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Denafrips IRIS 12TH
Package Content : Includes only the IRIS 15TH and power cable.
Technical Highlights
- Proprietary FPGA DSP Processing Architecture
- FIFO Buffer and Reclock with Internal Crystal
- OCXO Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator
- Optical Isolated All Digital Input Interfaces
- Proprietary USB Audio Solution via STM32F446 Advanced AMR Based MCU
- Licensed Thesycon USB Driver For Windows Platform
- Driverless On Mac & Linux
- External Clocks Input Supported
- 60VA UPOCC Copper O-Core Transformer
DSD
- DSD64 (DoP) on Coax/AES/Opt Input & Output
- Upto DSD512 On USB Input & I²S Output
PCM
- 24bits / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192KHz On All Output
- Up to 768KHz On USB Input & Up to 384KHz on I²S Output
Digital Input
- USB2.0 Type B
External Clock Input BNC 75Ω
- 45.1548MHz
- 49.152Mhz
Digital Output
- Coax SPDIF via RCA
- TOSLink x 1
- AES/EBU x 1
- I²S HDMI LVDS Standard
- I²S RJ45 LVCMOS Standard
AC Power Requirement: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz (Worldwide Voltage, Manual Selector)
Fuse: T2A/250VAC. 5x20mm 2A Slow Blow
Power Consumption: ≤20W
Dimension: 220W x 250D x 44H mm (Feet +18mm)
Package Dim: 375 x 330 x 115 mm
Package Content: DDC & Power Cord. No remote control.
Weight: 3.5 Kg
Color: Black Silver
Warranty: 12 Months
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Professional Reviews 91/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
89/100
Features Connectivity
85/100
Value for Money
95/100
The Denafrips IRIS 12TH brings a holographic soundstage, sharper transient focus and impressively tight, deep bass to a capable DAC. Ken Redmond found its reclocked signal enhanced vocal density, low-level detail and instrumental separation, while flexible I²S, AES and S/PDIF outputs make this compact DDC a compelling digital-system upgrade.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Expands soundstage depth and width, with more convincing instrument separation, density and holographic imaging.
Improves resolution through more organic, present vocals, clearer subtle details and faster, more sharply focused transients.
Delivers tighter, cleaner and deeper bass with stronger attack and definition.
Offers versatile USB input plus AES/EBU, coaxial, optical and dual I²S outputs, with external-clock support.
&
Cons
Sound quality required an extended run-in period; the reviewer found it initially hard before stabilizing after several days.
I²S performance can be system-dependent because external I²S connector standards and pinouts vary between manufacturers.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
In the listening comparisons, the IRIS made the presentation more spacious, holographic and solid, while tightening and extending bass. It also brought greater vocal presence, sharper transient focus and more clearly resolved low-level details to the connected DACs.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
91/100
The reviewer heard bass become tighter, cleaner and deeper, with a sharper attack that gave music a stronger foundation. Vocals gained density, presence and a more organic quality, while the expanded stage made the presentation feel more like being in the venue.
Resolution and Detail
92/100
Subtle details were described as more fully revealed, with faster and more sharply focused transients. The reviewer specifically found small percussive distinctions, such as a clap versus a snap, easier to resolve through the IRIS.
Digital Performance
89/100
The IRIS is intended to lower source jitter and noise before the DAC, and the listening results point to cleaner separation, stronger focus and greater spatial depth. The review does not provide direct noise-floor measurements or explicit comments about silent backgrounds, but it consistently reports audible improvements from the cleaned and reclocked signal.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
89/100
The Audio Beatnik calls construction first class and highlights the board layout's short signal paths. The specifications also list an OCXO clock and a 60 VA copper O-core transformer, though the review offers little further commentary on long-term durability or internal finishing.
Features Connectivity
85/100
This is a comprehensively connected digital interface, with USB input, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU outputs, plus HDMI and RJ45 I²S outputs and an external-clock input. It supports PCM up to 768 kHz through USB and DSD512 via USB input and I²S output; there is no remote control, display, analogue output or headphone stage.
Value for Money
95/100
At the reviewed $575 price, the reviewer calls the IRIS an easy recommendation and “another exceptional value from Denafrips.” That is especially notable given the reported gains in resolution, imaging, bass control and vocal clarity when used ahead of two DACs.
Reviews
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- Audeos — online and in-store — Żywiec, Województwo śląskie (website)
- Audio essence — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- Audio Extreme — in-store — Kowloon, China (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- Headphone Zone — online and in-store — Laxmi Industrial Estate, Maharashtra, India (website)
- Lyric Audio — online and in-store — Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain (website)
- Magic Sound — online and in-store — Italy (website)
- Mister Hifi — online and in-store — Raamsdonksveer, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands (website)
- Musicraft — in-store — Derby, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 5 more verified dealers