PONTUS 15TH
A Digital-to-Analog Converter for Music Enthusiasts
Pontus 15TH has achieved an unprecedented breakthrough in audio quality. Employing advanced audio enhancement technologies, it delivers sound that is even more nuanced, profound, and layered. This is not merely a simple upgrade; it represents a profound challenge and transcendence of traditional audio perceptions, offering audio enthusiasts an unparalleled auditory feast.
This DAC boasts a genuine balanced R-2R ladder network array design, with each channel equipped with an independent high-speed CPLD.It decodes digital signals through four sets of 0.05% R-2R networks,ensuring extremely low distortion and background noise in the audio signals.Every note resonates vividly and fully,leaping into the listener's ears.
maintain the original sampling rate of audio signals to the greatest extent. Additionally, all digital inputs undergo FIFO buffering and are re-clocked by an on-board CPLD crystal oscillator,providing exceptional jitter suppression capabilities. This minimizes the DAC's reliance on the source device's clock quality, further enhancing audio quality.
Pontus 15TH's power design also exemplifies remarkable ingenuity. The innovative box-in-box design perfectly isolates the DAC motherboard from the linear power supply unit, effectively preventing external interference from impacting audio quality. Meanwhile, the metal alloy casing enhances the purity and stability of the power supply.
Upgrade Details
Low Phase Noise Oscillator
Major Upgrade of Capacitors
True Balanced R-2R
Ladder Network
Hand-picked tight tolerance resistors
Optimize the Circuit System
All digital input are FIFO buffered and reclocked by the on board LPNO crystal oscillators. The excellent rejection of word-clock jitter makes DENAFRIPS DAC less reliance to the source equipment clock quality. PONTUS 15TH can transform your consumer grade computer, CDPlayer to high-end sound quality.
Non-Oversampling R-2R DAC /Signal fed to the DAC remain in its native sampling rate without additional processing. PONTUS 15TH is a true NOS DAC.
Enhanced PSU & Conductors
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Pure Silver Cable and conductors for power transfer from PSU to DAC mainboard
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Fine Tuning of the PSU at components level to further enhanced the AC/DC rectifiers and DC regulators
ENCAPSULATED
LINEAR POWER SUPPLY
Clean power equates to the foundation of good sound. A dedicated linear power supply unit, designed and encased in a 1.5mm thick metal alloy enclosure, can be found underneath the DAC motherboard.
The box-within-box design, not only does it eliminates the inherited problems of dual box solution, it presents the details and attentions DENAFRIPS put into the premium DAC design.
Beefy dual O-Core Transformers for Digital and Analog sections, Ultra-Low ESR, Long Endurance Reservoir Capacitors, and multi-stages super linear power supply, ensuring ultra precision, low ripple power supply charging up DAC.
MID-END DAC
With its outstanding audio performance, precise decoding capabilities, and innovative power design, Pontus 15TH stands out in the high-end audio realm as a shining new star. It is not merely an audio device; it is an ultimate pursuit and tribute to the art of music.
FEATURED REVIEWS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
This is a true bargain in the realm of high end DAC’s. If it were $5k I would give it a positive review and say it was priced right. As it is, the cost is $1700 and that my friends is remarkable. This could be an end game dac for many out there, no matter the cost of your system. That in itself is remarkable.
Credit:
Steve Huff
An Expressway to Your Skull
With a combined price of roughly $2200, I know of no other digital to analog converter solution that comes anywhere near the IRIS II / PONTUS II combo in terms of conveying music with all of its attendant power and beauty in tact.
Credit:
Michael Lavorgna @ Twittering Machines
Highly recommended!
Denafrips Pontus is an excellent DAC that moves digital sound forward and does not have the usual bevy of digital warts. It breaks some of the long-standing digital barriers that have kept me from fully engaging with digital music. It is at a reasonable price point (by audio standards) and, based on construction and parts alone, represents a tremendous value. Now throw in the sound quality that I experienced, and I can’t think of a better value in a DAC today.
Credit:
Ken Redmond @ The Audio Beatnik
Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2020
In my DAC rating scheme, the Pontus is number one with a bullet. It's price of $2298 in Singapore dollars, puts it at about $1700 USD and I'm confident that nothing under $2000 will come close, they won't even make it into the same neighborhood. I told Alvin that its the high-end analog turntable of DACS, no, it's the tubuliscious tube amp of DACS, no... it's both. No kidding.
Credit:
Stu McCreary @ PF
The Best DAC This Reviewer Has Ever Heard; Bar None!
This DAC is transparent in ways that you won’t believe a piece of electronics could be transparent. The soundstage is holographic, the bass is punchy and deep, the midrange is unbelievably creamy and rich yet incredibly detailed at the same time. When playing music, the electronics simply disappear letting all the music out into the room. I rate this DAC an 11 out of 10 and I can’t recommend it highly enough. In fact, I’m going to buy the review sample!
Credit:
George Graves @ audiophilestyle
Audiophilia Star Component Award
The most impressive aspect for me is the huge image it renders, putting the musicians in a deep and natural space, and making my small listening room open up into something much, much larger. This DAC is an easy recommendation for almost any listener looking to move up the food chain, but at $1700 it is a no-brainer, and could easily hold its own in 5-figure systems. My strongest recommendation.
Credit:
MICHAEL JOHNSON @ Audiophilia
The Best DACs Buyers Guide Summer 2021
A Chinese-built DAC sold directly through a Singapore source, the Pontus sounds like a risky purchase. We got one, tested it, and discovered that it featured a “lot of cutting-edge DAC tech” and that “the price is certainly right.” “It sounded so good we’re curious about how much better the higher level Denafrips DACs are,” we concluded.
Credit:
part-time audiophile