Denafrips Ares II DAC Review

The Denafrips Ares II is a well reviewed and highly acclaimed DAC. In this video, I take a look and see what the fuss is about. I discuss the virtues and drawbacks of R2R DACs vs Delta-Sigma designs. I also share some technical insights about the Ares II which have not been in the public domain before.
Link to manufacturer’s website...
www.denafrips.com/ares
Link to global distributor...
www.vinshineaudio.com/product...
Link to U.K. distributor...
www.willowtreeaudio.co.uk/den...
Time stamps...
Start 0:00
Delta-Sigma vs R2R DACs 1:27
Design 5:22
Sound quality 12:12
Setup & partnering equipment 14:45
Conclusion 15:51

[@Constantin1020]

Your reviews never cease to amaze me Tarun ! Bravo again!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Constantin. Very kind of you 😊👍👍

[@fernei1251]

Thank you Tarun, another great review. Unbiased, technical and yet easily understandable. Have learnt so much from watching your reviews.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Neil. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍

[@brown-eyedman4040]

Hooray, another video from Tarun, and another home run (a six? Two countries separated by a common language). Great technical explanation and even better a great explanation of the sound of this DAC. So glad to hear of a company designing products for sound before technical specs. I have to say how much I like you reviewing style, like a friend or favorite teacher explaining complex topics, and glad to see the ProAcs back.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you brown-eyed-man for watching and all the support and encouragement you have given me this year. I missed the ProAcs too. I don’t get to listen to them as often as I would like these days. Love the baseball/cricket reference 😊👍👍

[@DwarfsRBest]

The level of technicality in this video was over my head, but you delivered it in such a thoughtful manner that I managed to keep up and maybe learn a thing or two. Thanks! I'll be checking out more of your videos soon

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you DRB. I appreciate you watching. It is a hard balance to strike between technical insights and accessibility. I don’t always get it right 😊👍

[@richardparnell6551]

Your reviews are always so well researched and considered which gives them great credibility. I really enjoy your approach.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Richard. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@ehudabadi7354]

Yeah seriously man. These are some of the best reviews put there, period. Audiophile or no. Much respect, and thanks for putting these videos out there.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ehud. Very kind and very much appreciated 😊👍👍

[@mtiken]

Best review of the product so far. Just love the way Tarun takes step by step details and explain it very patiently. Awesome!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Tiken. Reading comments like that makes this so worthwhile 😊👍👍

[@jblesser]

I really enjoy your smart, informative and earnestly accurate and honest reviews. Thank you very much.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😊👍

[@BrianGarside]

Best review yet on Ares II that I've seen. I like how you explain the innards and the why it sounds the way it does. Gives it a lot of credibility. I finally understand the hype.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Brian. That is very kind of you to say 😊👍👍

[@kalijasin]

His reviews are top-notch.

[@howardskillington4445]

As I am considering buying an Ares II I have watched all of the reviews available on KZbin, and this is the best done: clear, informative, and thorough. I have just subscribed to this channel and look forward to learning more from this gentleman.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Howard. Very much appreciated 😊👍👍

[@markbuttery2790]

Thanks for the great review Tarun. I dont have the DAC but have the Denafrips Hyperon and Hestia , amp and pre. It sounds fantastic. I just want to say that Vinshine Audio were a pleasure to deal with and every question i sent to Alvin Chee the owner , were always answered straight away , even on Sundays!! I am very impressed.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you watching and sharing your experiences Mark. I also found that Alvin was very responsive to me queries. 😊👍

[@hershbagelstein545]

Like so many, I’ve enjoyed your reviews. What has eluded me is why. And then, this morning while all is quiet, it came to me: your sincerity, your calmness and your attention to presenting a factual review. Your reviews are well, bespoke. Like no others. The Brioni of reviewers.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Larry. It is reading comments like yours that makes running this channel and putting all the work in so worthwhile 😊👍👍

[@mauriziopapa2177]

Hi Tarun you have been clear and professional in describing this wonderful Dac that I have just purchased, your reviews are perfect, I will always follow you! THANK YOU

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend 😊👍

[@danallan4860]

Another brilliant presentation. Your channel is on another level Tarun. So much of this great hobby is subjective, but you do it in such an objective manner.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Dan. That is what I am aiming for. Very much appreciated 👍😊👍

[@winsonlim2075]

Great review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@winsonlim2075 thank you 😊👍

[@riccitone]

Easily the most comprehensive and well balanced review on this now fabled dac. Easily worth waiting to hear your take on it.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you John. I am so appreciative of you sharing that 😊👍👍

[@kjbiz]

Great review. I feel more confident in this purchase and again for your advice that has enabled it. Really enjoying using this unit. Cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy 😊👍

[@BradReid]

Wow, on your recommendation, I just set my 18 month old Ares II to OS with slow filter. Nicely done! So much livelier and full-bodied! Thanks!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

You are welcome Brad. Thank you for watching 😊👍

[@wa2368]

There are many Denafrips Ares reviews out there. But, this one is the bestest! : )

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you W A. Very kind of you to say 😊👍

[@MrDannydjmix2]

totally agree!

