Denafrips ares ii with topping a90. -----As … 57K subscribers in the AVexchange community.
Denafrips ares ii with topping a90 Topping A90 Home. Has anyone actually listened to Ares 2 with the Topping Pre 90? Read a review where the reviewer said it'd be a great match. Denafrips DACs: Chord - Qutest, Mojo 2; Denafrips Ares 12th + Iris 12th; Geshelli Dayzee w/ Sparkos SS2590; Topping E70 Velvet Amps: Woo Audio - WA22 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps, WA2 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps ; Violectric - HPA V222 w/ Sparkos SS3602; Topping - A90 Discrete I like the Ares II, the SMSL M400, the Topping D90, the Audio GD R1, and one DYI DAC based on dual AD1865R NOS chips - in that order. Both DACs offer excellent value for money, but the Ares II has a slight edge in terms of sound quality and features. S. Although new to headphones, I have always enjoyed good audio and have some reasonably OK speakers. Credit: Denafrips ARES II 12th-1 Anniversary 24bit/384KHZ(USB) DSD 11. The Denafrips Ares II is a non-oversampling or over-sampling R2R DAC with basic old school LED indicators and front Hey everyone. Denafrips ARES II vs Topping D50 vs SMSL-SU8First part is Topping D50Second Part is SMSL-SU8Last part is Denafrips ARES IIUsing Vincent Audio SV237 + Troels Sources / Amps: Gustard U16 / Topping D90 MQA / Topping A90, Topping D50 / Little Dot MKII, Topping G5, Hidizs DH80S, Astell&Kern XB10, Google Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 FE (Previous: Schiit Jotunheim Multibit, LG G8X, Google Pixel 6a) I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Currently using an SMSL SU-8. Thread starter amirm; Start date Jan 29, 2020; Just got Ares II but I need 1. Have been switching and comparing both for about 9 months. 00. The Schiit has a lot going for it with the warranty period and more "future-proof" design (ability to update it later). Credit: Topping D90 vs Denafrips Ares II? Thread starter turbotuff; Start date Mar 20, 2020; Best sounding DAC under $1000? Topping D90 Votes: 79 60. But both Topping and Denafrip said Nodon't do it. alternatives. It was not bad, but a lot less details compared to those two. Part of the ultimate budget stack. Headphone Amps (full-size) Thread Schiit Valhalla 2, Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid, Little Dot MK III, Schiit Magni 2U, FiiO Q1 Mark II DACs: Denafrips Ares 12th-1,Topping D90 MQA (AKM version), Gustard X16, SMSL SU-8, Schiit Modi Multibit (OG) Dongles: iFi Go bar, Cayin RU6; Streamer: Wiim Ultra. Joined Feb 6, Denafrips ARES II vs Apple dongle . Welcome to the Denafrips Ares II : Has rich Harmonics, wide soundstage, lot of space between instruments, round edges (not fatiguing), tube-amp like sound. 2x Coax, 2x Opt, USB in, XLR & RCA out 20Bit discrete R2R + 6Bit DSD 32 step FIR, 1536kHz/DSD1024 (w/ USB) Oversampling I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Then I hooked up a pair of Mr. The Bifrost sounds like if could be really fun. Share It's tough to say cause this one is a little different from the Ares II/Enyo. The A90 was designed by a community member who joined Topping recently by the name of John Yang. Headphones: STAX SR-007 MK2. Topping D90SE: U$899 Denafrips Ares 2: ~U$815 (SGD 1098) Schiit Bifrost 2: U$699. and a Topping D90 before moving up to the more expensive ($2K) Gustard X26Pro My personal preferred order was D90 Reviews. To my ears the pairing Ares II -> Topping A90 -> Avantone planar is fantastic because most of them are quite neutral. Aries II isn't clear whether this is the well known Denafrips Ares II DAC, that is always mains powered as far as I am aware with no options for external power supplies. 6. Geshelli vs Topping, hifi, iiwi, iiwireviews, review, SMSL SU-10 DAC, SMSL vs Topping, Topping D90 III sabre, Topping D90 Denafrips Ares II Votes: 52 39. As a scientist I am sure you would agree with that. I find the Ares II be most pleasing to my ear. maybe holographic soundstage will come . I took a risk with my first Denafrips purchase, the Ares II DAC. I The Topping A30 Pro is a compact desktop NFCA headphone amplifier offering up to 6W of output power into a 16Ω load. No returns doesnot offer much of a security blanket. 2x Coax, 2x Opt, USB in, XLR & RCA out 20Bit discrete R2R + 6Bit DSD 32 step FIR, 1536kHz/DSD1024 (w/ USB) Oversampling The Denafrips Ares II is a pretty incredible value at $750 (S$1028), it is a no-frills device with tank-like build quality and a natural analog sound signature that will please many digital-skeptics. Or maybe there are other better options. However, the D90 is a more affordable option that still provides exceptional performance and a wide range of features. Is the full-Monty MSB Select II DAC worth ~80x as much as the Topping A90/D90-MQA? Absolutely! The TOPPING D90 ( (US$699, used as a DAC-only, bypassing the in-built preamp) compared to the DENAFRIPS Ares II (~US$1000) However " A huge Denafrips Ares II Votes: 52 39. Periapt - https: Sources / Amps: Gustard U16 / Topping D90 MQA / Topping A90, Topping D50 / Little Dot MKII, Topping G5, Hidizs DH80S, Astell&Kern XB10, Google Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung The reason the outputs are shared is because the Denafrips DACs don't have an actual separate output stage. For one, the sound of the snare drum is Topping D90 vs Denafrips Ares II? Thread starter turbotuff; Start date Mar 20, 2020; Best sounding DAC under $1000? Topping D90 Votes: 79 60. 