I'll also just throw out there that there's a Chinese clone of this amp available on eBay, they'll take $100 offers. I've got that one, and it's very good, so if you're interested in trying it but don't want to spend the full price, I'd recommend that. It's called the Zerozone NX-03 (I have the...

Thanks !- I'll try uninstalling JRiver and seeing if I can get foobar to work or something, but that'll probably have to wait until the morning. :)

I don't doubt that it could be an issue! However, I don't think it's necessarily causing my issue, because it happens when JRiver isn't running after a full restart/cold boot with every program you could think of. Furthermore, it didn't have this issue with my Schiit stuff. I'll look into it...

I don't think the issue is with JRiver specifically since Chrome also has issues (and Edge, etc.), so it's not program specific - it's something with the OS (which is Windows 10 Home). I'll try it with another computer - that's a good idea. I've tried with and without the ISO Regen - no...

Sure, thank you very much! I'll PM you so we don't have to clog the thread up.

I seem to have endless issues with the Ares, which is really a shame because I love how it sounds. It makes it a pain in the a** to use, though. Here's the situation: When I turn on my computer, I open JRiver and try to play a song. It get stuck on "Buffering" and hangs. I force close. I try...

This is what I'm talking about for 24/192 - I have DSD working through WASAPI (DoP) already, thank you for the information though! Does this setting not matter? Or does it go to 24/384 for you? EDIT: I've fixed this issue! Unfortunately, there's still a ton more.

I can't use ASIO on JRiver because DSD isn't supported over ASIO, and I do have some DSD stuff that I listen to. I normally have it set to WASAPI so I can play DSD. What I'm talking about for 24/192 is this: 1) right click the little speaker in the bottom right of Windows 2) click Playback...

What are you able to set output to in Windows playback devices? Also, are you using the XMOS Driver? Just trying to figure out what's wrong for me.

On Windows, it will only work for me with the XMOS driver, and with that installed, I can only select 24/192. I wonder why it will work on Mac.

Also, one more question I can't find (maybe I'm bad at Google). The Ares supports 24/384, but the XMOS audio driver only lets you output at 24/192. Why bother even saying it supports 384 then if you literally can't do 384?

I have the LISST tubes, and I do not recommend them. Get a decent set of normal tubes. The LISST are incredibly noisy - they're "solid state", but even Schiit admits they have a lot of noise. It makes it hard to enjoy music if you need to turn up the volume. The sound isn't special, either...

That's pretty much how I feel. Also, I feel like with planars, I can physically feel the sound a little more, like I can feel the guitar strings as an actual physical vibration, not just the sound. Obviously depends on a lot of things though, certainly including the recording quality. For...

Thanks. Good to know I'm not doing something wrong/I don't have a defective unit.

Modi Multibit is probably the best. I've had the Bifrost Multibit (which is the same sound as the Modi, just upgradeable) and it's very detailed, fun to listen to.