[@bigblueocean]

True!

[@markphilpot4981]

Hey Tarun, great video and real good explanation. Sure wouldn’t mind owning one of those. Stay safe mates!😊👍🏻😷

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@markphilpot4981 thank you Mark 😊👍

[@andrewclough660]

I'm so glad you don't have annoying music on start up. So refreshing. Great review as always. I'm a few days into mine and so far so good.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Andrew 😊👍

[@edbrumbaugh9202]

Thank you, by far the best review of the Ares II I've seen. I purchased one and paired it with the Denafrips IRIS DDC ... great combination. Planning to step ups to the Pontus II though as my DAC feeds a PrimaLuna Evo300 Tube Integrated Amp and I want to now step up the DAC a bit. Thanks again, great detail on the DAC and the added insight from Denafrips was invaluable.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ed. That is very kind 😊👍

[@1antastik]

Tarun I very much appreciate your competence and clarity. Plus your British accent is simply wonderful

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Antonio. Much appreciated 😊👍👍

[@Coneman3]

Yes it’s easy to imagine Tarun on tv in something like the gadget show.

[@tbwong7868]

Easily one of the best review of a dac, packed full of information.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you TB 😊👍👍

[@hemantishwaran5741]

One of your best videos excellently done! Just enough technical details to make it interesting although maybe consider a follow up part II where you get into more of the nuances between delta-sigma and R2R?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Hermant 😊👍

[@CDR2785]

This review, and channel deserve a million views/subscribers. Bravo

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Chirayu. Very kind of you to say and greatly appreciated 👍😊👍

[@rich7049]

Got my Ares 2 from China this morning. Made an immediate difference in my system. Your detailed review and endorsement really helped me make my decision. Thanks for the work you are doing, it is much appreciated.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great Rich. So pleased that you are enjoying it 👍😊👍

[@lukeaus]

Hi @rich7049 did it save you much money buying it direct from China? Cheers Luke

[@j.craigh.3480]

@@lukeaus I bought it directly from China (Vinshine Audio). Yes, I saved money. I live in Canada and it arrived a week later. Also the customer service is spot on.

[@zenscapeUKmedia]

Absolutely excellent review, Tarun. Just the right amount of technical background to understand why this sounds as it does over a normal delta-sigma design, a great assessment of the build quality and features, too. This led us into a meaningful description of its ability to replay music and left any discussion of distortion or chip performance back on paper where it belongs. You make one key point totally agree with. DACs and the vast majority of digital components are closer to the consumable side of a hifi purchase rather than the capital value of speakers and amps.The chips used in a DAC cost only a couple of pounds and the IC manufacturers bring out a better performing version every couple of years - while an amp's transistors, caps and other far more conventional component electrickery have the same longevity as bricks and mortar, so will be a great investment good for years of use. A DAC will almost certainly be bettered both in performance and price by the time your credit-card statement arrives. NEVER buy a hyper-expensive DAC because in a very short time, it will be bettered just like a mobile phone or TV loses its performance lead so quickly.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend. Very articulate and insightful analysis. I appreciate you watching and your support 😊👍

[@peterwood2633]

Might be better dacs doesn't mean what you have suddenly sounds bad though. Also really what is there left to improve which isn't just a colouration preference on sound?

[@mrkymrk99]

@@peterwood2633 I’m streaming from a 2020 iPad Pro through a Topping D10s in to 20 year old Classe preamp-amp separates. Speakers are 20 year old B&W 804s. I don’t know how it could sound better? But I’m curious so I ordered an Ares ii. It checks a lot of boxes in terms of design and really does seem like good value! The reviews are all great. I “plan” to stay under $1000 for external DACs.

[@carlitomelon4610]

"Electrickery" Nice Catweasle reference! (For those Brits old enough;-)

[@sebastianpolcyn6358]

Even if this thing has been reviewed to death, you chiming in always brings the added benefit of your trademark deep dive into the technical nitty gritty. 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Sebastian. That is very much appreciated 😊👍👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@Click Bait wow how many negative, incorrect assumptions do you want me to correct 😉

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@Click Bait The room and the speaker (in particular it’s positioning) it the most influential part of getting a system to sound right. SNR, THD+N and linear frequency response are not the only things that influence sound quality. But I have feeling that you have made your mind up about this. Thank you for watching 😉

[@nespressoman]

@Click Bait 👆

[@nespressoman]

@Click Bait Have you actually listened to this DAC? I thought not.