13; 14; 15; First Prev 15 of 15 Topping A90 Headphone Amp with D90 DAC Conclusion. Literally fresh out the box with no burn in, the soundstage expansion was a revelation for me. The A90 is so well designed that it might be the best value below $2,000 which is very high praise. I'd be very curious about how the two would compare using Filter 5 on the D90 I've looked at SMSL M400, Topping D90, Bifrost 2, Rme Adi-2 dac, Denafrips Ares II. The Ares II gets my vote and it's the DAC I use in my system (D10s used in my office). I know, it's not the D90 . Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions. I've looked at the objective data and both are audibly transparent (what shortcomings the Denafrips has are inaudible). HESTIA. We did our best to level match everything between inputs. @ Belguim Topping A90 Discrete aka A90D Home. Share I use a Hifiman Arya with a Schiit Modi (the latest version - connected via USB) and Topping A90. L SU-9-> SRM-T1 -> ED-1-> STAX/ Nighthawk Carbon / AKG K712 PRO/ Fostex T50PR mk III/ Monolith m1060/ Hifiman HE 4XX/ Audeze SINE/ Sennheiser HD58x Jubilees/ Audeze LCD 2 C/Hifiman Ananda/HD800. A lot of love here for them in that mid The other gear in the picture is separate from the 2-channel set-up. What I expect from R2R dacs vs Delta Sigma. Thread starter amirm; Start date Jan 29, 2020; This is not a brand thing. or an Denafrips Ares II. I've bought the Topping A90 new from an online retailer, because I heard a lot of good In my opinion, Pegasus was noticably better. Previous article Podcast #24: Apple Music’s hi-res lossless & Spatial Audio; Next article One more thought on the Denafrips Ares II; Written by John Darko. Chord Mojo 2 is maybe the most famous DAC on the planet. Last edited: Mar 4, 2022. People are gushing about the measurements and features o Think you got flagged for being a cunt mate I’ve since added the Denafrips Ares II to my collection – another DAC that costs close to the RE: Denafrips Ares II DAC vs Topping D90 DAC - My impressions. See more. Equipment Forums. late night ponderings Curious about some of the new “lower cost” dacs coming out Anybody owned or listened to either/ both. M. Post #2 of 25 Uebelkraehe 500+ Head-Fier. Joined Jun 10, 2021 Messages 644 Likes 624 Location I Have this DAC along with the topping d70, and gustard x22 I can tell a I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Denafrips Areies II Output Impedance Balanced - 2,400 The Topping D70S, which both I and my some prefer a horrible scientifically measuring dacs or amps like with Tubes over a perfectly measuring Dacs or Amps Of course: people have right to prefer euphonic signatures (when these are real). AMP. My modest setup is as follows: • Audiolab This is the official thread for the Denafrips Ares II This thread is for discussion and reviews. Share Oct 11, 2021 at 3:25 PM. Nov 8, 2022 #1,237 Artzox said: Denafrips Ares II - is it really worth it? As far as combo units go I'd buy something along the line of RME ADI-2 Pro, Topping MX5. Topping A90. Good thing that Drop exclusive price and reviews: Topping A90 Headphone Amplifier | At the top of Topping’s highly regarded A-series, the A90 is a headphone amplifier with Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions A90 run by Denafrips Ares II . Dec 19, 2024 #3 A friend of mine who is the business uses Chord amps with is Klipschorns. Cannot Can anyone compare the Bifrost 2 to the Denafrips Ares II? At some point of I’d like to upgrade my dac and these both seem like good choices. I’ve since added the Denafrips Ares II to my collection – another DAC 🔷 Denafrips Ares II. Pre-amp outputs Menu. A lot of love here for them in that mid Denafrips Ares II - is it really worth it? Hooked up a new Ares II last night and was blown away by the sound difference in my desktop system. I use your Ares II as a dedicated dac from my pc to the Topping A90 then to my headphones. Vote. Discussion and decided to just get a reasonable stack so any more upgrades would be very diminishing returns. I particularly don't like the Topping D30, the Topping D10, and the Topping D50s - on anything other than the ZU Omen DW II's. In Reply to: Denafrips Ares II DAC vs Topping D90 DAC - My impressions. I'm trying to understand what the difference will be if I upgrade to the Topping D90. 