Product Overview & Specifications
The Denafrips Pontus 15th Anniversary Edition is a true balanced, discrete R-2R digital-to-analogue converter designed for clean, natural music reproduction. Celebrating 15 years of digital development from Denafrips, the Pontus 15th utilizes a 26-bit R-2R ladder network paired with a 6-bit DSD architecture, using hand-matched 0.005% precision resistors to ensure linear signal processing. Operating in both Non-Oversampling (NOS) and Oversampling (OS) modes, it handles digital resolutions up to PCM 1536kHz and native DSD1024 via USB and I²S connections.
Built with a "box-within-a-box" internal layout, the unit isolates its linear power supply from the main digital/analogue conversion board inside an encapsulated 1.5mm metal alloy enclosure. The upgraded power supply features twin 80VA O-Core transformers feeding independent digital and analogue rails via pure silver cabling. Digital inputs are buffered by an adaptive FIFO memory buffer and reclocked by low-phase-noise crystal oscillators (45.1584MHz / 49.152MHz), suppressing incoming clock jitter from connected source equipment.
KEY FEATURES & PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGIES
- True Balanced 26-Bit R-2R & 6-Bit DSD Architecture: Hand-matched 0.005% precision thin-film resistor networks providing bit-perfect decoding with ultra-low background noise.
- Dual 80VA O-Core Linear Power Supply: Independent O-Core transformers for digital and analogue sections, coupled with ultra-low ESR reservoir capacitors and pure silver internal wiring.
- Encapsulated Box-Within-A-Box Design: 1.5mm thick metal alloy internal enclosure isolates the linear power supply from the DAC motherboard to eliminate electromagnetic interference.
- Adaptive FIFO Buffer & LPNO Reclocking: All digital signals are buffered and reclocked by on-board low-phase-noise crystal oscillators, insulating the converter from source clock jitter.
- Native NOS / OS Operating Modes: Switchable between Non-Oversampling (NOS) mode for direct native rate conversion and Oversampling (OS) mode.
- Ultra High-Resolution Format Processing: Hardware support for PCM up to 1536kHz and native DSD1024 over USB and I²S interfaces.
- Versatile Digital Connectivity: Equipped with dual AES/EBU inputs, BNC (75 Ω) and RCA coaxial inputs, TOSLink optical, USB-B, and I²S via HDMI LVDS.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Category | True Balanced Discrete R-2R / DSD Digital-to-Analogue Converter |
| Brand / Model | Denafrips — Pontus 15th Anniversary Edition |
| DAC Architecture | Proprietary True Balanced 26-Bit R-2R + 6-Bit DSD (0.005% Matched Resistors) |
| Sampling Modes | Non-Oversampling (NOS) / Oversampling (OS) |
| Master Clocking System | Low-Phase-Noise Oscillators (45.1584 MHz / 49.152 MHz) with FPGA FIFO Reclocking |
| Supported Resolution (USB / I²S) | PCM: 24-bit / 44.1 kHz to 1536 kHz | DSD: Native DSD64 to DSD1024 |
| Supported Resolution (S/PDIF / AES) | PCM: 24-bit / 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz | DSD: DSD64 (DoP) |
| Digital Audio Inputs | 1x USB 2.0 Type-B, 1x I²S (HDMI LVDS), 2x AES/EBU (XLR), 1x Coaxial (RCA), 1x Coaxial (BNC 75 Ω), 1x TOSLink Optical |
| Analogue Audio Outputs | 1x Stereo Balanced XLR Pair (4.0V RMS @ 1250 Ω) | 1x Stereo Single-Ended RCA Pair (2.0V RMS @ 625 Ω) |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 70,000 Hz (-3 dB) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD+N) | 0.002% |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) | 120 dB |
| Dynamic Range / Crosstalk | > 121 dB | Stereo Crosstalk: -110 dB |
| Power Supply Architecture | Encapsulated Linear PSU with Dual 80VA O-Core Transformers & Pure Silver Conductors |
| AC Mains Voltage & Consumption | 100V–240V AC, 50/60 Hz (Worldwide Voltage) | ≤ 20 W Power Consumption |
| Chassis Construction & Packaging | Box-in-Box 1.5mm Heavy-Gauge Metal Alloy Chassis (DAC Unit Only, Power Cord Excluded) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 320 x 330 x 110 mm (Including Feet) |
| Net Weight | 12.5 kg |
| Available Finishes | Black / Silver |
Customer Reviews
Denafrips
Guangzhou • Est. 2012
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DENAFRIPS PONTUS 15TH R-2R DAC
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