Denafrips Ares upgrade by Ian Canada

[@Geolog66]

I have aquired the Iris 12th DDC as a bridge between my computer and my DAC and I am very satisfied.

[@jungtarcph]

can you hear the difference?

[@michel8166]

Once again nice video, I'm really curious about the TDA1541A you are working on, I hear good reports about this type of TDA number DAC, I'm really looking forward to it.

[@CollectingRetro]

The TDA1541A in a modern circuit is absolutely excellent. I have the MHDT Orchid & Orchid 69SE with upgraded output capacitors. I've been able to compare them to the Bricasti M3 and Audio Note DAC 4.1x Balanced Signature. I've found that I don't like the Audio Note sound and it was a very close race with the M3. I'm very happy to have compared them and realize there is little if anything to be gained by spending way more.

[@Gabster1]

Coming soon! It is my favorite dac sound

[@michaelmajchrzak3476]

@@Gabster1 Do you consider sharing or selling schematics of your TDA DAC?

[@beherit98]

I hope Ian Canada comes up with a mod for the denafrips pontus as well , that would be awesome !

[@BostonMike68]

Thanks Gab! I would love to be able to learn some of these diy projects, I have designed my own speakers . The main reason why I go the diy route is because of the money savings. I want good sound quality but I'm unfortunately on a budget and this is an expensive hobby. I could never have speakers like this if I didn't design and build myself.

[@Gabster1]

DiY is a amazing path not only you save but you can build things that are hard to buy and the biggest reward is the enjoyment you get doing it and the proud ownership that follows.

[@michaelmajchrzak3476]

Hello Gabi, nice video. It's definitely a good option for those who already have the Denafrips Ares. However, if someone is interested in this DAC, they should consider the Denafrips Ares 15th. I already have large-size clocks. Ian board won't be needed anymore.

[@kurt120032002]

This is interesting, but I would be even more interested in a project about how to take Soekris 2941 system and upgrade it. Sure PSU is not that hard to upgrade, but I would be more interested in how to send an I2S signal in to that board. I think Soekris 2941 is a more interesting project then Ares becasue it is literally 500 Euros with very good performance for the price. I took a look at the layot but does not quite match with Ian Canada's reclock board for I2S.

[@Gabster1]

Soekris 2941 is a very interesting project to try, I think the Ares is a great platform to DIY it is good and ready to go we often forget the cost of adding power supplies enclosures etc...

[@kurt120032002]

@@Gabster1 I was not trying to put down Ares, I was just trying to point out that for DIY getting a complete board with very good performance for 500$ is a good proposition and as you said a very interesting project. I would try so see if there are people who can help me identify the proper connections to send the I2S. If I manage that, there is a lot to try with that board, power supply, IC's output stage, "audiophile" grade components to be replaced... receipts to be hidden from the wife.😄

[@BrianS-xg5uq]

Brilliant stuff Gabster...now i need an upgrade kit for my pontus II ;)

[@Gabster1]

If the Clocks are accessible can not see why not

[@bryancox5192]

I'll second this, I have a Pontus II and am hoping Ian put out a kit for the upgrade.

[@LuxAudio389]

It's probably economically better to have a local electronics repair shop do the upgrade. Shipping is still expensive, but it's superb that he offers to do it.

[@Gabster1]

if you have someone close it is Ideal I doubt Ian has a lot of free time I think he is just doing it to help bear in mind the Ares is very small and light.

[@ehickert]

Great video Gab! If you are using great clocks in your Ian Canada streamer, do you also need great clocks in the DAC? I believed that the Streamer clock would be the master clock for the DAC. Is this wrong?

[@vladiny]

I'm interested in this answer also. I would think the DAC clocks overrides the streamer clocks or having sc-pure clocks on both streamer and DAC is best?

[@Gabster1]

Most Dacs tend to reclock the stream regardless of origin even I2s a few let you bypass the internal clocks like the Holo Spring 3 The Denafrips Dac do not they reclock.

[@vladiny]

@@Gabster1 thank you! Then it’s worth it to do the upgrade on denafrips ares DAC.

[@RumblestripDotNet]

The question I have is how would this upgrade compare to adding the IRIS DDC to the Ares 12th.

[@carminedesanto6746]

I guess no change ..you’re unable to bypass its internal DAC.

[@jungtarcph]

But if you play via Optical, does the Aries even use the clock? Or only via USB?

[@michaelmajchrzak3476]

Do you consider sharing or selling schematics for TDA 1541A DAC?

[@marcodeangelis4535]

as always thank you for all your experiments, one question.....I noticed that on 1:25 of your video you powered 3.3v of the hdmi pro and Q7 directly to your UCPURE that's great! i have it too! but I can't understand why J7 jumpers on HDMIpro are short and not open to Takes 3.3V power supply from J3 ? thank you to aswer to my doubt

[@Name-gr4dy]

How do you open the Ares?