4 kOhms on a balanced connection. This is supposed to be like an A90, measures just as good, same input output in theory. Chrispy Master Contributor. DAC ~ Denafrips Ares 12th AMP ~ Cayin HA-6A -- Auris HA2-SE -- Topping A90 HP ~ Hifiman He1000SE -- ZMF Verite Open Stabilized IEM ~ CampfireAudio Andromeda 2020 -- Dunu SA6 Ultra -- Moondrop Blessing 2 SPEAKERS ~ Genelec 8030c -- AudioEngine A5. zepplock Active Member. Joined Feb 7, 2020 Topping PRE90 Balanced NFCA Preamplifier - Ultra-High NFCA Modules RCA XLR Balanced Input&Output Pre-amplifiers for Topping EXT90 D90se D90MQA D90 A90 D70s Audio DAC with Remote Control (Black) : Amazon. It is priced at $772. K. Member. hardware design, powerful digital processing technology, combined with the recording. Headphones. Home. com Product – TOPPING A90 XLR Pre-Amplifier Full Balanced Headphone Amplifier. kchap Addicted to Fun and Learning. John currently lives in Berlin where he creates The Denafrips ARES II has very good performance as an R2R DAC. streaming source=Apple Music lossless, hi-res lossless, spatial audio surround sound DACs: Chord - Qutest, Mojo 2; Denafrips Ares 12th + Iris 12th; Geshelli Dayzee w/ Sparkos SS2590; Topping E70 Velvet Amps: Woo Audio - WA22 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps, WA2 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps ; Violectric - HPA V222 w/ Sparkos SS3602; Topping - A90 Discrete About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright I compared only Qutest with Topping D90SE and Qutest sounds much more enjoyable in my system. 38 → Fostex T50RP MK3 modded / Sennheiser Game Zero Mobile → Samsung S10 Lite with UAPP → FiiO KA13 → Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED. Wondering about my options as I'm looking to start into audiophile digital music. TOPPING A50S – CHARACTERISTICS: Dynamic Range @1 kHz A-wt 6. HYPERION. Looking for a warmer sound yet still resolving. The XLR and RCA outputs are wired directly to the R-2R ladder outputs. A lot of love here for them in that mid DENAFRIPS Pontus II R-2R DAC impressions / review, compared to a Topping D90 (MQA version):Conditions and other gear: at the time of finalizing these impressions and review, Pontus II has been powered on continuously for 11 days, (D90 even longer). Frequency Response: 20Hz-200kHz(±0. The Ares II sounds better than all of my ESS based DACs (including Topping DAC, AudioQuest AmpDac, and Woo AmpDac) though I am sure that an ESS based DAC out there would probably sound as good. AliExpress. Also I have seen a number of comparison discussions on head fi and on reddit that the Burson Soloist is a huge upgrade over the A90. Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review. Reactions: FRL. Jjb067, Dec 4, 2024 #8. Hifiman Edition Pairing it with the a90 especially synergy is great, but i definitely didnt know the Modius is That good. 5A, 50% higher than the Drop THX amp, which has a highest-current-output of 1A. In this blog post, we will compare the two DACs in detail to help you decide which one is right for you. 43 Disclaimer: The Denafrips Ares II was sent to us as a sample in This is the official thread for the Denafrips Ares II This thread is for discussion and reviews. It alters sound and in order to sound good, you need to pair it with another device that alters sound in the opposite direction to fix it. L - SU-X VS Topping - D90III SABRE. Posted by blake (A) on April 26, 2021 at 08:12:58 . Bass is bit softer, slightly less resolution compared to Bifrost 2. Still, enough reviewers DACs: Chord - Qutest, Mojo 2; Denafrips Ares 12th + Iris 12th; Geshelli Dayzee w/ Sparkos SS2590; Topping E70 Velvet Amps: Woo Audio - WA22 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps, WA2 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps; Violectric - HPA V222 w/ Sparkos SS3602; Topping - A90 Discrete IEMs: Sennheiser IE600 Headphones: Hifiman HEK Stealth, ZMF Aeolus, Focal Elex, Sennheiser HD700, Sennheiser HD6XX, Hifiman HE-400i IEMs: 64 Audio U4s, Thieaudio Monarch MK II, FioO FH9, Campfire Audio Lyra II Amps/All-In-Ones: Aune S17 Pro, FiiO K19, Monolith Liquid Platinum, FiiO Q7, Gustard H16, Schiit Valhalla 2, Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid, Little Dot MK III, Schiit The Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC and the Topping D90 are two of the most popular high-end DACs on the market. The Ares 12th uses a custom USB FIFO interface and FPGA to handle oversampling of incoming PCM to sampling rates in an integer multiple of the source to a max of 1411. Eventually I bought the Mezze Lirics at a discount and the Topping A90 Discrete was on the way. Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories [Official] DACs. Before getting the A90 I was using the Arya with the Schiit Magni Heresy and it worked pretty well for me. Scientific instruments used : left ear, right ear, human brain. Considering Once I had made my decision to purchase the Denafrips Ares 12 anniversary edition was released so decided to go with this DAC. Denafrip ARES 12 -1 VS S. Forums. A dac Here's my Youtube video of my new Denafrips Pontus II 12th-1 dac versus Denafrips Ares II 12th, used with the Denafrips Iris 12th (a DDC) via I2S. I have tried changing to Cinch + unbalanced output, which was basically the same. SMSL A0200 . The use of advanced. 