[@LorDarkGoose]

Wow cool- love those Elna caps! Great review Tarun.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you JS 😊👍

[@marktrivette4272]

This guy is good, very polished with good info for a “novice” audience, e.g., not electrical engineers! Keep it up Mr. British Audiophile.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mark. Very much appreciated 😊👍

[@SSchithFoo]

Butt he's british.. ewwwww

[@spunkthecombo]

Great review plus I really enjoy you opening up the unit to see what one gets for their money .

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy 😊👍

[@ebenezerjebaraj]

Thank you Tarun for this wonderful review. Despite sharing so much of technical specifications, sharing your personal experience on it's sonic qualities were spot on. I am convinced to buy this 😀. Thanks from India

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you EJ. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@juliaset751]

The review was great, but the beginning explanation of PCM vs. Delta Sigma was the real winner here.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and commenting Julia 😊👍

[@johnberard330]

As usual another superb review. Thank you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you John. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@RobCCTV]

The type and level of this review was as superb as it seems the Denafrips is. Extremely clear. This kind of thing is now making me think that my £100 DAC needs upgrading for sure, bearing in mind it must now be the weakest link in my otherwise top end sound system.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Peter, that is very kind 😊👍👍

[@raphaelmeillat8527]

Love how you can deep dive and find ways to add new value to a product that's been reviewed to death! Too bad you could not get your hands on Chord's Qutest as I'm currently hesitating between those two. Thanks again for your great work.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Raphael. Much appreciated. I was a bit disappointed too but I have a common reference in the Mojo so if I get hold of the Qutest, let’s see how it compares to the Mojo 😉👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 thank you Simon. I appreciate the offer. I hoping to get one in soon. If I can’t. I will reach out to you. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@pkats9093]

I’ll second everyone. Excellent review! Keep up the good work! Looking at purchasing an an Aries 2 in the near future

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Pkats. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@Anand.Asrani]

Hey Tarun, Glad you picked this one ! As always Fab.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Anand. Very much appreciated 😊👍

[@NinJa-yg7kh]

Tarun, you did a very comprehensive review.. Thank you..

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and your support Totoboy 😊👍

[@RobWhittlestone]

Great content, Tarun and great videography. Your channel has developed into a real jewel. I love the fact you often cover theory and your presentation is authoritative and confident. I was nodding all the way through as I saw Denafrips has made all the right decisions based on sound and not chasing paper specifications. This review gets OUTSTANDING from me! All the best, Rob

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and all the support you have given me this year Rob. It is very much appreciated. Wishing you and your loved one happy holidays 🥳👍👍

[@JustBrowsing777]

Good review, very clear and straight forward and you leave nothing out.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Juha. Very kind of you to say 😊👍

[@totalplonker824]

I thought I could flip through videos while listening to you explaining about DACs but the way you explain things is so enthralling that i have to give you my full attention and so you deserve it!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy 😊👍

[@robk5745]

Just purchased one finally, see how it goes with my Harbeths! Thanks for the great review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Please let me know how you get on 🙂

[@stevezeidman7224]

Tarun, another excellent review. Your deconstruction of this Dac was extremely informative. I’m in the US and recently bought a Schiit Bifrost 2. The main reason I bought Schiit v Denafrips was availability here in the US and is modular and upgradable. I’ve heard these two Dacs have been compared in terms of sound. I’d be very interested if yoU are to review the Bifrost 2. I’m sure you’d do a great job discerning the differences. Great job!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Steve. Much appreciated. I would love to take a look at the Bifrost 2 😊👍

[@mariuspessah2991]

Dear Touran You are voice of professionalism , erudition and rationality in the sea of audio reviews . They are fact based rather than subjective . Your reviews are stellar . Thank you so much for all your factual research .