[@Pete.across.the.street]

I replaced the clocks and power supply in my eversolo dmp-a8 with Ian Canada . Great improvements 🎉

[@Gabster1]

Good tip! thanks for letting us know that it is possible with the Dmp-A8

[@Pete.across.the.street]

​@@Gabster1 pretty easy, since the clocks are the same pin out

[@mrpmj00]

Wow, I like the chart that shows his ratings in which the Ares upgrade sounds as good as a $2200 Holo Spring 3 (+150 shipping) = $2450 (I have both the Ares II 12th and Pontus II 12th-1, Iris 12th) --- source=Apple Music lossless

[@Gabster1]

Do you hear a difference between the Ares and Pontus? I have heard a few Pontus dacs and was a bit disappointed by the Pontus but it could be the system and not the dac.

[@Roger-lz9ro]

This s great being able to change clocks on the Denafrips Ares

[@everardwilliams2918]

are ians clocks better than those in the terminator or the Gaia?

[@jackgraves1006]

I'm interested in this as an option for pontus 2

[@Nightjar726]

At some point it would be good to see some measurements. I’m not 100% a measurements person, but this is starting to sound like a commercial. Some measurements please to see what diff the clocks make. Cheers and no offense

[@Gabster1]

I think Ian did Measure the clocks phase noise Ares/ScPure iancanada.ca/blogs/news/denafrips-ares-12th-ii-r-2r-dac-clock-upgrade

[@tommiranta8817]

How would you describe the difference in sound characteristics between the Denafrips and Ian Canada dacs? E.g I’ve seen Denafrips being described as musical, how would you describe the sound of some of the higher end Ian Canada builds you’ve completed on this channel?

[@Gabster1]

good clean Power supply and output stage tend to make the ESS Dacs sound as good sometimes better I think The Denafrips sound is not as musical as some say, it is kind of in-between The most musical I have heard is the TDA1541A

[@StofanoobN]

Will this work/do anything for the new Ares 15th? Just ordered one today and this looks like a nice upgrade.

[@Gabster1]

most likely yes if you can access the clocks should be the same

[@youriermerdaner5950]

how much do you pay? I'm getting interested in it recently

[@StofanoobN]

@@youriermerdaner5950 1190 euro. But now im thinking maybe go with the 12th edition. Looks like this clock upgrade wont work on the new 15th. They changed the layout around the wiring. But im a noob so maybe im wrong 🫡

[@mannytheseacow7381]

Hi, Gabbie. I find the Ares to be rather thin in the low mids. Does upgrading the clock improve the low end at all?

[@Gabster1]

It will a bit but not a lot I did find the bass a bit lower as well it could be the Ares output stage I am planning to try some other mods see if we can push it further in general not a big fan of the Ares or Pontus but for the price they are good.

[@mannytheseacow7381]

Thank you for the reply, Gabbie. I agree that the performance of the Ares is not that good given all the rave reviews elsewhere. I am on the fence determining if upgrading the clock will be worth the investment or if I would be better off just going with a different DAC.

[@andypyne]

​@mannytheseacow7381 out of interest, what model variant of Ares 2 do you have? I'm considering the 15th and want something very analogue sounding and tend towards warm lush sound over hearing every detail analytically. Have you burned in the DAC for 200+ hours etc as I hear that helps (not convinced, but that's what others say). And is the rest of your setup analytical/neutral/warm sounding? I've seen a few reviews on the Holo Audio Cyan 2 that might be a viable alternative but I keep coming back to the Ares..... Are you considering any alternatives yourself?

[@mannytheseacow7381]

It sounds like we are chasing a similar sound. I purchased an original Ares II second hand, it had over 1000 hours on it and I put another 100 hours on it. Overall the sound stage and detail was good but I could not live with the lack of low end and low mids. I sold it and got a Musical Paradise DAC that has the sound I am looking for. I like the MP’s ability to change tubes and capacitors, and has the tightness in the lows that I was looking for. I wouldn’t say I am a bass-head, but I like cello and upright bass to sound accurate, live, and in the room with me. I am using the DAC with a Decware UFO 25 and a Crown power amp into Lii open baffles, powering F15’s and W15’s respectively.

[@andypyne]

@@mannytheseacow7381 Many thanks :) I appreciate the follow-up!

[@new-kids-on-the-block]

decoupling caps on the tda1541a ar best on 1.1uf

[@x24valveman]

I am buying a Raspberry Pi for a similar project, I thought a 5, but which one is best 4Gb or 8Gb? A Ian Canada Streamer

[@Gabster1]

4 is way more then enough I run some with a model 3 1Gb If you are not using a m.2 drive just a sim Card the 3b or 4 maybe less noisy

[@x24valveman]

@@Gabster1 Thanks

[@HoomanR17]

Hi Gabby . Great video. I have the Ares and while this upgrade looks good. I'm thinking of experimenting with a Tube DAC DIY that that I saw on iiWi's channel, a design by Lukasz Fikus (Lampucera) a take on the Lampizator DAC... I know you use tubes and have high efficiency speakers.. do you have any interest in that realm or have any feedback about this particular DIY direction... I ask since cost for parts, its basically the price of an AresII DAC.

