Denafrips Ares 2 Review - Not really NOS, but lovely!

The Denafrips Ares 2 is an affordable R2R dac with a lot to offer....and some questionable aspects.

Correction: 768khz is 16x 48khz, not 32x!

Intro Song: "Awake" by Electric Guest

Testing Tracks:

0:00 - Intro
1:39 - Build and Aesthetics
2:44 - I/O
3:09 - Internals
9:30 - Sound
23:35 - Not actually NOS!
31:20 - Impulse response quirk
32:28 - Conclusion
33:55 - Channel Stuff

The GoldenSound youtube channel, and all content is created and owned by GoldenSound LTD

[ByronBolton-CityPros]

I really enjoyed this video. I’ve owned this DAC for about a year now. I have to admit I started watching this video with reservations and my defenses up. But it was so thorough and on point with excellent description of how the Ares II performs. You really well articulated why I love this DAC so much. Keep up these great videos. I’m going to patron now.

[SoonerUnitedKingdomOffical]

I purchased this in march, plugged it in, set up and have hardly touched it since. It's a joy. I'm glad I've not personally heard better, that way I can simply enjoy it without endlessly chasing my tail.

[mikehuntington]

Wow, your videos are so good and your knowledge is so extremely valuable. Wish you would have brought this video out months ago.

I had this DAC and I tried to set it up with a miniDSP that has a four Channel output, into two separate DACs so that I could send high pass filter to the speakers, and a low pass filter to my subwoofer. I'm fairly new at doing this stuff so.... You can imagine the problems I had when I finally figured out the random delay output from this DAC would change. It took me weeks of trying to figure out that I wasn't doing anything wrong, but the DAC was creating the problem.

I think you are the only reviewer that mentioned this problem.... Please keep up the outstanding work.

[miroslavbazitov]

Thank you for showing how a review can be worth watching. No marketing fluff, no “audiophile” sweet talk - just pure information. Plus someone who actually knows how a real instrument sounds. Thank you 🙏

[sajanpalanki]

I gotta say that I really enjoy your music "recommendations" that you use for testing. It gives me a chance to explore new artists and songs I hadn't heard before.

[xyanide]

Big props to going in depth with the oversampling modes. I don't know any reviewer that does this.

[Rpez]

Thank you for including gamers in your review.

[mikepedersen]

Your content is consistently of really high quality. Please keep it up.

[mfr]

Best and most useful Ares 2 review I've heard. Knowing the output drive limitations was news to me and means I can reconfigure my set up to get better performance. Thanks.

[ericharrelson]

The amount details in this review was quite nice; well done. The way you produce your content is enjoyable to watch, always waiting with a little anticipation for the next one.

[MartinJablonski]

Can't wait for the VMV D1se review. I already decided I wanted to buy the Ares 2, but if the VMV D1se is on par with it I have to wait for the review, as I felt your recommendations quite nicely fit my personal preferences, so your opinion definitely holds more weight for me than other reviewers.

[DistroUser]

I own and have lived with the Schiit Bifrost 2 for almost 2 years so I am truly familiar with its particular sound. It has a crisp, clear and open presentation that can be quite palpable at times with music and video. With all the favorable reviews of the Ares II I decided to purchase the unit thinking I would replace my Bifrost. Well, that didn't go as planned. I found the Ares ll great for long listening sessions and yes it's smooth and analog like. What I found lacking in particular was in the treble region..no clarity or openness like the Bifrost. It was especially noticeable with videos which allow the recording to come alive or fleshed out or in other words lacking air. My two cents!

[wouterkolkman]

Very interesting what you mention about NOS mode. On my Holo Audio Spring I always used to listen in NOS mode. Now on the Denafrips T+ I am happy with OS. Good to hear that lots of the virtues of a ladder DAC shine through in the more ‘budget’ offering.

[righteousone]

Thank you about explaining delay aspect, didn't even think about it.
I game and realize that it's a no-go.

[MattBorchert]

You produce chill, high quality content. Appreciate it.

I checked out Boogie Belgique based on your recommendation on the community page and was not disappointed. Great album, I'll echo the recommendation 🙂

[JohnTwo]

A shame about that buffer delay, you are the only reviewer who has mentioned it. Makes it impossible for my use case.

[michaelwright]

Ares II here, along with the Iris DDC, Denafrips Hades preamp and Thallo amplifier. Running the KLH Model 5 speakers… Neeest Bluesound Node feeding the music…

I have not enjoyed listening to music like I am now able to in YEARS!

Those chip DACs and other chip based gear, UGH!

Music now sounds like MUSIC! Not some clinical presentation of noise, as that is what I have been hearing for all of these years with this modern gear.

It is so nice to just sit down and relax and enjoy what I am hearing. I am even exploring new music, something I have not done in many years.

Denafrips saved the day! I’ll take this natural sound of the Ares over all of that detail of these chip DACs.

[VirtualFreightDog]

Thank you! You review just saved me a lot of money and frustration. I was planning on buying the Ares II for my home theater setup, but the changeing input delay is a deal breaker for me. So glad I found this video!

[rbarrettnd]

Thanks for your review- I would love to hear your take on the Denafrips Ares 12-1