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Marius. That is kind of you to say and very much appreciated 🙂👍

[@michaelmityok1001]

Another very useful consumer advocacy review, well done!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Michael 😊👍

[@francisdenoncourt9638]

Wow, I think i have watched every Denafrips Aries DAC review .This is by far the best and most comprehensive review out there. Bravo, suscribed.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Francis. Much appreciated 😊👍👍

[@madds6678]

I wish my direct stream dac was as cheap as this tarun but hey ho you pays yours monies & makes your choices, I’m happy enough with the network bridge installed giving me a streaming dac it sounds great & I had a NDS/555 before that. Great review again glad to see your subs going up still, I recommended you on the next best thing channel as the most honest reviewer out there hopefully it’ll keep increasing to the 100’000s. Happy Holidays

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for all you support this year Madds. It is very much appreciated. As good as the Ares II, I suspect your PS Audio Direct Stream will take things to the next level. I hope to find out for myself at some point. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones my friend 🥳👍👍

[@mahdiyussuf9804]

Awesome review. As a former EE, I loved the technical portion

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mahdi. Very much appreciated 👍😊👍

[@equilibrium2147]

Amazing review Tarun👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 More power to you … lots of love from the Big Apple 🇺🇸

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Rene. Much appreciated 👍😊👍

[@thepickyaudiophile]

Grade A review (having seen them all) and great break down!! I pulled the trigger on the Ares II a week ago, so was nervous about your take on it (as I rate your opinion) ;-)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Sune. I appreciate you sharing that. Please let me know how you get on with it 😊👍

[@boydrijkvan6500]

Amazing technical explanation. I have learned much from your video, thank you very much!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Boyd. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@blaketerry4638]

Very well done, informative review. I also prefer OS and slow filter with both of my Denafrips DAC's. Some may prefer NOS but it is nice to have the options with a few button clicks.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Very true, thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Blake 😊👍

[@ajitmoses]

Hello from Singapore. Land of the Denafrips! Alvin is always ready to help and answer questions. I’m sure he will be happy to give you the Pontus for a review which I think offers the best bang for the buck in the Denafrips line. Chord suddenly looks like overpriced for what it does. The Pontus vs Holo Spring 2 is the comparison most people in the R2R game want to see. I wonder who is going to give them that fight. Cheers Tarun.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ajit. I would be interested in reviewing the Pontus. Let’s see how it fairs 😉👍

[@lesterrobinson3169]

I have had this DAC for about 3 months now and it is no understatement to say it has completely changed my HIFI listening experience. All things are a matter of opinion I guess and I also realise that a lot of this depends on the equipment used. I solely use mine with headphones and the results are amazing. I find I can go very loud with no fatigue or harshness. There seems to be lots of detail much wider but my overall summary would be FUN and very addictive I can listen for hours and hours. I am yet to decide wether I prefer NOS or OS I am not so firmly in one camp or the other yet . For me this was a significant investment but my god what a return!! Thanks for the video 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Lester. I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍

[@lizziedripping71]

Thanks for your sharing your experiences. I am considering this unit & your word “fun” really encourages me to buy it.

[@juicebox853]

Thank you, sir. Excellent review and explanation of the mechanism of function.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend. I appreciate you watching and your support 😊👍

[@colanitower]

I started research on DACs, stumbled upon devices costing over 2,000 euros, and thought damn what's all that about. This, however, looks like money well spent by both manufacturer in their no-frills approach and owner like me looking for an effective audio system upgrade within reasonable budget. Thanks for the clear review 😊

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Colani 😊👍

[@joeyroth7855]

Well done,mate! I had to subscribe. Thanks and keep em coming.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Joey. I appreciate you watching and your support 😊👍👍

[@lbhajdu]

Thank you for your review. It's really nice that you opened it up and took pictures of the insides. I wish more people did that. Some of your technical explanation is off. Every value in the R2R doesn't double the pattern repeats. This is what makes the R2R dac such a ingenious architecture. The idea of having a volume is interesting but you should know the delta sigma dacs do this in the dac it's self because it's easy and cost nothing to implement. I have never thought this to sound right when you start attenuating (full disclosure: I have not heard the Chord only the ESS dacs), all my best sounding systems always had an analog attenuation setup. With R2R you have insufficient bits for this and making the latter longer becomes very expensive because the tolerance of all the resistors needs to go up. So if one resistor costs $20 and you need over 400 of them and there is a few X markup on that it starts to approach the price of a car. At some number of bits you start to need active temperature regulation to fractions of a degree and thereafter more bits become impossible to manufacture. This is why r2r dacs almost never have built in attenuation, but almost all delta sigma dacs offer it. Like you said it has to be a separate module. In which case it may as well be a separate module. Thank you again for the review. We need more real people doing real reviews of equipment!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing this 😊👍

[@iaingunn2084]

Learnt so much from this! Was just expecting a boring sound comparison but i feel like i got a university lecture for free hahaha, cheers :)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Iain. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@KristianSalo]

I got my Denafrips Ares II about two months ago and it really is awesome.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing Kristian 😊

