DENAFRIPS 'ARES' R2R discrete ladder DAC - close up view

[alota]

What you talking about guys, VAT dependent on country 21-23% . Thats it. In worst case you pay tax but still you getting great DAC in even better price.

No.doubt but the vat plus custom is around 35-40%

 

[lukeap69]

Wow, you are paying a lot guys. I have the ARES continuously running for 2 days now. It sounds very good but not ready to dethrone my Holo Spring yet.

 

[rudra]

@lukeap69 you need the terminator to dethrone to the Holo

 
 
is there a lot of difference between the ARES and Holo? In you opinion how much is the holo  (% wise ) better than Ares with the usual caveat of IMO, IMHO, YMMV etc

 

 

[lukeap69]

  @lukeap69 you need the terminator to dethrone to the Holo

 
 
is there a lot of difference between the ARES and Holo? In you opinion how much is the holo  (% wise ) better than Ares with the usual caveat of IMO, IMHO, YMMV etc

 

LOL. The Terminator will terminate my bank account! 

 
I haven't heard the ARES and the Spring side by side as I am waiting for a set of XLR interconnects so any comparison will only based on memory. However, I do not believe in percent difference. I was surprised how prominent the bass of the ARES compared to the Spring. It just tell you it's there so I feel the ARES presentation is more effortless. In most songs I have played the bass is very good with the ARES but I didn't like it with Roxy Music Avalon album. I thought the ARES did not do a good job with that album. With the female voices, ARES seems to be doing a good job but I still prefer the midrange of the Spring. I have not felt very emotionally involved with the ARES yet whilst listening to my favourite songs like I felt with the Spring. Yes, this is personal and subjective but this is the reason why I listen to music.
 
ARES is improving though or my brain is adjusting and I would not hesitate to recommend ARES to anybody. It is a very good DAC and the improvement of the more expensive DACs will not be very high if you factor in the price. THE ARES DAC IS A VERY GOOD VALUE DAC. Period (Full stop for our British friends!)

 
So far my listening is with my LS50>Ragnarok>DAC>Soundaware D100 Pro. I have yet to move it to my headphone rig but that will be after a week or so.
 
Early days and my feeling about ARES may change. And of course, IMO, IMHO, YMMV.

 

 

[hyperdanny]

  What you talking about guys, VAT dependent on country 21-23% . Thats it. In worst case you pay tax but still you getting great DAC in even better price.
 

 
 
This is what I am talking about: in this country (Italy) you get charged first of all 22% IVA (means VAT) then tariffs, then an "estimated" further tax based on the supposed price of the shipping (and of course the theoretical shipping fees they use as a basis, based on distance and weight, are the highest possible).
The last time I bought from China, for a 100$ cable I paid 45$ on top..so maybe now you understand better why having the possibility of buying from a European retailer is a huge bonus..
Whatever price increase the importer might apply, it's going to be better anyway.

 

[rudra]

@lukeap69 your feedback is much appreciated

. I concur the terminator will terminate my bank balance and my marriage

 

[lukeap69]

@lukeap69
your feedback is much appreciated . I concur the terminator will terminate my bank balance and my marriage

Terminator has a lot to prove if it is worth buying it considering the very good value of the ARES. If the improvement is not significant, then the TERMINATOR can terminate itself.

 

[PitBul34]

> LOL. The Terminator will terminate my bank account! 

 
Ares is the first step of the Denafrips product line now. Next steps are Tomahawk (former DAC-8PRO2 R2R - review), Venus (former DAC-1PRO R2R) and Terminator (top of the line). 

 

[rudra]

I hope they include a usb input on the tomahawk

 

[alvin1118]

I hope they include a usb input on the tomahawk

 
Yes sir. Tomahawk, Venus, and Terminator come with Amanero I2S USB Module. 

 

[lukeap69]

Yes sir. Tomahawk, Venus, and Terminator come with Amanero I2S USB Module. 

I am starting to get scared with the names of these DACs.

 

[slex]

Lukeap69. May i know what connection you using? USB Coax or Optical?

 

[lukeap69]

Lukeap69. May i know what connection you using? USB Coax or Optical?

Coax.

 

[gunwale]

   
Yes sir. Tomahawk, Venus, and Terminator come with Amanero I2S USB Module. 

do you have tomahawk at vinshine?

 

[slex]

Coax.

Ok . i thought you using USB with very high resolution input source files comparing to Holo.

This sound good enough