[Koolaide]

Hi there,

same feeling here, it also sounds like a different DAC to me. I'm not sure if I like it.

We'll see.

I’ve found it sounds really good with speakers. But there’s still too much detail in my headphones. I’m going to give it some more time. As one of the other posters said, it may take some time for the brain and ears to adjust.

There are definitely some improvements here. But it is always subjective. If warm means a little less detail, then I’m OK with that. Others crave the analytical and the crisp. That is not me!

Good luck and us posted on your journey.

 

[BelaLugosi]

Sometimes improvements take a couple days for brain to adjust to the change. Are you running the same settings as before updating firmware

I know, I know, and I believe in burn-in, but it's been a week and I'm still missing something. Settings are the same: OS slow filter.

I'll give it more listening time and see.

 

[CAJames]

I know, I know, and I believe in burn-in, but it's been a week and I'm still missing something. Settings are the same: OS slow filter.

I'll give it more listening time and see.

Have you tried any different settings? They might work better with the new sound.

 

[dilbertprogrammer]

After giving the firmware upgrade about a week to settle in on my Ares II, these are three areas of sonic changes I notice the most:

1. bigger soundstage
2. greater impact/dynamics ("punch")
3. some treble peaks

I'm continuing to evaluate the changes with different settings, headamps and headphones...

 

[BelaLugosi]

Have you tried any different settings? They might work better with the new sound.

Not yet. I want to try NOS and see, and it would be great to know what the PHASE button is doing in my Ares, I'll try with a test CD I have to check polarity.

 

[CAJames]

Not yet. I want to try NOS and see, and it would be great to know what the PHASE button is doing in my Ares, I'll try with a test CD I have to check polarity.

For me, it was obvious which way was in phase, but if you can't hear a difference then I guess it is not a big deal in your system.

 

[NehPets]

Attempted my upgrade last weekend, but fell foul of error 044 and couldn't get beyond that. This morning, thought I'd check which version of firmware I currently had, only to find that I now have V3.12 | A22FA1.6; this is why I don't use a PC in my system.
After a few hours of listening, there are a couple of things I've noticed about the 'new' Ares II: it sounds more "essy" and runs hotter, than it did before (OS mode, Slow filter). The former may be an indication of greater clarity and the latter, an indication that the new algorithms are more resource intensive.

I realised later that I'd been listening with the Sharp filter engaged; updating the firmware obviously resets everything to 'lights out'.
I was hoping to investigate the significantly elevated temperature I noticed in the early, post-update hours, but things appear to have reverted to normal, with no discernible temperature difference between operating modes; must have been down to FPGA "burn in"!
My upgrade came a couple of weeks after I replaced a pair of fuses, so it's difficult to know for sure which has had the greater effect, but with the benefit of a little more listening time, I think it's the depth of the soundstage that's seen the most noticeable change.

 

[Ufanco]

I realised later that I'd been listening with the Sharp filter engaged; updating the firmware obviously resets everything to 'lights out'.
I was hoping to investigate the significantly elevated temperature I noticed in the early, post-update hours, but things appear to have reverted to normal, with no discernible temperature difference between operating modes; must have been down to FPGA "burn in"!
My upgrade came a couple of weeks after I replaced a pair of fuses, so it's difficult to know for sure which has had the greater effect, but with the benefit of a little more listening time, I think it's the depth of the soundstage that's seen the most noticeable change.

What fuse are you using in the Ares ii?

 

[NehPets]

What fuse are you using in the Ares ii?

QSA Black; 2A in the Ares II and 13A upstream, in the 3-pin plug.

 

[Chodi]

QSA Black; 2A in the Ares II and 13A upstream, in the 3-pin plug.

Just to be clear, you spent 50 UK pounds on the fuse for your Ares II? I just want to be clear on that point.

 

[szore]

Just to be clear, you spent 50 UK pounds on the fuse for your Ares II? I just want to be clear on that point.

Mine was $20

 

[NehPets]

Just to be clear, you spent 50 UK pounds on the fuse for your Ares II? I just want to be clear on that point.

Yes, that's the cost of curiosity here in the UK.

 

[WorksUnit]

I was hoping to investigate the significantly elevated temperature I noticed in the early, post-update hours

Yes noticed that too. ..Thought it was down to leaving a little Class-A amp on top after updating.
Subsequently stacked the same together a couple of times and it was back to "normal"...

 

[Ufanco]

Just to be clear, you spent 50 UK pounds on the fuse for your Ares II? I just want to be clear on that point.

Yep crazy what some of these fuse cost, heck 50 UK is on the low price compared to others. @szore did you notice any improvement with the fuse?

https://www.tweekgeek.com/quantum-science-audio-5-x-20mm-slow-blow-fuse/

There‘s also these plug enhancers

https://www.tweekgeek.com/qsa-powerjitter-power-conditioner-gold/

Kinda amazing people spend this much cash on tweaks.

 

[George Hincapie]

What is OS Slow on 12th please?

Mute > Optical > Light off = slow?