Denafrips Ares 12th speculation/discussion/impressions
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simon740
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Are you satisfied with s.m.s.l sd-9?Ordered mine on 21 Dec and just received today 23 Dec as I stay in Singapore. Kudos Vinshine Audio!
Used to have the old CD6004 transport and HD DAC of Marantz which normally uses Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC that sounded sweet.
Then the recent SMSL M400 AK4499 failed to power up and was sent for overseas repair on 11 Nov which takes months... and thats why I bought the Ares 12.
AK4499 as compared to CS4398 revealed more details(image, separation, soundstage) and attractive center focus vocal which is engaging in their own smooth silky way.
Powering up initial impression R2R is... Separation and airiness, even a LOT more details and every little bit presence which faded naturally in a distant that most described as accurate analog tonality. Most importantly not sibilant.
I will need to wait for the return of SMSL M400 from repair to listen again in detail the enjoying factor and meanwhile run in Ares 12 listen to the rest of the songs!
Anyway, both DACs are awesome and won't go wrong with either.
Merry Xmas!
JerryLeeds
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I have both the SMSL SD-9 and Topping M50 … use them just with an attached SSD… output via I2S and playing whole library in shuffle mode … both units are great .. though I think the shuffle mode on the M50 is better .. my library has 20k songs .. I think the SD-9 is only randomizing a 4 digit number … or starting over the following day because I frequently hear duplicate songs whereas with the M50 I haven’t noticed a duplicate song as of yet
simon740
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Thank you. I'm also looking for something similar. I have all the music on my hard drive. I have Ares II
JerryLeeds
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Oh and with the M50 you can use an optional linear powered supply… which is what I’m doingThank you. I'm also looking for something similar. I have all the music on my hard drive. I have Ares II
whitedragem
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Wowsers I have the joy of hearing a Denafrips Ares (now Enyo) in a familiar system (and vs a slew of DeltaSigma DACs); it isn’t a close game at all ON SOME RECORDINGS,
I totally agree that some media might reveal ‘very little’ with regards to extra ‘musicality’, but for those tracks/discs that DO…(!)
Yesterday I spun (band)1 Giant Leap (first album), and, as an easy example- when “My Culture” spun, hearing the lead singers voices intertwine at the end.. .I didn’t even know that was ‘a thing’.
The extra vocal detail and clarity single handedly justifies this purchase / ‘an upgrade’.
The fact that all instruments just ‘resolve more’ (and that my mates ‘subwoofer free’ setup (Bowers and Wilkins Domestic Monitors)), out resolves bass detail that my NuVista and Sunfire Subwoofer setup DOES NOT equally resolve… )- a DAC upgrade can deliver more of everything we love, and, less of the stuff we do not..
Might a ladder DAC sound similar/equal to a D/S or budget multibit DAC setup ? yes -(it is possible)
but;
on a resolving hifi system, and when fed ‘great recordings’ (ideally using a proper transport, or ‘good transport’), the range of scale that these Denafrips can bring to the party is phenominal.
The latest Alan Parsons album (the Magician?), played back yesterday (on a Denafrips infused rig), and showed me that it is one of the best mastered CDs I have ever had the good fortune to find.
Having heard both of those medias’ on a range of HiFi rigs, more than ‘a few’ times; in particular ‘high accolades’ are earned by the “1 Giant Leap” albums (exceptional and varied music), and their playback via the Denafrips is ‘instabuy’ territory.
Basically ‘all other DACs’ (I have access to), are homogenised ‘samey’ sound… and then there is the ‘you beaut’ Denafrips Ladder DACs; that really give VASTLY MORE…
casual listening benefits, sure,.. but one also gains the ability to actually hear HUMAN VOCALs. (it is a night/day thing..)
I totally agree that some media might reveal ‘very little’ with regards to extra ‘musicality’, but for those tracks/discs that DO…(!)