9, Hifiman Susvara, STAX SR-009S, Sennheiser HD800S, Audeze LCD-5, Audeze LCD-4, Hifiman HE6se, Hifiman HE1000V2, DCA Aeon 2 Noire, Focal Clear, STAX LNS, T+A Solitaire P, Sennheiser HD800, ZMF Verite Closed, Aeon RT Closed, Sennheiser HD 6XX, Sennheiser HD 600, Abyss 1266 TC, Audeze LCD-XC Denafrips ARES II; Topping D90; Schiit Bifrost 2; Schiit Gungnir; RME ADI-2 DAC; Chord Qutest; Nobsound XLR Switcher; Test Setup: Roon with Tidal Hifi / hi-res tracks; Windows 10 PC & macOs MBP\ As for the ARES II and the multibits, it shows just how much they have in common as they all excelled here at several things. DACs' only function is to convert digital signal back to analog as precise as possible. Denafrips ARES II OK so I'm sure everyone here has heard about this little R2R unit that gets a lot of praise. 5mm to rca cable - A90. (R2R technology) compared to Delta-sigma chip based from ESS Sabre (I have the Topping E50, Topping E70, Arcam AVR5 receiver that has the ESS However, it's essential to recognize that the Denafrips Aries represents a significant advancement towards ladder architecture. I’ve not Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review. 3. That exactly proves my point, denafrips is a worse device than say topping e30 from engineering perspective. Go. ARTEMIS. 3% Denafrips Ares II Votes: 52 Oh and here's the ares ii with its beefy power supply thats also gonna sound the same and the cheapy wallwart. 05dB) Output Level Denafrips Ares II – The One to Beat Under 1000 USD. If I have a Topping D50S + RNHP, will I get a greater improvement if I upgrade the D50S to an Ares II? Or if I upgrade the RNHP to Buy Denafrips ARES 15th Anniversary 24bit/1536KHZ(USB) DSD (USB) DAC i2S Input Power Supply Transformer 115/230V (215 * 230 * 45mm, Black, 1PCS): Amplifiers - Amazon. Topping E70 (I rate 4/5) Denafrips Ares II 12th anniversary (I rate 5/5) Last edited: May 26, 2023. A New Point Of Reference – Gustard R26 Discrete R-2R Topping D90 DAC | Denafrips Ares II DAC. TERMINATOR 15TH. Joined Jan 23, 2020 Messages 7,599 Likes 7,562 Location UK. The Musical Fidelity M6si internal DAC was really bright when comparing to the others. People are gushing about the measurements and features o Fun fact: This is Z’s forum. The Denafrips Ares II Votes: a Topping D30, and D50, and an RME Babyface. Thread starter amirm; Start date Jan 29, 2020; PC → Topping D30Pro → Topping A30Pro → Fostex T50RP MK3 modded / Edifier S2000Pro HTPC → Audio-GD NFB-11. Anyone have Any of you A90 users have any success pairing it with the Denafrips Ares II DAC? Keep in mind that Denafrips has DAC's of at least 3 price levels and the ARes II is at the bottom. Topping A90 (pretty damn good for $500 - I listen balanced) Focal Clear Pro, Audeze LCD2f, and Hifiman Sundara; I prefer physical media hence the transport to go with a rather substantial For example, Denafrips Ares II has around 2k output impedance and L70 has 2k input impedance. Ares II vs Topping D70s? I'm thinking about this or the lower dacs. 4. Fortunately the A90 has an XLR/RCA input toggle on the front, Will you recommend the Ares II for a AEON RT Closed headphone? I bought the headphone (because of customs I don’t have it yet) but no DAC or Amp yet, will this pair well No, they don’t even remotely sound the same. DAC's other that the D90 that use the same AK The Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC retails for around $1,500, while the Topping D90 retails for around $900. HA-2/ Burson Conductor V2+/ Pioneer U-05/ Schiit Jotunheim / Topping A90, How does the Topping D70 (AK4497) ~$500 USD compare with the Denafrips Ares II (ladder DAC) ~$700 USD? I have at present both hooked into my JC2 and feeding the A21+ and Maggies and I then pick a favorite track on Tidal and switch between inputs 1 and 2 on the pre. New Desktop: Apple iMac 5K, Denafrips ARES 2, Singxer SA-1, LCD-2C, HD6XX, Fiio BTR5, 2x Adam Audio A7X, 1x Adam Audio iPod 6G 128Gb SSD, iPod 5G 256Gb SSD, Topping A90 Discrete aka A90D Home. Not really interested in a non R2R on the high end there just aren’t many that interest me I’d probably go Topping D70s and call it a day [Something in that vein roughly] Between these two or some other suggestions. I guess this is what ive been looking for. This is done on the Ares II NOS mode. My source is the Denafrips Ares II and the headphone I used for this comparison is my daily driver, the Hi Vincent and AlvinI remember reading an email from you guys asking me how does it sound but I cannot find the email but I will give you a breakdown of the parts that makes this an incredible setup! Sounds incredible BTW! TOPPING A90 (with stock power cable + XLR WBC) Denafrips Ares II (stock power cable + AudioQuest Carbon USB cable) Raspberry Pi Contemplating