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Denafrips Ares II R-2R DAC

Denafrips Ares II R-2R DAC

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2.1K requests
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12 Sold
Product Description
Sometimes, older is better. The Denafrips Ares II R-2R DAC makes use of the very first form of digital-to-analog conversion, a resistor ladder, to deliver exceptional audio Read More

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Buckaboo
141
Oct 7, 2021
Anyone compare this to the Airist R2R dac?
dira
6
Oct 10, 2020
Can I have one please?
drobbins
4
Nov 25, 2019
This is an excellent DAC, and hits the mark being a true 'hi-fi' product rather than a wannabe. It is replacing my NAD Masters Series M51. Significantly better. Very natural sounding, 'analog-like', musical and tons of detail -- instruments and layers are very well separated and distinct from one another in space, to a remarkable degree, which I find unique to this DAC design compared to more typical DACs (and the NAD M51 is pretty special too.) I use it with DSD as well as PCM and it does a very, very good job with DSD. Used with a Music Reference RM-10 MK2 tube amp, Martin Logan Vista speakers, Schitt Sys passive pre, and MIT / Morrow audio cables. Using over USB, have tested coax as well as optical. Sad to see that maybe this was a grey market purchase through Drop (I hope not!) but the DAC is very worthy of being bought through authorized channels.
(Edited)
verifonix
1181
Mar 31, 2020
https://www.google.com/search?q=amazon+corning+usb look at the reviews. I'll have to pass leap of faith, no thank you it's not exactly a cheap usb cable this one
(Edited)
rastus
1395
Mar 31, 2020
verifonix
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Most look to be experiencing node power issues... why I used the term leap, I read the reviews with it working, usually the more competent users... believe in your own ability to follow directions and not try to use the 5V at the other end of the cable to power the USB node in your DAC. It is very simple what Corning is doing, ultimate clean , looks digital-like even, analog square wave USB crap over long distances via optical fiber transference (actually then digital;). They made it to patch problems in server farms over extreme distances. So in essence; a double reclocker teleportation device as compared to metal wire USB. I got this from a Corning engineer at a pizza joint in Corning NY years back, where I got the gumption to “leap”;) Not a passing conversation, we were having dinner going over some flat panel related stuff and hit a tangent. https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/22816-corning-optical-usb-cable-experiences/

http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=176889.0

(Edited)
Does anyone representing Drop care to comment on Denafrips's gray market warning? Also, is there a way to verify that whoever has the "Denafrips" username on Drop is legit and not some meddling impostor?
Peguinpower
2
Oct 19, 2019
I bought from Vinshine on a Sunday, I had it the following Friday. I paid 768.
fkewl
1
Feb 18, 2022
I guess my next step would be a TT2 but for now I must replenish my wallet and stay put for some time :) Btw, I've very quickly googled some of those amps and there's a Z Review where it says that the iha-6 is a 789 alternative. If that means it still comes with the wall of sound signature, then watch out. I've tried playing with the THX-887 and it was awful, almost no depth at all.
HaVoCTzu
274
Feb 18, 2022
fkewlRule #1. Ignore everything Zeos says. Rule #2 yes, literally everything as for tt2, be sure to demo a few other things. TT2 sounded a bit thin to me. At that price range you may want to look into holo audio… don’t think you can demo it but there are a lot of reviews.
Abc8
1
Oct 17, 2019
A few days ago Drop sent an email regarding shipment of this product, And offering to cancel any orders if the purchaser no longer wish to make the purchase. In addition, I see that Denafrips Consider this a gray market product, and cannot guarantee the origin of the product. I had contacted drop a couple of days ago to cancel the order, but never heard back, and now I see that the order has shipped. I cannot find any information from drop regarding the authenticity of this product, nor any information regarding canceling the order. I haveNot yet heard back from dropping. Anyone else have the same issue?
pedro_janeiro
18
Oct 1, 2019
Hi guys, no reviews yet?
mazort
1
Jan 4, 2020
Check out YouTube. 627 Drop requests chomping at the bit.
rastus
1395
Jan 5, 2020
mazortThanks, do see some new ones, watched everything before I got one. Why so few here... mostly dis from ASR 1kHz Temple folks and the Schiit crowd, same as the drop R-2R. I see a future in more refined R-2R.
DENAFRIPS
22
Sep 12, 2019
Hello guys, We had written to DROP but yet to receive any reply. While awaiting for DROP' reply, we thought we should chime in to clarify. Please be informed that we did not authorize any other companies to sell our products except for Vinshine Audio (Singapore). Please refer to: https://www.denafrips.com/single-post/2019/07/27/Warning-Grey-Market-Products The source DROP is getting the ARES II is questionable. We would not be able to provide any after sales support/warranty for the products not sold through Vinshine Audio. Hope this helps! Sincerely, DENAFRIPS Team
rastus
1395
Sep 25, 2019
Methinks someone, has some contract conflicts...
vvcv
13
Apr 17, 2020
Wow, the more I look on Amazon -at audio gear- the more I smell stink. I've gone so far as to call Amazon's "Business/seller" (don't quote exactly) department, in regards to a seller damaging the market for quality China designed/manufactured products by selling audio gear from 300-500% above US retail prices. They said they can't control what a seller sells for. I can just imagine a new audio enthusiast going to Amazon to buy a tube amp, see's a boutique China amp for $1,800 (when US retail is actually $400) and thinks a great deal -after seeing US made boutique amps for $8-15k in Stereophile. Got to do homework and make calls in the audio industry. I don't make a big price purchase w/o calling the manufacture first to verify qualified retailers that have qualified sources for fixes or for any other matter. Hell, I can't get a straight answer out of sales staff/owners from 'reputable' dealers regarding warranty and or repair questions; I can do most of my gear repairs if tube based, and can smell lies a mile away, but ask anyway just to see if I get the truth or the bullshit. Careful out there in the audio world.
(Edited)
Kris2014
65
Sep 11, 2019
I recently build an amp. Bought a bunch of resistors (vishay cmf 1%) and out of 14, i got 4 near declared value, 5 higher value but consistent with each other, and others random values. Same stories with caps (most 20% tolerance). But in my system only 6 caps and 4 resistors are in signal path so I don’t have a hard time matching things. Others are either for decoupling the ground (non critical) or in psu alone. However ended up with a bunch of spare parts.... So the observation here is that, good luck with these many resistors and caps in critical positions in the signal path. I don’t think they would closely match components for such a low price. I would just bought reasonably tight tolerance ones (anything tighter than 1% are outrageously expensive), throw them in, and pray. It’s not like you guys can hear a 3dB difference, nor have an analyzer that could measure things.
(Edited)
RayF
22226
Sep 11, 2019
Locked
Seriously wondering—in a blind taste test, how many folks think they could distinguish between a $700 DAC and a $300 DAC, vs those who actually could distinguish between the two? My guess is that a lot of people think they hear better than others, and therefore are more likely to pony up the bucks for high-dollar audio gear—regardless of whether they actually can. In other words, beware the vanity of your ears!
rorcocobun1
2
Sep 12, 2019
Troll, I did read your question, and I asked you a simple question in return. However, I take it from your response, that you haven't heard said DAC in a double-blind test before espousing your narcissistic beliefs as to be a universal truth. Now run along Troll before you make your mommy upset.
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