[@Raymondey]

Great explanation about how stuff works 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Raymondey 😊👍

[@cameronkrause4712]

I really like this review you really cover all the bases.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Cameron. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@SuperMcgenius]

Good work Sir, the best review of this unit . 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend. Very kind of you to say 👍😊👍

[@Z-u-m-a]

Great review Tarun.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Rob 😊👍

[@kbchristiansen]

As usual a very trustworthy and believable review from you - and man! You really know how to create a clear structure that communicate extremely well - to me at least - and it of course justify any review from you even though the device have been tested by others on KZbin 🙏 Just as you said yourselves. A comparison with a similar priced FPGA chip based dac like Chord Qutest is what everyone are longing to hear from you. Your comparison with the Mojo is helpful though :-) But if I am looking back to some of your previous review where you compare Mojo with the higher priced Chord Dacs it seems like you are putting some of the same expressions (tonal balance, refinement, transparency) as you are doing with the Ares. Do you have anything to ad in this respect I would be very grateful. If Ares have the same - or better - sound quality as the higher prices Chord Dacs like Qutest and Hugo II, then it seems like a true bargain. Thank you again Tarun :-)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Kjeld, the great strength of the Mojo is that it has a very smooth, dare I say “analogue” type of sound. All DACs I have heard at it’s price point have either a warm soft sound with limited speed and resolution or fast, transparent sound with a few sharp edges. The Chord Mojo, when it can out, was a revaluation in my opinion as it seemed to do both. The best DACs at circa £2k (including Chords own DACs) have these characteristics but with more refinement, transparency and an even more neutral tonal balance. The Mojo in absolute terms can be a little thick in the bass and rolled off in the highs. The Denafrips Ares II brings the level of performance I associate with the best DACs at £1,500 - £2,000 for £750. Thank you for watching and your kind and generous words of support 😊👍

[@charlesclifton1006]

I have a decent DAC. (entry level Schiit). Time to upgrade and along with the many offerings, the Aries 2 has been on my radar. I understand the importance of matching the Denafrips with compatible equipment in order to allow the Aries to express its potential. For myself, this DAC is just at the limit of my budget potential. Your review, along with a couple of others, has truly helped me understand that this DAC is probably going to be the one that will put the broadest smile on my face and yes, be affordable. Tarun - this is yet again another most enjoyable and educational review. A perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon with a good cup of coffee!! I hope Denafrips appreciates this review as much as I do. Oh yes, and about the Chord Mojo - my sales-person was recommending it and for all of the same "pain in the butt" reasons you stated ... it was a no. Yes, Chord makes some stellar DACs but they are not the only horse in the race. Be well Tarun.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Charles, It is nice to hear about your experiences. Chord appeared to move the needle in DAC performance a few years ago. Especially, in the sub £5k arena. Now other manufacturers are responding and they are certainly not the only game in town. Thank you for watching and your support 😊👍

[@jeffkalina7727]

You may be last to the party on the review however you still imparted more valuable information than the others managed. In particular the fact that the sound was improved using the counter-intuitive settings. The online manual is very limited in scope with no editorial opinion on these settings. Kudos for sharing the new info on methodology. I bought one direct from Vinishine which was delivered on Monday 10 days after ordered. My cost was $750 US. The 3 year warranty is also worth mentioning-Did I miss that? Best $750 I have spent on audio. Replaced an Oppo 205. Major SQ move up. Now I am wondering about their next model up. In the US these sell same day used for nearly the original ticket price. In other words folks, what are you waiting for? A 2021 price increase??? Crack the wallet and have a Merry Christmas!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences with the Ares II Jeff. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😊👍

[@richardherbert3519]

Pretty complicated review but very interesting. This will be the DAC for me ( when I can afford it ). Keep up the great work

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Richard. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@gerrygimno]

I have the same experience with NOS but on Holo Spring Dac. Thanx for the review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Dima 😊

[@joeycastillo1496]

Thanks for the review. I am on the fence on the denafrips!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Joey 😊👍

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Another amazing review and technical info dissemination. However the price point is my stumbling point and not having an Ares II to test against, I will remain oblivious to the possible benefits my personal system may gain until I save up a bit more. Thank you as always.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Simon. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@fletchermunson6225]

Another excellent review. Thanks Tarun. I bought one of these and liked it although the switching thing took some getting used to. I thought the non oversampling sounded best. I passed it on for a MSFL 400 and enjoyed the screen and easier access to a larger number of filters. In the end I returned it for a Schiit Gungnier Multibit although at almost twice the cost. Switching and comparing input cables and output interconnects in never ending A/B experiments keep me busy considering what passes for life these days. heh.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi James, it is a little warmer sounding in NOS mode. Thank you watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍

[@fletchermunson6225]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks Tarun. I'm just a bored old guy with opinions. I got back into audio at the start of the quarantine with a goal of spending maybe $500 to upgrade an old system in my work shop. I'd hate to admit how out of control that process has gotten. The last time I got bored I wore a murder mystery and I definitely won't be doing that again. I've gone through a lot of equipment but I'm reluctant to offer too many hard and fast statements because of the interdependence of each piece and something that I might have rejected earlier on I might now find favor with just because Ive worked out other little problems that could have influenced my opinion. I have become a fan of Schiit Audio products and while they seem to have a distributor in the UK. I don't see any of their products on UK Amazon. Their $100 Modi DAC has gotten a lot of praise but I've yet to see a review of the $250 Multi-bit version. I have the feeling it would be a fantastic DAC for people wanting to upgrade from an old DAC and not break the bank on a more expensive unit. Keep up the good work.

[@marcus1970]

Really great overview... Sure, plenty of other KZbin reviewer have produced review content surrounding Denafrips DACs..... Still, doesn't lessen the appeal of having another opinion..... 👌🏻

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Marcus 😊👍

[@billfife6569]

You do a great job explaining dac principles. 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Bill 😊👍

[@reneborromeo9472]

Oh yes! I did like your review I ordered it. Thank you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great. Please let me know how you get on 😊👍👍

[@Nightjar726]

DACs are all the craze now. From my limited knowledge I think the analog outputs are more of a variable for a good sounding DAc. And you have a great unbiased view. 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Nightjar. The analogue output stage is very important. However, the power supply, input stage and the D to A converter all matter 😉👍

[@HPPG2017]

After watching your review I decided to go with Denafrip Ares 2, thank you

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great Paul. I hope it lives up to expectations. Please let me know how you get on 😊👍👍

[@HPPG2017]

Finally received the unit, pairing with Hegel h190 and buchardt s400..

[@whocares961]

@@HPPG2017 and? Overwhelmed?

[@No_Limits_411]

Instantly changed settings on my Ares II 😀 and I think I did good. At first I had nos selected, to stop the unit heating up so much.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Veiko 😉

[@mickbroad2059]

Thanks for that and all you need now is a nice Christmas jumper to wrap it all up.....projector hunting this next few weeks, perhaps I may find a Denafrips under the tree....I wish!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks Mick. Good luck with the projector hunt and the Christmas presents 😊👍

[@williamsiu6291]

Amazing review!! An amazing that came a day too late!! Yesterday my Auralic Altair stopped working, 2hrs later I came back with the Auralic G1 Altair (amazing but no digital out). And then... your DAC review😔

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Sorry about that William. The new Altair is something I would like to review at some point. I hope you enjoy it 😊👍

[@williamsiu6291]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Haha not your fault at all, my Altair ceased I had no choice. But gutted as G1 Altair has no digital out, that’s the major major complain about the G1 Altair, seems like they strategically did that and force us to upgrade. Digital volume works much better than the old Altair, but it’s still digital so thanks but no thanks, I prefer my analog valve pre.

[@KillerQ]

I have no complaints with my RME ADI-2 DAC fs, but I’m SUPER tempted to trade it for a Denafrips Ares II. Amazing review!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Matt. I am hoping to get the RME in for review 😊👍

[@KillerQ]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 you’re welcome! If you were in the US, I would totally send you mine!

[@gordonfreeman4491]

Very good review Sir, informative and direct re your opinion.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Gordon 😊👍

[@san01yt]

I agree with what W A said totally. Another great review Tarun!!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Sandeep. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@dingobiscuit]

Fantastic review. Thank you!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Dave. Much appreciated 👍😊👍

[@marcl8814]