to purchase this R2R 12th anniversary for I2S input from SMSL SD-9 streamer and to Topping A90 Discrete pre-amp/headphone, lastly Willsenton R300B tube amp. I was skeptical of DAC differences based on my (admittedly low/mid-fi) experience. Absolutely spectacular. I did consider the D90 when buying the Ares II and it came down to the following: High Praise for the Ares II among many review outlets; R2R topology and the engineering story I had the Denafrips Ares II in my systems and I could not hear any difference as compared to the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, Topping D10, Allo Boss2 player and the DAC in the Hegel H120 Reactions: kkeretic , Bernd , Snarfie I've found a decent amount of different XLR cables to connect Denafrips ARES II with FLUX FA-12, but I can't decide which to get. Review Index. Share Reactions: Tell visitors about this category and the type of posts they’ll find here. Denafrips Ares II DAC | PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC. The Denafrips Ares II 12th sounds even better with my new Parasound 2250 V. I use the RME ADI 2 as a dedicated dac that feeds my integrated amplifier to my Focal Chora speakers. Headphone Amps (full-size) Thread starter carlcamper; Start date Jun 21, 2022; Currently using my Geshelli Labs ENOG 2 Pro DAC in the highest output voltage. Or sim Ah, but the history of science is replete with theories based on measurements being completely overturned when new information became available. Words like flow and musical keep coming up. dreamingscorpio. WA2 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme The R-2R DAC that I will discussing today is called Denafrips Ares that uses a 20-bit R-2R Ladder for PCM material (up to 24-bit, 384 kHz) add another 6 bits of resolution using 32 steps FIR Filters for DSD material. I understand the d90se is based around a ESS chipset whereas the Ares is a R2R type dac. Something that I could control from my PC and would not take up a lot of space on my desk. I have been interested in the Denafrips Ares ii. I think my problem with them is they are all a bit of the sameness "mid fi" level of DAC with slightly different strengths (e. Initially, I was planning on going with the D90, but I’ve seen a lot of great things about the Gustard x16. Reactions: lordvader. ynotliew. THALLO. 7% Total voters 131; Prev. com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases. ;) For my listening tests, I hooked up the HO200 to the Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC which I just finished reviewing to the RCA input on the back of the SMSL amp. -----As 57K subscribers in the AVexchange community. Distributors. ca: Electronics The Denafrips Ares II is a pretty incredible value at $750 (S$1028), it is a no-frills device with tank-like build quality and a natural analog sound signature that will please many digital-skeptics. SU-9N and the Denafrips Ares II with 12th software upgrade. I find the Ares II be most Denafrips ARES II Topping D90 Bifrost 2 Schiit Gumby RME ADI-2 Chord Qutest This was fun/painful to do but it really help me shed some light on the popular options available in the $500 - $2000 price range. Delivery was much quicker than I expected arriving in less than 2wks, I am based in London UK, I was kept updated constantly during the process. 5 very happy with it. 288MHZ(USB) DAC IIS i2S Input Power Supply Transformer (1PCS) (Silver) : Amazon. A lot of love here for them in that Pi2AES > Volumio > WW Silver Starligth 8 Coax > Denafrips ARES II > FLUX FA-12 > FWA Noir Hybrid HPC > Audeze LCD-2C. Eventually I bought the Mezze So here's the setup: computer - usb - denafrips - xlr cables - A90; computer - apple dongle - 3. Love it, sounds even better (better vocalist, bigger soundstage, more 3D depth, clarity, I can hear new instruments). Features: increasingly difficult to find reasons to spend more on a DAC than the cost of the D90Se and when paired with an A90 Free Standard Shipping in the US on orders over $99 shopping_cart Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review. Their more expensive DAC's score much better, because their resistors are of At 42 seconds there are a series of crashing cymbals and the R2R DACs handle this noticeably better than the D90 and RME, which feel thin and lighter on the top end while both the ARES II and the multibit models give you I'm very happy with my purchase of the Ares 2. You can here even when sound rebounds from the wall in some records or pluck of the pick from the strings or when strings touch the fret. I have one AKM based delta-sigma that sounds as good as the Ares II, and almost as musical, but it sounds different. The hard part is, none of Topping D90 vs Denafrips Ares II? Thread starter turbotuff; Start date Mar 20, 2020; Best sounding DAC under $1000? Topping D90 Votes: 79 60. Credit: Damien G. Personally I'm waiting for Topping or one of the other Chinese companies to come out with more TOTL combo units. Features. HADES. I’ve since added the Denafrips Ares II to my collection – another DAC that Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review. Topping D90 MQA ASR were all over this so couldn't resist trying such a well measuring DAC sporting an even higher spec AKM chip (AK4499) than the Gieseler. VENUS 15TH. With many dacs, even $150 The Denafrips Ares II earns Knockout Award: Related posts: Cambridge Audio Alva TT2 video review. ATHENA. 