The DAC showed up!!

Geoff4rfc
Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
in The Clubhouse
Well, I sure got more than I expected and WOW!! What a difference. I didn't just hear new aspects of the music, there were things I didn't hear as well. There was separation of instruments, strings and horns had a velvety smooth texture to them, I mean wow, I didn't know my system could sound so good. There was space between the lyrics and the music.

The Denafrips Venus DAC came directly from China. The thing is a total beast. The delivery box weighed in at 50lbs.

My next and most likely last upgrade for the 2ch system will be a pair of mono block high current amps for the mains.

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Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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Comments

  • HzTweaker
    HzTweaker Posts: 1,025
    edited February 24
    Great news!

    I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. Don't stay up to late partying listening to your new toy. :D

    edit: @ 0220.
    2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)

    Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods
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  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,074
    Very nice looking piece of gear.
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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,295
    How's the innards/build? Looks solid.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
    edited February 24
    xschop wrote: »
    How's the innards/build? Looks solid.

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    You can see more and read about it here https://www.denafrips.com/venus

    Oh, it's pretty solid :o
    What I didn't mention was the unboxing ceremony. The website gives you dimensions but no info on weight. When it was delivered, UPS guy just lifts one corner toward me, I lift it up and thought (you gotta be $hitting me this is the DAC??????)

    I started with it on the table, couldn't get it out of the inner box so, I got it to the floor and did the turn upside down and lift outer box up routine. Still couldn't get the beast out of the box, so, I was going to do the same turn over and lift box up but......when I got the box on its side, the DAC flips OUT of the box, and not like it just fell out, like it was shoved out hard, and right onto my bare foot big toe!!

    Dude, you want to talk about solid? It knocked the color out of my toe, put a pretty good gash looking crease right at the base and I yelled some pretty fancy words as I hopped around and finally said, "Thank you China, I love you too!!!

    I thought it was broken. But not, today just a nice bruise that looks like I dropped a 50lb block on it, oh wait, I did :D and a Band-Aid, the crease started bleeding but not bad enough to need any stitches.

    After a stint of ice and walking around like Frankenstein's monster, I got the beast installed in rack, cabled up and dialed in and oh man, what a privilege it is to listen to my CD's now.

    Yes sir, it's VERY solid :)
    Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

    AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

    Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,295
    Gotta be quality with the copper donuts. Enjoy (with some ibuprofen)
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
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  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,976
    Good thing your toe was there to stop the fall.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre Upgraded with Mundorf Supremes
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
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  • SIHAB
    SIHAB Posts: 5,518
    Dude!
    Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,318
    Dang! Gotta watch them toes! Outside of that you're gonna love your new DAC. That is a superb new addition... enjoy!
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Dang! Gotta watch them toes! Outside of that you're gonna love your new DAC. That is a superb new addition... enjoy!

    Thank you lol!! Yeah, I need to rearrange the top shelf so I'll do so with extreme caution, maybe put on the steel toe shoes :D

    The DAC is such a beast, it'll anchor the shelf, the CDP will sit on top with venting space, then the BRP on top of that. And done!!
    Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

    AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

    Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
    Better symmetry now on the top shelf. And, without incident lol

    q0waf5n6toq1.png
    Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

    AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

    Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • HzTweaker
    HzTweaker Posts: 1,025
    I'm glad it's settling in without further incident lol.

    Are you considering using other digital sources with this dac in the future?

    P.S. thanks for not oversharing a pic of your busted toe lmao. :D
    2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)

    Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
    edited February 25
    HzTweaker wrote: »
    I'm glad it's settling in without further incident lol.

    Are you considering using other digital sources with this dac in the future?

    P.S. thanks for not oversharing a pic of your busted toe lmao. :D

    LOL I considered it, but no one wants to see that!!

    Yes sir. I'm sure at one point I'll want to stream through the DAC as well. Right now I have my sights set on a pair of high current mono blocks, then, sadly, I'm having a revision done to my knee replacement. That will put me in line to upgrade the 8802A to the AV10 (Marantz) and possibly the Amp10. It would be nice to free up some space in my rack. It's a tall server rack and is housing: four large amplifiers, the processor, DAC, CDP, BRP, the power conditioner, AC-infinity fans on the amps and processor and yeah, there's no room for anything else.

    The Amp10 with it's 16 channels of amplification and the ability to bridge them, would eliminate the four amps, and with the mono blocks, I'd still be able to run my current 11.2 and most likely a 13.2 by then.

    Stay tuned, don't you dare catch our next episode lol
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    Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

    AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

    Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • HzTweaker
    HzTweaker Posts: 1,025
    Nice looking setup you got there! I'll be keeping any eye on your build.

    Holla at me if you decide sale one of those (4!) amps.
    2ch rig: Speakers: Magnepan LRS w/Magna Riser stands Preamplifier: Parasound P5 Amplifier: Parasound A23 CDP: Pioneer DV-563A Cables: Wireworld Equinox 7 XLR ICs, Wireworld Ultraviolet 7 USB, AudioQuest Q2s, AudioQuest NRG X(preamp)

    Standby: LSi9s with VR3's Fortress mods
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
    Absolutely!!! Thank you!
    Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

    AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

    Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,074
    edited February 25
    Purdy....
    Daddy like 👍
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,508
    edited February 25
    HzTweaker wrote: »
    I'm glad it's settling in without further incident lol.

    Are you considering using other digital sources with this dac in the future?

    P.S. thanks for not oversharing a pic of your busted toe lmao. :D

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    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,715
    @Geoff4rfc I noticed you only showed us a picture of the front of your rack.

    Are you embarrassed of your cable management in the rear :smile:

    Sorry I had to poke fun at you since I’m a bit jealous of that DAC and your AVR lol…

    Not so much your blue emo stuff though :tongue:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,907
    @EndersShadow Haha Dan, it's a real spaghetti warehouse back there! You gotta know, with ethernet, 12v triggers, HDMI, speaker, XLR's and power (did I leave anybody out?) all for an 11.2 set up, there's a mess of cables back there. There is some management involved and could use a tad more cleaning up but it's doable :smile:
    Set up: 11.2 HT + 2ch

    AVP: Marantz AV8802A - Sources: BRP Panasonic UB9000/CDP Emotiva ERC 3 - DAC: Denafrips Venus - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-6, XPA-2 x 2 - Speakers: Focal/PolkAudio, Mains/2ch - Kanta No2, C - Sopra, SS - LSiM702, WS - RTiA9, RS - RTiA9, FH - RTiA3 - Subs: Epik Empires x 2

    Cables: Mogami AES from CDP to DAC - AQ McKenzie XLR from DAC to AVP to amp for 2ch, Emotiva XLR's for the rest - Douglasconnection: Furutech Alpha 36 12g speaker wire for 2ch, Furez 10g speaker wire for the rest - AQ Forest48 HDMI for the display, AQ Carbon48 HDMI from BRP to AVP - VR3 filtered power cables for CDP, BRP and AVP, Emotiva power cables for the amps - AudioQuest 707 power conditioner.

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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