Thanks for the great review Tarun, I always enjoy your explanations. I would like to offer an opposing opinion regarding the Nos/Os settings. I have had the Aries 2 dac for over a year now and love it but for me I still prefer the NOS setting over the OS setting having double checked again after watching this video. I’m no expert or engineer like yourself and this is only my humble opinion. Also our rigs and our rooms are completely different, as are our musical tastes. When I first got the Aries 2 there was no explanation of the settings so I contacted Alvin at Vinshine Audio and he explained the difference to me...he said the NOS was “more analog, purist, true to source” and the OS “made the music more fun”. I find in the OS mode with slow filter the lows and the highs are slightly boosted and slightly higher in volume, similar to if I were to turn up the bass and treble tone controls. To me if there is more bass and treble and it’s louder my brain will always think it sounds better. As for the soundstage the Boston Audiophile said it sounded wider in OS and I think you referred the same. Now my rig already has a nice wide soundstage so I didn’t see a difference that way but the soundstage did get “bigger”. By that I mean the instruments seemed to get bigger, the vocalist grew a few feet taller, the mandolin was now big as a guitar. I have heard this referred to as “big head effect” where instruments are un-naturally bigger than life. When I switched to NOS the band went back to a reasonable image and the frequency range was more balanced. So to me the OS setting seems a little more exaggerated, definitely makes the music a little more fun but the purist in me prefers the NOS setting. Cheers Marc L.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Marc. At the end of the day you have to trust your ears. If it sounds better in NOS mode in your system and room, then you should stick with that mode. I tried it with 3 amps and 3 different speakers and in each case in NOS mode the soundstage shrunk, the transients weren’t as cleanly defined, the bass was thicker and the highs rolled off. However, it did have a warmer sound. I suspect that tonal balance is more suited to your room, system and tastes. Thank you for sharing your experiences, viewer’s will find them useful 😊👍

[@marcl8814]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you for your reply, nice hearing from you. It’s cool having this hobby where there is no right or wrong, just what sounds good to you. Cheers.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@marcl8814 never a truer word spoken my friend. Thanks again 😊

[@marcl8814]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi again Tarun. I couldn’t help but wonder why I seemed like the only one not convinced the OS setting sounded better? Then I came across this other review I hadn’t seen before and he made a comment which suddenly made sense to me regarding the soundstage. He mentioned in OS the musicians sounded like they were right there in the room with you, up close and personal and in NOS it was more like they were in the place where the recording was made, or on the stage in front of you. That explains why I thought things sounded bigger in OS. I was used to having the band out front but now they are in the room with me and when I think of it this way I rather like it. Having listened to more in OS mode today I can now hear there is more detail in the upper registers as well. I think I may come over to the OS side after all 😱. Thank you for helping to enlighten me... That other review is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipqtoadsrMyqnNU

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@marcl8814 thank you Marc 😉👍

[@cybergod77]

I'm loving my unit and will try the over sampling mode and slow roll off filter

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Gilbert 😊

[@ch_pa]

@Gilbert short question: Is the last chosen input stored, even after „complete“ power off? That would be important for me because of missing remote control. Thanks for your reply.

[@Maver1ck911]

People seem to like NOS mode the most. OS measures better, but fast roll off(sharp) is the best to eliminate ringing in the above 20KHz audio range. Pre-ringing and excess of 20Khz artifacts are useless digital noise in the chain.

[@cybergod77]

@@ch_pa yes, it does.

[@rrameshtvi]

You remind me some of my good teachers and you do your reviews like a lectures not like a promo for a particular product. it is too bad we don't have Denafrips distributors here in Canada for listening before buying it, but I ordered one from Singapore because of your review. would you please post a video about what are the matching Amps and speakers for R2R DACs. Thank you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ramesh. Very kind of you to say. That DAC is exceptionally well balanced. It will work with a wide range of amplifiers/ speaker combinations 😊👍

[@Mrhifitunes]

Great video again. DAC development is going fast. I was a bit surpriced when you said in a 3K system (3speaker/3k Amp) this DAC can become the limiting factor... I have the feeling nowadays that 1/3 budget for source/amp/speaker doesnt stand anymore. I had more the impression that in a 1k system this DAC wouldn't be at his full potential.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy. It is not an exact science. I was suggesting £3k on amp + £3k on speakers = £6k system. At that level you may want to look at an even better DAC. 😊👍

[@Mrhifitunes]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thanks again. Appreciate also the effort you make too keep contact with your followers 👍 did you experience any difference from the different inputs? Usb spdif coax ; Do you need high resolution music to enjoy the benefits from more expensive DACs? Most of my files are 44,1/16 FLACs.

[@jvburnes]

Excellent review. Great mix of introductory information and then moving onto the "experience". I generally watch all the reviews from the most subjective to the anal retentives at audiosciencereview. One of the important things I've learned is that the map (tool used to analyze) is not the territory. Often there are tools not used to measure the item, most critically the one between your ears. You hit that sweet spot where you're thinking with all the tools. I'm actually very interested in R2R dacs and the Ares is the most powerful competitor here. Even audioscience gives it a "yeah its okay" review. One thing I'd like to see is a remote, slightly larger LEDs, and a small alphanumeric display. It's occurred to me that a really great DAC with that many inputs gets very close to a traditional preamp and not having any remote is kind of sad. Something like the ARES with a remote, the improvements I mentioned, one analog input (for a turntable?) would be the killer digital preamp.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Much appreciated. One day Denafrips might provide an all-in-one digital front end solution. For now they are adhering to a purist approach, only adding features that affect sound quality 😊👍

[@edholmwood]

Very well done. Each review is better than the last. I would be curious to see you review a Schiit Bifrost Multibit. It is similar in price and it is also not a Delta/Sigma unit. I hope that can happen and I look forward to it.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy. I hope I can do that as well 😊👍

[@r00s.]

