You have a $100 dac feeding a $1200 amp.
Are you concerned that the Ares will sound worse than the d10s?
DENAFRIPS 'ARES' R2R discrete ladder DAC - close up view
- Thread starter PitBul34
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Are you concerned that the Ares will sound worse than the d10s?
The D10s is a spare DAC. It is not meant for the Arya and THR-1. I am not sure how Ares II will match with THR-1. I have heard positive experiences in the Ares II and Singxer SA-1, but no feedbacks on the THR-1. Hence, just trying my luck in here to see if anyone has any relevant feedbacks.
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]eep
Headphoneus Supremus
I use the SMSL SP400 as preamp and it works fine. I know. It's a headphone amp. But it does the same as the Topping Pre90 also (relay volume control and 2 inputs). Only with the proper 47kOhm input impedance. And a proper HP out I hardly ever use as a bonus.
I was really weary about any sonic interference because it's an extra link in the chain plus 2 extra cables. But it gives me the required volume control I need for the Ares (volume on my android TV varies enormously for different applications; TV, YouTube, Netflix etc, also compared to CD and DP5) without any deterioration. Not that I can hear anyway. I have another passive input switch (without volume, just 4 relays) and I can switch instantly but I don't hear any difference.
I am a fan of the minimalist approach; minimal amount of components in the signal path (L C or R) and this always serves me best. So the Sp400 is not really in line with that. But it works fine.
The cables I use are 8 strand woven silver plated 6N OCC. Balanced, bal>RCA and a flexible 6 strand woven pure silver from my tda1543. I also have several brand cables but these are cheaper and better. I'm not wasting any more money on that.
simon740
500+ Head-Fier
Today I’m trying Ares II with Bluesound Node streamer. Coax connection. Nice sound. For now only music from my HDD and some internet radio, Radio Paradise...must try Tidal.
regards,
Simon
regards,
Simon
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Does anyone have experience pairing the Ares II with Singxer SA-1? Any feedback would be appreciated!
sajunky
Headphoneus Supremus
I say big NO to any design with dual sealed SMPS generating + and - power rails. See this post.
I say a big YES. Sounds amazing together.
That’s what I’ve heard. Thanks!
I use that combo, sounds great. Just don't do the singxer mod, it will sound worse or create problems due to who knows what... that was my experience. singxer gets really hot, and it is not true class A apparently. If you have the money and you appreciate the benefits of whatever 2K$ class pure A amp... I think for the price the sa1 is unbeatable at the moment. For the price. Same thing with the ares2. this being said, both devices have a hell of a lot of caveats, like everything. ares2 have lot of problems with mac, with stock firmware... sa1 gets extremely hot always, knob not great, but can be swapped, pot is really good. then ares2 usb implementation is very good, but not best. a ddc might help, then again you are limited in bandwidth, but if a ddc to coxial helps with isolation and purity of sound via usb, and improve mac usability... great then.
greatest combo ATM
My SA-1 is only just warm, never hot. I went back to the stock knob, I really like it now. It's dark in my room and the divot for my thumb makes it easy to know what volume I'm at.
You could maybe have a look at the ifi Zen Stream. it's made a huge difference to my system, it sounds great. Also would basically eliminate your problems with Ares II and mac.
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I love the Singxer F1 as a minimalist DDC for the Ares. The F1 runs on bus power so I don't need any extra cables or plug on my power strip, and it's a sonic step up from the Ares' native USB implementation. Since the Mac only sees the F1, this bypasses any Ares' incompatibility with Mac OS X.
That is a clear plus point for the original knob, that hole for the finger to know the volume position without looking, any desk type knob should have that tactile feedback thing.
Apparently there is a newest firmware version out there, but I need a pc to upgrade it. That one is supposed to give no problems... Don't know if the problem is that, or it is that I have it connected via apple usb keyboard hub, so it is usb 2.0 hub, and sounds so so so much better than on my populated usb 3.0 hub. I guess I should first try the firmware upgrade, and then get a decent DDC. Singxer F1 certainly a candidate, but we are researching about the Douk audio poorman DDC, I think it is better, accepts external power, and does I2S, for future dacs with that...
Streamers are great I guess, but since I have this system attached to my computer, to play whatever, I do't want to "stream" anything, I don't use spotify or simialr service, it is all local library, not even on a network, the music is in my laptop storage card... OLD WINAMP STYLE BRO!! I will upgrade when ever something new really happens, or for a living room system, certainly a streamer could be great, not here.
No worries mate. Different strokes for different folks and all that.
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