[@Gabster1]

I heard great things about the Lampucera Dac but never tried one I think it will be far better then the Ares if you do not mind DIY route you can then compare and sell the one you like the least :)

[@HoomanR17]

@@Gabster1 Thanks for your reply. I don't mind the DIY.. It would be cool to see how you would "upgrade" the design for such a kit :)

[@teknolojigundemi]

Your contents are very good. I recently bought Holo Audio Cyan 2 and need a quality streamer with good psu and clock to match price/performance. Upgrading clocks maybe next step for enchancin sound quality. Streamer must be stable and support both Android-IOS remote app's. Thank you.

[@d.s.cullom5461]

Hi Gabbie! Love your channel. I’m not completely knowledgeable about clocks, but I thought I saw a KZbin video that talked about how the Dac’s internal clocks are used only with USB, all other digital inputs use the clocks in the source. Could you set me straight on this?

[@Gabster1]

It Varies most Dacs tend to reclock the stream regardless of origin even I2s a few let you bypass the internal clocks like the Holo Spring 3 this is why this Diy hack works

[@d.s.cullom5461]

@@Gabster1 is there a way to know which dacs do or don't reclock coax etc. by reading the literature or specs.

[@Gabster1]

@@d.s.cullom5461 95% do reclock try searching Holo spring bypassing clocks to get a Idea I never had one I can bypass

[@wyup]

I think all Dacs reclock even those those with external clock sync input, regardless of USB, I2S or SPDIF. To make perfect sense the source stream should be synced with the same master clock aswell to be both in sync and not need to reclock, otherwise you have to resync with the source. That is the problem with dacs, they all use their own clock to decode and sync to the source clock signal, which carries its own jitter that may or may not be corrected. Only CD players use a single clock for dac and data stream.

[@twitchbook-1]

thats how is done

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

Why not go the whole hog and put a Rubidium clock in there?

[@iancanada]

Rubidium clock doesn't have great phase noise performance because of the PLL. Only good at long term stability. Sound quality will not be benefit from Rubidium clocks.

[@jackhastings9800]

I would buy a LAiV Harmony DAC and pay the exta then doing that mod.

[@matytinman]

Talking about very good recordings, today I have uploaded a Direct Disk 24/96 FLAC 0 vinyl rip with DR16. I think it is ideal to verify the audio system quality. 4K / AAC 192kbps. Bill Berry and his Ellington All-Stars - For Duke (1978) Vinyl kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4mVm4SsrMaobZo DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR16 -0.88 dB -21.84 dB 4:26 01-Take the "A" Train DR14 -6.19 dB -26.11 dB 4:22 02-Mood Indigo DR16 -1.95 dB -20.45 dB 2:29 03-Things Ain't What They Used To Be DR16 -2.46 dB -23.01 dB 4:54 04-Perdido DR17 -0.73 dB -22.43 dB 3:25 05-Satin Doll DR13 -2.78 dB -22.27 dB 3:35 06-I Got It Bad (And That Ain_t Good) DR17 -0.32 dB -21.25 dB 4:15 07-I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart DR16 -2.05 dB -23.00 dB 4:12 08-Cotton Tail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 8 Official DR value: DR16 - Greetings from Tarragona (SPAIN/EU) -

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

Hi res is pointless.

[@matytinman]

@@simonzinc-trumpetharris852 Just now.. Orquestral mass with DR14 Bruckner - 9 Symphonien (1967) Vinyl: Jochum, SODBR: Symphony No 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmmunYVpbpeljZI

[@nickolaymiltenov]

My modest option is that if you can hear a difference only by replacing the clock.....well this DAC is poorly built and not good at all.

[@Gabster1]

It is a entry level Dac built to a certain price

[@carminedesanto6746]

Greetings from Guelph.☕️🌧️ I just sent an email to Denafrips regarding this upgrade..I’ll definitely be sending it out for the upgrade. Thanks for the video!

[@Gabster1]

This is a DIY upgrade by IanCanada.ca not Denafrips

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM☕️ Ahhhhhh…I had to watch it again… I contacted IanCanada I’m damn interested in this upgrade! Thank You for this information and video!

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@Gabster1 on the sound ..you’ve said more sparkle ✨ on the top ..how about the Bass ..a little more energy? I’m seriously considering this upgrade …

[@gorandjurdjevic4959]

same story with Holo Cayan 2 , connect after Altera fpga and Laiv Dac is .....😂😂😂

[@andreacountry8471]

"Hights rolled off" isn't an upgrade...

[@jamietholl]

I believe he said the highs were NOT as rolled off