

@@MisterChibs Peaches & creme and Green Giant is pretty obscure!

@@antonchigurh4125 Dude, you found it!! Now it must be decoded!!! Funnnnnnn!!!

Photographer 🍻

Haven't heard of Border Patrole before. Looks like it could be decent. To your point, I just went and searched for my Venus ii on Canuck / US Audio mart. The only listings that turned up were marked as "sold", and not at a bad prices either. In contrast, I found 3 listings for Border Patrol SE-i USB Dacs ranging from $975 - $1250. Weather it's selling a dac made in China or USA, it's still going to be a PITA to sell privately, and you're going to take a bath on price to a certain degree. We're not flipping Rolex watches here. You're entitled to your opinion about Chi Fi stuff and I would agree with you when it comes to some other brands, but Denafrips is in a different league imo. Thanks for your comment, it was interesting to look in to this.🍻

@@MisterChibssorry for being so negative, seen too many rave denafrips reviews on youtube, the border patrol se i is a bit more than decent...it's handwired in usa by the designer one at a time, nos tube rectified and more importantly tuned by ear and not for measurements like chi fi. if you can get the se i version under 1k try it, it will beat the pontus for rich fluid tone but will have less detail and brightness if that's your thing.

@@yaniv-nos-tubes It's okay, you're just sharing your opinion on my Pontus / Venus ii review and that's what the comment section is for. As far as My "thing" is concerned: It's definitely not for brightness, nor have I ever considered the Pontus ii bright while I owned mine. Have you tried one out?

Thanks T 🍻

Sorry, I can't remember. Contact Alvin from Vinshine.

Thanks, I’ve since switched the Keffs to an other room. Running Klipsch Cornwall 4’s now 🍻

They're very different beasts. Sound quality alone, the Venus 2 is a much better DAC. Feature wise, the RME wins with it's own headphone amp, crazy amounts of customization, eq, lcd, etc. 🍻

Back then I was primarily using the Bluesound node.

Yes sir! Big fan of the Node 👍🏻

I'm trying to find people who are using a raspberry Pi (pi2aes) as a streamer. Got the pontus a few days ago, but the i2s connection isn't working with the pi. Problem is I don't have access to any other streamer with that output, and any other DAC with that input. I really hope my pontus isn't broken... I live in Canada as well and that $350 price to to send it in sounds insane. Regardless, I noticed today that the sound is really changing and it's great. I've always experienced improvement with burnin for literally every piece of equipment I've bought.... So I know to be patient. But yeah, sometimes things sound great right out of the box... So it's hard to say. Entertaining review. Good stuff.

@@mikehuntington4440 thanks so much for saying Mike! The Pontus is amazing on Coax if you have that option with your Pi. Admittedly I have no experience with i2s but know it’s a s**t show when it comes to cross brand compatibility. I bought a DDC that outputs i2s for an eventual video review but in this case I know to use the PS Audio pin layout. Have you tried to reach out to Alvin or Vincent at Vinshine? 🍻

@@MisterChibs Yep, I've been talking with Vincent and Michael (I think he's the designer of the pi2aes hat) and they are sending a pi2aes over to vinshine to figure this out. Apparently, someone else got a Pontus recently and is having the same problem, so they want to get to the bottom of this. The Pontus i2s is configurable so, it shouldn't be a problem.... but it is. Both seam to being really trying to be helpful, especially Michael. We'll see what they find out.

@@mikehuntington4440 Let me know how it turns out and if you can hear a difference over i2s vs coax. That would be interesting!

Thanks D M 😃

In my system, the Venus improves on pretty much everything I throw at it. Perhaps there’s something going on in your audio chain?

@@MisterChibs No its a fact. I mean try a delta sigma dac u have in say a drum solo or some infected mushroom tracks, u ll know what I mean. You need to have experience in live music and instruments of course or it will just sound different, “fuller”. It IS a good dac but I’m selling mine for the spring3. Faster bass, more control less artificial overall.

@@vagomaniac it’s gone up against all my other dacs including DS & FPGA and remains my favourite. Short of having defects, I’ve never heard or read any complaints about the Venus. This is why I suggest you check the rest of your chain and maybe see if the one you have is perhaps defective? In any case, the Spring / May DACS are supposed to be really good too. Let me know what happens.

@@MisterChibs ok. I guess you don’t get the term “dynamic”. Maybe watch the alpha audio comparison between venus bryston rockna and one more. It’s interesting how they set up their “experiment”. Enjoy your audio journey

@@vagomaniac That was presumptuous. I’m not going to tell you the way your listening to music is wrong and would expect the same from you / anyone else. I was just trying to help out because something seems like it could be going on in your audio chain (you didn’t mention what that consists of btw) If you’re chasing dynamics I would suggest a nice pair of horn loaded speakers. Cornwall IV are my current favourite. In any case, let me know how you like the Holo Dac. Would love to demo one at some point. 🍻

Hey Jason, I'm all for poking some fun at this gen's Dad's, ( & yea, that includes myself) But this comment made me think a little. So I appreciate that. Why am I not listening and reviewing this stuff with what "kids" are listening to today? I've alway been completely open minded and look for new things. Always looking for new stuff so I don't get bored (King Gizzard and the Lizard wizard is my latest obsession) My honest opinion is that most of what comes out today is total garbage to my Dad-Ears. Auto tune talentless mumbling trash and I wish that wasn't the case. I really tried hard to listen and understand why Drake is so popular but I can't. Fully aware that I sound like a curmudgeon here. Even figured, that's how I KNOW I'm getting old.. But I found out it's not just me. I read an article entitled "There is something very, very wrong with today’s music. It just may not be very good." by Alan Cross of the Globe. Probably an other Dad but man did this resonate with me. To pull some quick examples: These songs below are in top spots because of Netflix's Stranger things: Kate Bush’s 1985 song Running Up That Hill Metallica’s 1986 track Master of Puppets "This past week, Queen’s Greatest Hits (1981) just became the biggest-selling record of all time in the U.K" This stuff is beating out Drake and Bieber and yes it's because it's just totally better. I'll link it below (if YT lets me), really interesting read. If you have any suggestions of good tracks I'll totally check em out and maybe mention them in an upcoming vid. This in it's self would be a great topic actually. Getting back to your original question, the tracks I use in review videos is stuff I've been listening to for years. I'm familiar with it and that gives me a good baseline to judge audio quality. It also sounds flippin good 🤣🍻

globalnews.ca/news/9001083/why-older-music-more-popular-than-new-music/

Hey If you want to upgrade to my Tesla, bring me a GT3 and I'll trade ya even Stephen! 🤣

Thanks for watching Q2! Did your ears really bleed? 😱

You reminded me of this song 😆 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oMhhp9tl19Clh3U.html

@@MisterChibs what an outstanding band ))

@@q2forever778 🤣

@@MisterChibs my cute ears are very vulnerable, so be tender to them 😉

Yes, Hegel is great! Thanks for watching. 🍻

I have no clue what you’re trying to say, but thanks for watching and commenting.