Denafrips Enyo 15th

[NehPets]

Wouldn't that then tell you the issue was particular to that single unit and NOT the whole lot? It would be for me, if I were using common sense.

Good luck.

Try reading my 1st post again.

 

[Zaemon]

New Enyo 15th. No hum whatsoever.

 

[GeoMurph]

In my case, the Ares 15th replaced a dead quiet Ares II, and in turn, was replaced by a dead quiet Enyo 15th.

What made you decide to switch from the Ares 15th to the Enyo 15th? I gather it likely had to do partly with the transformer(?) noise. Aside from that, how do you find the sound signature of the Enyo different from the Ares 15th?
I'm seriously considering getting an Enyo 15th, it seems like an excellent bargain at $650 (but we'll see if I get hit with Trump-iffs). Cheers

 

[NehPets]

What made you decide to switch from the Ares 15th to the Enyo 15th? I gather it likely had to do partly with the transformer(?) noise. Aside from that, how do you find the sound signature of the Enyo different from the Ares 15th?
I'm seriously considering getting an Enyo 15th, it seems like an excellent bargain at $650 (but we'll see if I get hit with Trump-iffs). Cheers

Yes, it was entirely down to the transformer hum. I sent the Ares 15th to a 3rd party for evaluation/repair and the dealer sent me the Enyo to tide me over. Time passed, and I didn't hear anything about the Ares 15th, so I decided to cut my losses and came to an agreement with the dealer over the Enyo.
Comparison is difficult because I never had them together at the same time, but I get the feeling that, in my headphone system at least, the differences are insignificant. Maybe in a speaker based system, any differences might be more apparent.
I agree that the Enyo 15th offers a lot for the price you pay.

 

[VintageAudio]

Yes, it was entirely down to the transformer hum. I sent the Ares 15th to a 3rd party for evaluation/repair and the dealer sent me the Enyo to tide me over. Time passed, and I didn't hear anything about the Ares 15th, so I decided to cut my losses and came to an agreement with the dealer over the Enyo.
Comparison is difficult because I never had them together at the same time, but I get the feeling that, in my headphone system at least, the differences are insignificant. Maybe in a speaker based system, any differences might be more apparent.
I agree that the Enyo 15th offers a lot for the price you pay.

I would love to know the differences between Enyo 15 and Ares 15 too.

The Ares 15h is like $700 CAD more...but the only differences I can see/read is that the Ares includes Low Phase Noise Oscillator Crystals (LPNO) which appears to lower the THD a bit and it has an optional remote control.

On the denafrips website it also mentions an optimized chip driver - but no explanation on what that means.

I'm wondering if a budget DDC + Enyo 15th would have the same effect as those $700 CAD crystals.

 

[stefsant]

I would love to know the differences between Enyo 15 and Ares 15 too.

The Ares 15h is like $700 CAD more...but the only differences I can see/read is that the Ares includes Low Phase Noise Oscillator Crystals (LPNO) which appears to lower the THD a bit and it has an optional remote control.

On the denafrips website it also mentions an optimized chip driver - but no explanation on what that means.

I'm wondering if a budget DDC + Enyo 15th would have the same effect as those $700 CAD crystals.

That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. Considering that the Enyo 15th is essentially an Ares 12th-1, I’m curious if a good DDC like the Iris 12th could make up for (or even surpass) the improvements brought by the Ares 15th’s LPNO oscillators. The price difference seems mainly due to this detail and the remote control, which I personally don’t care about.
Also, since Denafrips itself sells the Ares 15th + Iris 12th as a bundle, it makes me think that the Iris could actually push the Enyo 15th beyond the Ares 15th in terms of performance.

 

[NehPets]

That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. Considering that the Enyo 15th is essentially an Ares 12th-1, I’m curious if a good DDC like the Iris 12th could make up for (or even surpass) the improvements brought by the Ares 15th’s LPNO oscillators. The price difference seems mainly due to this detail and the remote control, which I personally don’t care about.
Also, since Denafrips itself sells the Ares 15th + Iris 12th as a bundle, it makes me think that the Iris could actually push the Enyo 15th beyond the Ares 15th in terms of performance.