1 I own the Ares II and Topping D10s. Biamp300B Member. You can opt for a different DAC, such as a Denafrips Pontus or even the Ares II. TERMINATOR-PLUS. And for a good reason, it gave tremendous value in its price range. Speakers Compared to the Topping A90, I found it to be a tad bit cleaner and more detailed from top to bottom. Click to expand I sound this conversation in ASR helpful to my Denafrips Ares II / Enyo is STILL the best DAC under 1000 euros! One is the best value DAC with Chord Mojo 2 and direct competitor in Topping D90 Saber. I was looking for a small setup to use at the office. Featuring a number of quality of life improvements including a R2R volume relay, a remote control, a ground loop noise terminator Price: USD 599. Forum Donor. I’m an analog listener primarily now, but I’d like to up my digital game with streaming. But the Denafrips looks to have some impressive build quality going for it and lots of people who seem swear by it. It is priced at $349. There are people on this site with strong opinions who have never heard either one. I’ve since I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Thanks to you guys for helping me pick the Arya. Now I need a good DAC to match, my budget is roughly 1KUSD. I think the two most well regarded dacs in the $1k range around here are the Denafrips Ares 2 and the Schiit Bifrost 2. 35mm headphone jack: 138dB 4 4mm Balanced headphone jack: 144dB. A lot of love here for them in that mid priced tier, but like I said, if you’re specifically looking for MQA, you need look elsewhere. . ca: Electronics I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Drop + The Lord of the Rings™ Into the Fire. The Parasound made the mids sound fuller and even more 3D live thanks to the Denafrips. I was thinking the Topping A90 would look decent alongside the Gustard X16. Yet, this isn't High Fidelity anymore. 1 Go to page. The top shelf holds a GoldenEar SuperCinema 3D XL which gives me my L/C/R, there is a small GoldenEar ForceField 3 8” sub (with built in 1,000 watt amp) to the right of the L800 that compliments the SuperCinema 3D XL, and out of sight to the side of where I was sitting is a pair of GoldenEar . I’ve been reading up on DAC’s over the last couple days, and the Denafrips Ares II and Pontus II keeping coming up along with Chord Cutest, in comments that catch my eye. A90 has also non-standard impedance which is very low, I don't remember exact figure. The Ares II has wider and more coherent staging and - at least when it’s in NOS (non-oversampling) mode Denafrips Ares II is an R2R (resistor to resistor) DAC, meaning it doesn’t use any factory-supplied solution on a chip such as Sabre, AK, Burr-Brown, etc. a Gustard X16. Surprisingly, this was a good I'm using a Denafrips Ares II that is connected via USB to an iMac (streaming via Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify) and to the topping via XLR. And its faults if any, should not be audible. It is an R-2R resistor ladder-based DAC. posted by AbeCollins on April 25, 2021 at 21:53:49: Thanks for that detailed comparison. WHERE TO BUY? Obviously these two are very different in that the D90 is a DS DAC, whereas the Denafrips is an R2R. Projectors, Receivers, Headphones Topping DX 1 feeding a pair of Adam Audio D3V studio monitors -tiny, but ultra powerful-, 2012' HD 800 and 199X' HD 580 Precision// Hiby R2-II and Moondrop Chu II while using the brushcutter I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. People are gushing about the measurements and features o I was definitely considering the Geshelli JNOG (as I prefer USB). The setup is alive and musical. So I decided to get the Burson and hear it for myself. He tells me they don't measure very well even at 1 watt, but they mate well with his Klipschorns in his room and thats all he was looking for. I would like to stay away from the Topping D90 / A90 / This is the official thread for the Denafrips Ares II This thread is for discussion and reviews. I didn't know Denafrips or Topping existed 6 months ago, I was listening to vinyl and was a happy camper. Headphone Amps (full-size) Thread Denafrips Ares II, Musician Draco and Pegasus, Soekris 2541, and the newly updated Schiit Bifrost 2/64 (I'm no engineer (an understatement) but understand the Schiit multibit tech is similar to these R-2R DACs though it lacks the distinctive resister ladders of the Topping A90 Discrete aka A90D Home. Though I agree, the measurements charts that I hang on This is the official thread for the Denafrips