1. Home
  2. digital
  3. 196573-154709

Best connection Mac Mini to Denafrips Pontus II

I am considering foregoing a streamer and connecting it directly to a Mac Mini.

I will be playing hi-res files from Qobuz. My previous dac was also a streamer, and prone to annoying dropouts; I'd like to eliminate/minimize this problem by hard-wiring the Pontus II. What is the preferred choice of input that will best serve my needs? I'm wrestling with the USB vs.I2S question.....if your advice is to use I2S, then the next question is based on the Mac having a 'regular' HDMI output, designed (as I understand it) primarily for video. I've recently read about a the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 .........which as you may know, converts the HDMI signal from the Mac into an I2S signal. What's your take on all this? BTW: If you think I'll be better off using a streamer, feel free to offer that............Many thanks! Michael

michaelc2020
stephengordon
11 posts
 

I run a MacBook Air USB-C to Denefrips Iris then i2S to Pegasus Musician DAC.

Superb.

I started with USB then bought a cheap (Douk Audio?) DDC to go iS2. Immediate improvement. Had a fair deal in front of me on the Iris so pulled the trigger with no real belief it would affect sound much. Instant, obvious increase in detail with no sacrifices. Let me put it like this - when the Iris went in I almost immediately regretted not paying a few hundred more for the 12th anniversary edition. I was just so surprised and impressed. Reclockers are a thing. i2S is a thing. 

 

lanx0003
1,939 posts
 

Get a Volumio Rivo Plus or an eversolo T8 and use the I²S input. Use a 0.5m Veritas HDMI/I²S or DH Labs HDMI 2.1 cable. There’s a 20% discount until Sunday. Buy both, try them for a month, and return the one you like least.

michaelc2020 OP
18 posts
 

WOW! Many thanks to ALL who have responded!
I’ve got some homework to do!
After all the reading and searching I’ve done, I’m beginning to think that perhaps this technology offers the simplicity I seek:
(Oops! cannot load an image-sorry!)
FWIW: It is a photo of an early 60's transistor radio....    smiley

vthokie83
1,224 posts
 

++++1 for Soix's recommendation of adding a Denafrips Iris between the Mac Mini and the Pontus; then run I2S from the Iris to the Pontus. The newly released Iris 15th is new at $550 or the earlier model can be found for $350 used.

Many of us use such a configuration (streamer - Iris - I2S - DAC), and the results are definitely a 1 + 1 = 3 scenario.

To this day I am still using a BlueSound Node 130 (with LHY linear power supply), to an Iris DDC, using a Audioquest Vodka HDMI (or sometimes Supra 2.1 HDMI) cable to a Denafrips Pontus II. The results are surprisingly terrific, and have held their own as I've upgraded every other component (preamp, 2 amps, cables, speakers) in my system.

Yes better sound can be had, but that'll cost way more than the cost of the Iris and a really good HDMI cable. Suggestion: keep the I2S HDMI as short as possible; it'll keep the cable cost down, and does provide better results in my experience.

More to discover