Denafrips Ares 15th DAC

[Tessie]

I want to buy the Denafrips Ares 15th DAC for my little desktop system. (PC USB connection)
Is this a good combination or is it a waste of money?

 

[Friesiansam]

I'm not convinced their way of doing DACing is better but, some people are. I would suggest the best thing to do, is to try it and see what you think. Just make sure the retailer won't give you any problems, if you decide to return it.

 

[Tessie]

I never used a standalone DAC before. I just want some options. I listen every day minimal 3 hours to music.
My AMP has the ESS Sabre ES9039 DAC inside but i heard the Ares 15th sounds more musical, so i can switch to it for older or jazz/soul music.

 

[SenseiKofi]

I want to buy the Denafrips Ares 15th DAC for my little desktop system. (PC USB connection)
Is this a good combination or is it a waste of money?

waste of money

 

[Tessie]

waste of money

Ok ...

 

[Revolutions]

I want to say that your DAC is pretty good so I doubt you'll hear a £1,000 improvement, if any. Or maybe try looking at the FiiO K11 R2R if you want to try that different type of DAC, which is £150.

But it's your ears, your pleasure, and your wallet. It's always fun to see what makes a difference, @Friesiansam nailed it: see if you can get one on loan or an easy return if you don't love it.

 

[Gray]

musical

I know that description is meant to be positive - but to me it suggests a less than accurate sound - and that's a negative as far as I'm concerned.
I'd never pay good money to mask the odd imperfection - and compromise the proper recordings.

But never mind what I think, why not arrange a home loan to see what you think.

 

[daytona600]

Check ebay Denafrips like most Chifi loses 50% of its value after 3months

 

[Jasonovich]

I want to buy the Denafrips Ares 15th DAC for my little desktop system. (PC USB connection)
Is this a good combination or is it a waste of money?

If musical integrity is something you value above accuracy and micro detail, then go for ladder resister solutions or R2R like Denafrips.
If it's the latter, then chipset DACs like ESS Sabre or AKM, is likely to be your best option.

 

[Vincent Kars]

R2R often has a substantial amount of distortion. The solution is to call this coloration "musical" e voila, marketing problem solved.
However the Ares 2 performs surprisingly good. So good it makes you wonder if is musical at all

Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review

This is a review and measurements of the Denafrips ARES II USB DSD DAC based on R2R architecture. It is on kind loan from a member. I think it costs US $680 so not too high for a custom DAC. The overall look of the ARES II is rather plain: The LED indicators are quite tiny so standing top...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Jasonovich]

R2R often has a substantial amount of distortion. The solution is to call this coloration "musical" e voila, marketing problem solved.
However the Ares 2 performs surprisingly good. So good it makes you wonder if is musical at all

Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review

This is a review and measurements of the Denafrips ARES II USB DSD DAC based on R2R architecture. It is on kind loan from a member. I think it costs US $680 so not too high for a custom DAC. The overall look of the ARES II is rather plain: The LED indicators are quite tiny so standing top...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It's easy to hypothesize but the appeal of R2R, is likely to win favour among the vinyl and tube aficionados.
It's more about taste really.

I have budget FiiO K11 R2R and very fine DAC chipsets to compare, though a little unfair comparison, considering the latter, costs about five times as much.
Nevertheless, it gives you an overview of it's tonality.
Two different types of fish served on a dish.
Do you prefer Salmon or Cod?

 

[Al ears]

It's easy to hypothesize but the appeal of R2R, is likely to win favour among the vinyl and tube aficionados.
It's more about taste really.

I have budget FiiO K11 R2R and very fine DAC chipsets to compare, though a little unfair comparison, considering the latter, costs about five times as much.
Nevertheless, it gives you an overview of it's tonality.
Two different types of fish served on a dish.
Do you prefer Salmon or Cod?

Pricewise I think that should be Bassa or Cod? 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

Pricewise I think that should be Bassa or Cod? 🙂

My wife keeps buying bassa from the supermarket
I don't have the heart to tell her I hate it 😂

 

[Al ears]

My wife keeps buying bassa from the supermarket
I don't have the heart to tell her I hate it 😂

It's ok in a curry, otherwise tasteless....

 

[Jasonovich]

It's ok in a curry, otherwise tasteless....

Awful fish, not only is it bland, it's smelly even after cooking.

 

[JDl]

My wife keeps buying bassa from the supermarket
I don't have the heart to tell her I hate it 😂

Ha, ha, tell her.... don't suffer in silence. Just be......what's the word.......diplomatic. Be diplomatic about it. What a conundrum.

 

[Jasonovich]

Ha, ha, tell her.... don't suffer in silence. Just be......what's the word.......diplomatic. Be diplomatic about it. What a conundrum.

Ha ha ha!
As soon she picks it out from the chiller, I'd say to her, the price of cod isn't unreasonable, treat yourself!
I think she might have cotton on! 🙂

 

[Revolutions]

John Dory is expensive but worth every penny. A fillet of cod or haddock will cost less but are no less delicious.

We are v lucky in the volume of quality hifi stuff at our fingertips. That said, I don’t think I’ve ever had Basa.

 

[Al ears]

John Dory is expensive but worth every penny. A fillet of cod or haddock will cost less but are no less delicious.

We are v lucky in the volume of quality hifi stuff at our fingertips. That said, I don’t think I’ve ever had Basa.

Good. Stear clear.

 

[Jasonovich]

John Dory is expensive but worth every penny. A fillet of cod or haddock will cost less but are no less delicious.

We are v lucky in the volume of quality hifi stuff at our fingertips. That said, I don’t think I’ve ever had Basa.

John Dory ugly as sin and possibly finest fish with a plate of real chips. I recall when we were at Thurlestone Sands a few summers ago, I had three little John dories on my plate with chips and a pint of scrumpy.............absolute heaven 🙂

 

[Al ears]

John Dory ugly as sin and possibly finest fish with a plate of real chips. I recall when we were at Thurlestone Sands a few summers ago, I had three little John dories on my plate with chips and a pint of scrumpy.............absolute heaven 🙂

I am drooling.....
Next try Gurnard

 

[Revolutions]

To keep things entirely on topic, one of my all-time favourite fish is sea bass, otherwise known in French as le loup de mer; the wolf of the sea.

Awesome fish 😎

 

[Al ears]

To keep things entirely on topic, one of my all-time favourite fish is sea bass, otherwise known in French as le loup de mer; the wolf of the sea.

Awesome fish 😎

Just shows how wrong the French can be, it neither has fur nor big teeth.
Meanwhile,back at the thread..... 🙂

 

[Revolutions]

Just shows how wrong the French can be, it neither has fur nor big teeth.
Meanwhile,back at the thread..... 🙂

It's a brutal killer though, just like the Denafrips Ares 15th...

 

[Friesiansam]

To keep things entirely on topic, one of my all-time favourite fish is sea bass, otherwise known in French as le loup de mer; the wolf of the sea.

Awesome fish 😎

I rather like Sea Bass too.