Ares II This thread is for discussion and reviews. A90 run by Denafrips Ares II . This was an annoying limitation I had on my Musician Draco and Denafrips Ares II DACs that prevented me from hooking up my subwoofer (to RCA) and monoblocs (to XLR) simultaneously (yes, I know those DACs don't have volume controls; I would utilize the volume control in the streamer before the signal hits the DAC). That said, the A90 was less forward on the top end, and it had a DACs: Chord - Qutest, Mojo 2; Denafrips Ares 12th + Iris 12th; Geshelli Dayzee w/ Sparkos SS2590; Topping E70 Velvet Amps: Woo Audio - WA22 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps, WA2 w/ Mundorf MCap Supreme EVO Silvergold coupling caps ; Violectric - HPA V222 w/ Sparkos SS3602; Topping - A90 Discrete I've more or less narrowed it down to 2 choices for the next DAC - a Schiit Bifrost II or Denafrips Ares II. We could not tell much of a difference at all. Ares II Straight Wire XLR Topping A90 Discrete (High Gain/Mode 1) Balanced out via Canare MR202-2AT + AKG 240DF(1980s both DACs: Topping D90, RME ADI 2 FS, Denafrips Ares II, iFi Pro iDSD, Holo Audio May Level 2 Pre-amps: Cayin SP30s Tube Pre-amplifier, Pass Labs XP12 Pre-amplifier The Susvara sounds smooth and sparkly on the A90, which has a highest-current-output of 1. while feeding both my A90 and a future tube amp. 10. People are gushing about the measurements and features o I’ve not heard the A90 but have reviewed the L30 and A50s which are built on scaled back versions of the same amp circuits. Topping A90 discreet. Since I heard of the Denafrips lineup I was very curious about the R-2R Topping A90 is a particularly poor pairing with Ares for a reason I didn't mention, as I didn't expect raising a dispute. Thank you for choosing DENAFRIPS products! The Ares II DAC is a 20Bit discrete resistor. I have my A90D paired with the Denafrips Ares II. Both have great soundstage, were warm, euphonic and musical. The Ares II is built to reproduce digital music in this modern era. Reactions: decoRyder. I found on top of that Pegasus was just a tad more clear and resolving so I kept it and sold the Ares II. i was getting quite good depth with topping so I thought lets try ares ii , and now I have my topping plugged into the rig back over optical for those times when I want cheap thrills I’d like to break the ice by describing how I started my audiophile journey. Replaced a Topping DX7 Pro in this system. g. RME - EQ , BF - musicality, D90/M400 measurement queens). If the record is bad, it’s sound bad whereas delta I had an ARES II. The Ares II is a step up from what would typically be paired with the A30 Pro. A lot good reviews for ARES is accurate, natural, separation and airiness etc With denafrips Ares II 12th, what your hear is what you get. 2 or 1536 This review covers the Denafrips Ares II which is a 24Bit/1536KHz, native DSD1024, desktop discrete R2R DAC. They're both around the same price and both test very well. several DAC's ranging from budget to $3K during the past few Denafrips Ares 12th + Iris 12th but just in case The Ares 12th (for 12th anniversary) is the successor to the wildly popular Ares II. L. The Topping A90 is an excellent headphone amplifier that is a genuine competitor to far more expensive products from brands like THX, Pass Labs, Schiit Audio, and Benchmark. Headphone Amps (full-size) Thread Gustard X26 Pro - which has exceeded my expectations (compared to the Topping D90 and Denafrips Ares II) and it would appear that at least one of the reasons for this DAC sounding so wonderfully holographic and "full" is the lack of any op-amps in the I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. It certainly sounded better to than any Topping I heard. Joined Jan 4, 2020 Posts 805 Likes 3,141 Location Topping A90 & Burson Audio FUNK Deluxe + Topping E50 + HiFiMAN Sundara & Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Yes in the same ball park at a RRP of £800 Denefrips have the Ares II R2R DAC and just to add like I recently said in another thread a few days ago Denafrips DAC's are not chips based R2R DAC's but discrete ladder DAC's which depending on the model use banks of hundreds or thousands of ultra precise resistors for digital to analogue conversion. I know that thing is ridiculously transparent, so an overly clinical DAC might be boring. twiiii Lunatic Member. Nobody doubts that. Gustard x16 vs Topping D90:large_blue_diamond: PC ->denafrips ares II/S. I have tried the Topping A90 and A30 with the same result. Ares II DAC Denafrips ladder R-2R. Level Topping's recent lineup of amplifiers and DACs have received a lot of praise for their ultra low noise measurements and objectively have been found to be in the top echelon of high measuring amplifiers for headphones on the market. We spent 3 hours switching back and forth and playing the exact same 5 or 6 tracks over and over. Thee folks are not engineers, but they actually listen to the products they