Nice review! Subbed. Cheers from USA!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@kozkoz7776]

lm so happy you did this review lm in the never ending ordeal of UPGRADE MANIA looking for a dac to connect to my cyrus cdi you have nailed all points others failed to do love your cool smooth delivery top favourite youtube voyuer

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Koz. Very kind and much appreciated 😊👍

[@bridgehead11]

Excellent review! I have this DAC and love it. It would be so great if you could review the Denafrips Hestia/Hyperion pre-amp/amp combination. The reviews that are available are not well done at all.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I do hope to review them at some point 😊👍

[@steelydanfan100]

I REALLY like your review of the Denafris Aries II ! I am ordering this thanks to you review because it checks the most boxes for what I am seeking . Thank you Tarik !

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great. Please let me know how you get on with it Brooks 😊👍

[@steelydanfan100]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Tarik, you bring a well crafted and not overdone competence to your presentations . You provide detail , but not overblown detail for a short message. Let’s just say this: I trust you as A British Audiophile more than CNN in my native USA. Sorry, Tarik. That’s a really low bar, seriously. Sorry, man. I trust your opinions, Tarik. You exude a competence that’s more than your words and my words can’t adequately describe your competence . Maybe it’s the hairstyle! 😂 Mine is a copy of yours ! Carry on Tarik, job well done !👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@steelydanfan100 thank you Brooks. It is reading comments like yours that make doing this so worthwhile 😊👍👍

[@jamesj5469]

I love when reviewers open the dacs and amps up. Also I have you ever look at schitt audio multi bit dac. I figure it might be hard to get your hands on one

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It is not so readily available in the U.K. but they do have a distributor. I will reach out to them and see what they say 😉

[@craigcoughlin1834]

Excellent review. A massive improvement to the dac in my MF CD player and tame some of the inherent brightness of my B&W's. Next upgrade for me? ProAcs? ; )

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Craig. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍

[@ahmedsafa91]

love to see bifrost2 review and comparision with Ares

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ahmed. I hope to review some Schitt products 😊👍

[@steverees1936]

Hi Tarun. As much as I enjoyed this video, all the tech talk was way above my head. Denafrips are getting a very good name for themselves, for not so much money. For the foreseeable future though I'll be sticking with my Chord 2Qute, even though it's getting on a bit now.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Steve. This was quite a technical review in parts. I wanted to explain what are the merits and drawbacks of this design. I tried to keep it simple but sampling theory and digital signal processing get quite complex very quickly. I appreciate you watching. 😊👍

[@steverees1936]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 your welcome Tarun. It's always a learning experience to watch your video's. Keep up the excellent work my friend.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@steverees1936 thank you buddy 😊👍

[@markcarrington8565]

Nice review as always, Tarun. Great to see those Elna Silmic II caps in there. Shame they chose to go Nichicon on the power smoothing. I know, I know, better than most of the junk you often find, but if it were mine, I'd have it all done with the Elnas. I confess a combination of my old school desire to have physical media and the rabid development cycle of DACs means I've stuck at entry level for my TV sound duties only so far. At some point, I will think about a DAC for serious music listening sessions and on the strength of your review, the Ares II is a serious consideration. Well done, I may be a convert but I'd have to contemplate the horror of a streaming service subscription and a streamer too, of course. Cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and your support Mark. It is a nice design isn’t it! I resisted taking the plunge into streaming for years too 😉👍

[@Maver1ck911]

You can DIY transport with raspberry pi or check out pro-ject S2 streamer to implement any DAC into a wifi network with top specs for all services. And external HD library files.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Maver1ck911 Thank you for sharing 😉

[@alap4381]

Thank you so much for the wonderful review. I am an admirer of your channel. I hope you will also make a review on Soekris R2R ladder DAC from Denmark. I would also like to request you to make a comparison on Tannoy Cheviot vintage vs Legacy. I won a Tannoy Cheviot Legacy, but I heard that Tannoy Cheviot vintage sounds better than Legacy.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ahmed. I appreciate your support and will look into your suggestions 😊👍