There is no remote control. There's a pattern of holes in the front panel that may have a sensor behind, I don't know, but the Ares 15th doesn't ship with a remote.

 

[sygnus21]

That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. Considering that the Enyo 15th is essentially an Ares 12th-1, I’m curious if a good DDC like the Iris 12th could make up for (or even surpass) the improvements brought by the Ares 15th’s LPNO oscillators. The price difference seems mainly due to this detail and the remote control, which I personally don’t care about.
Also, since Denafrips itself sells the Ares 15th + Iris 12th as a bundle, it makes me think that the Iris could actually push the Enyo 15th beyond the Ares 15th in terms of performance.

No. It'll help but it's not going to turn an Enyo into an Ares. That's not how it works.

I have both a Pontus 15th, and YES, both the Iris DDC, and Hermes DDC brings a little extra. For the Enyo / Ares the Iris is good enough. For the Pontus, the Iris works very well, but if you want a tad more of everything, get the Hermes.

The Gaia is basically a bumped-up Hermes using the same aluminum chassis as the Pontus, whereas the Hermes is sheet metal (if that's important to you), and has a bigger oscillator vs the smaller one on the Hermes. Personally, I don't think anyone, but Terminators owners get the Gaia, when the Hermes is 95+ percent of the Gaia.

There is no remote control. There's a pattern of holes in the front panel that may have a sensor behind, I don't know, but the Ares 15th doesn't ship with a remote.

Can't speak on the Enyo/Ares, but there is a remote for the Pontus and up. I spoke to Denafrips about it, and last convo it was $79 bucks. But that was before that .... did his
tariffs thing, so.... Anyway, I thought about getting one, but it isn't a priority since I'm literally inches from my setup on my desk.

 

[stefsant]

No. It'll help but it's not going to turn an Enyo into an Ares. That's not how it works.

I have both a Pontus 15th, and YES, both the Iris DDC, and Hermes DDC brings a little extra. For the Enyo / Ares the Iris is good enough. For the Pontus, the Iris works very well, but if you want a tad more of everything, get the Hermes.

The Gaia is basically a bumped-up Hermes using the same aluminum chassis as the Pontus, whereas the Hermes is sheet metal (if that's important to you), and has a bigger oscillator vs the smaller one on the Hermes. Personally, I don't think anyone, but Terminators owners get the Gaia, when the Hermes is 95+ percent of the Gaia.


Can't speak on the Enyo/Ares, but there is a remote for the Pontus and up. I spoke to Denafrips about it, and last convo it was $79 bucks. But that was before that .... did his
tariffs thing, so.... Anyway, I thought about getting one, but it isn't a priority since I'm literally inches from my setup on my desk.

I know that the DDC doesn’t transform DACs, but the Enyo 15th is essentially a rebranded Ares 12th-1, just as the Enyo was a rebranded Ares II. Since the oscillator changes between the Ares 12th (Enyo 15th) and the Ares 15th, pairing a DCC with the Enyo 15th (Ares 12th) would specifically address the component that was updated in the Ares 15th. The remaining question is whether the new oscillator in the Ares 15th is better than the Iris, which is an external unit, independently powered, and also has galvanic isolation. Furthermore, considering that Denafrips also sells the Ares 15th-Iris 12th bundle, all these factors suggest that pairing the Iris with the Enyo 15th could potentially improve it beyond the Ares 15th. As for other DDCs, it’s obvious that I wouldn’t pair the Iris with a Venus or a Terminator, just as I wouldn’t pair an Hermes or a Gaya with the Ares... I would rather go directly to a higher-end DAC instead.

 

[sygnus21]

I know that the DDC doesn’t transform DACs, but the Enyo 15th is essentially a rebranded Ares 12th-1, just as the Enyo was a rebranded Ares II.

You're not telling me anything I don't understand, and especially since I have both a Pontus 12th-1, and Pontus 15th (last year's Venus).

Since the oscillator changes between the Ares 12th (Enyo 15th) and the Ares 15th, pairing a DCC with the Enyo 15th (Ares 12th) would specifically address the component that was updated in the Ares 15th.