Yesterday I spun (band)1 Giant Leap (first album), and, as an easy example- when “My Culture” spun, hearing the lead singers voices intertwine at the end.. .I didn’t even know that was ‘a thing’.
The extra vocal detail and clarity single handedly justifies this purchase / ‘an upgrade’.
The fact that all instruments just ‘resolve more’ (and that my mates ‘subwoofer free’ setup (Bowers and Wilkins Domestic Monitors)), out resolves bass detail that my NuVista and Sunfire Subwoofer setup DOES NOT equally resolve… )- a DAC upgrade can deliver more of everything we love, and, less of the stuff we do not..
Might a ladder DAC sound similar/equal to a D/S or budget multibit DAC setup ? yes -(it is possible)
but;
on a resolving hifi system, and when fed ‘great recordings’ (ideally using a proper transport, or ‘good transport’), the range of scale that these Denafrips can bring to the party is phenominal.
The latest Alan Parsons album (the Magician?), played back yesterday (on a Denafrips infused rig), and showed me that it is one of the best mastered CDs I have ever had the good fortune to find.
Having heard both of those medias’ on a range of HiFi rigs, more than ‘a few’ times; in particular ‘high accolades’ are earned by the “1 Giant Leap” albums (exceptional and varied music), and their playback via the Denafrips is ‘instabuy’ territory.
Basically ‘all other DACs’ (I have access to), are homogenised ‘samey’ sound… and then there is the ‘you beaut’ Denafrips Ladder DACs; that really give VASTLY MORE…
casual listening benefits, sure,.. but one also gains the ability to actually hear HUMAN VOCALs. (it is a night/day thing..)
Nada
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Thats my experience too. Its hard not to sound like a convert but after heearing a good R2R its really hard to enjoy D-S DACs. The Ares is outstanding in terms of value. Enjoy.
happy with it with many inputs and i'm using sd card, you may want to consider SMSL DP5 or Wiim mini
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simon740
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I have Ares II dac so I need only transport...like SD-9 or Topping M50. Does the SD-9 have a usb output to connect to a dac?
regards,
Simon
Yes, it does.
VintageAudio
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Would love to hear some opinions if anyone has the opportunity to compare Ares 12 with Musician Pegasus or Gustard R26.
Use to own the Ares II. Love it compared to delta-sigma dacs. Very holographic. When I compared it directly to a Musician Pegasus though, the details were not as sharp or crispy - you might even say mushy. Also Musician Pegasus had an I2S port which further improved the sound quality.
Was thinking about moving to a Gustard R26 to gain the streaming in one box but also better sound quality, but the form factor of it just becomes too big on or under a desktop.
I actually prefer the Ares 12 size and the new layout makes it look like a baby Terminator. If the 12 improves on the detail and with I2S it could be the right solution for me and save me money on a second sound setup.
Use to own the Ares II. Love it compared to delta-sigma dacs. Very holographic. When I compared it directly to a Musician Pegasus though, the details were not as sharp or crispy - you might even say mushy. Also Musician Pegasus had an I2S port which further improved the sound quality.
Was thinking about moving to a Gustard R26 to gain the streaming in one box but also better sound quality, but the form factor of it just becomes too big on or under a desktop.
I actually prefer the Ares 12 size and the new layout makes it look like a baby Terminator. If the 12 improves on the detail and with I2S it could be the right solution for me and save me money on a second sound setup.
sadly only USB input bro, i'm using I2S output
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borkenarrou
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Anyone tried the SMSL PO100 Pro DDC with the Ares via I2S, is there a sound improvement over direct USB, if it is it's a no brainer for $62.
Nada
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Just recycle an old smart phone using the USB out with an app. Save your $ and help the planet.
JerryLeeds
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To Simon740
The SMSL SD-9 has two USB sockets … one to be used with a SSD and the other as a digital output to a DAC
The SMSL SD-9 has two USB sockets … one to be used with a SSD and the other as a digital output to a DAC
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