I still stand by what I said about the Iris (or Hermes) turning an Enyo into an Ares, no matter the model. In short an Enyo 15th isn't going to be turned into an Ares 15th cause you connected a DDC to it. But don't believe me, ask Denafrips (or find a reviewer online saying adding a DDC moves you to the next model). They might say "close", but "close" is not "there".

The remaining question is whether the new oscillator in the Ares 15th is better than the Iris,

You can always ask Denafrips, they know far better than I do

Good luck.

 

[VintageAudio]

There is no remote control. There's a pattern of holes in the front panel that may have a sensor behind, I don't know, but the Ares 15th doesn't ship with a remote.

It has the IR sensor, but the remote is an add-on. I included one in my order. I guess since no volume, it just good for switching inputs, filters and maybe power.

 

[sygnus21]

It has the IR sensor, but the remote is an add-on. I included one in my order. I guess since no volume, it just good for switching inputs, filters and maybe power.

If you have one care to post images? Also does it allow direct input, or do you have to press an up or down button as you do on the DAC to select an input?

As I said, I was going to get one out of curiosity, but I really have no need for one. I don't even use the one for my CD player.

 

[VintageAudio]

If you have one care to post images? Also does it allow direct input, or do you have to press an up or down button as you do on the DAC to select an input?

As I said, I was going to get one out of curiosity, but I really have no need for one. I don't even use the one for my CD player.

Mine is in transit, but sure, I'll post a pic when it gets in and answer the outstanding questions. Hope it supports both direct input and arrows to cycle.

 

[GeoMurph]

You're not telling me anything I don't understand, and especially since I have both a Pontus 12th-1, and Pontus 15th (last year's Venus).

I still stand by what I said about the Iris (or Hermes) turning an Enyo into an Ares, no matter the model...

Are you saying that an Enyo 15th with one of the DDCs will not rival ANY model Ares? That seems odd, because my understanding is that the Enyo 15th is a re-branded Ares 12th. If so, what did they take away from Ares 12th to turn it into Enyo 15th? Just trying to understand why that would be the case.

I'm really enjoying my Enyo 15th, it matches my mid-fi set up very well, fed by a Cambridge Audio MXN10 and going to a RebelAmp (Class A headphone amp). I'm using Lavricables silver interconnects and optical connection to the streamer.

I listen to several headphones on this setup: Meze 105 Aer, HFM Arya Stealth, Denon D9200, and DCA E3. All sound great, especially the dynamics; on the planars, I do notice a lot of missing detail compared to Hugo 2, which is expected.

I'm curious how much an Iris DDC might improve detail retrieval, compared to going to a more expensive streamer or a DAC higher up on the Denafrips ladder.

 

[sygnus21]

Are you saying that an Enyo 15th with one of the DDCs will not rival ANY model Ares? That seems odd, because my understanding is that the Enyo 15th is a re-branded Ares 12th. If so, what did they take away from Ares 12th to turn it into Enyo 15th? Just trying to understand why that would be the case.

I'm really enjoying my Enyo 15th, it matches my mid-fi set up very well, fed by a Cambridge Audio MXN10 and going to a RebelAmp (Class A headphone amp). I'm using Lavricables silver interconnects and optical connection to the streamer.

I listen to several headphones on this setup: Meze 105 Aer, HFM Arya Stealth, Denon D9200, and DCA E3. All sound great, especially the dynamics; on the planars, I do notice a lot of missing detail compared to Hugo 2, which is expected.

I'm curious how much an Iris DDC might improve detail retrieval, compared to going to a more expensive streamer or a DAC higher up on the Denafrips ladder.

Your line of thinking poses a lot of what ifs and maybe so's of which I have no definitive answer. If you truly believe what you're opining, well as the saying goes "put your money where your mouth is" and go from there. This is in no way meant to be disrespectful, but if you're going to go on this hard, why not just purchase and tell us.

As the owner of both a Pontus 12-1, and Pontus 15th, I can tell you the Pontus 15th (last year's Venus) still sounds better than the Pontus 12th-1, with or without a DDC. At the end of the day, you asked a question, and I answered. You don't have to agree with it, but that's my answer. All I can do is go by what my gear is doing.

And for the record, I wouldn't mind getting an Ares pairing it with an Iris as I think that's a great setup for its size and would probably rival lots of systems above its price point.

Good luck.