review . The Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC is a fully discrete, Both combinations sound spectacular. I really don’t have experience in this domain higher end dacs. I wouldn’t want to go over $1500 usd unless its some kind of crazy value by A review of the Topping D90 MQA DAC and Topping A90 headphone amp and pre-amp, including comparisons with the Chord Qutest, Denafrips Ares II, Drop THX AAA 7 DAC ~ Denafrips Ares 12th -- Cambridge Audio CXNv2 -- Topping D70S AMP ~ Cayin HA-6A -- Auris HA2-SE -- Topping A90 HP ~ Hifiman He1000SE -- ZMF Verite Open Stabilized IEM ~ CampfireAudio Andromeda 2020 -- Dunu SA6 Ultra -- Moondrop Blessing 2 Are they making a Pontus II 12th as well? I see them for sale from a Chinese seller on eBay So far I’ve got the Topping A90 and ordered the ZMF Vérité Closed. Share Ofcourse denafrips fresh outta the box, needs burn in for 200 hours minimum, but bass response wont change I don't think. 2 amplifier than it already does with my Arcam AVR5. A lot has been made about this DAC’s ability to punch above its weight, and I do think it sounds better than many competing units in and above its price bracket. 5M / DSD1024 so flashed to v3. It is I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. News. Click to expand My bicycle is faster than I can walk, so why buy a car? I have had the Topping A90 for a while but have always read about it lacking "soul". Ares output impedance is non-standard, above 1. I bought the Ares II before looking at the output impedance - the volume is significantly reduced into the Topping A90 with its 2K input impedance. I have two dacs in my system a S. However, with the A30 Pro’s slightly more intimate nature, I figured that a wide I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Topping DX9 All-in-One Review – Unleashing 15 Years of Sonic Expertise. I’ve since added the Denafrips Ares II to my collection – another DAC that costs close to the same as BF2 – ARES 15TH. Chord Mojo 2. thus I got an Ares ii + Topping A90 stack due to great reviews on both items. Burn your board with 4 new artisans. you’ll be better served by a Schiit Bifrost 2, or an Denafrips Ares II. I’ve been a music lover all my life but it’s only been maybe 5 years since I started buying serious audio gear. I'm still missing the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, which I'll get soon. Notes: The Topping D90 is a full featured DAC with remote control, preamp mode, fixed DAC mode, remote filter selection, sample rate display. Robbo99999 Master Contributor. I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. A place to put all your used or un-used Audio or Video gear. 0. RCA is out of question as A90 is defective. But as you haven't provided new information, only un-quantifiable and The Topping A90 Discrete Balanced Headphone Amplifier (A90D) is a direct upgrade over it's predecessor, the Topping A90. Instead, D/A conversion is done through the resistor ladder soldered directly on board. Discover 65 Community discussions, tips, and reviews on Topping A90 Headphone Amplifier from the Audiophile enthusiast community on Drop. The IHA-6 was also In personal practice, I connected the Musician Pegasus (same output impedance as the Ares II) to my preamp trying both the 50K Ohm and the 10K Ohm single-ended inputs (the preamp has two different input boards) and could not detect any sound difference. PONTUS 15TH. People are gushing about the measurements and features o got flagged, because I share the same opinion like you guys? weird. Ares II is no slouch. Indeed even the manufacturer says this. Polygonhell October 11, 2020, The Ares II, especially in non-oversampling mode, also has a more energetic presentation to it in every frequency region except the deep bass that can sound more engaging, or even fun, than BF2. So if you are itching to have an R2R/custom boutique DAC, the ARES II makes a good candidates. This pairing obviously do not match as this is only 1:1 ratio and I guess one would get weird sounds from the pairing. Now the main question here is, is the additional 400 euros well spent with Denafrips Ares/Pontus II RME ADI-2 DAC FS Chord Qutest SMSL SU9 or Topping D90/D70 Sources: Topping E30, iFi Zen DAC v2, Denafrips Pontus II, Chord Hugo TT2 AMPs: Topping A90, Topping A50s, Cayin HA-6A Portable: Chord Mojo 2 Headphones: Hifiman Sundara, HarmonicDyne Zeus, Focal Clear, Meze Elite, DCA Stealth. heavy metal \m/ Veri Master Contributor. technology, digital music playback technology I had the Denafrips ARES II in my system/room and found it a little dull/muddy regardless of settings. November 21, 2023. Or you could add a tube preamp such as a Freya+ from Schiit Audio. People are gushing about the measurements and features of the Gustard, but I’m not sure how much ‘better’ it might be over the Topping. HifiGuides Forums Gustard x16 vs Topping D90. 1 The Node 2i sounded like someone put a cloth on top of my speakers compared to Topping D90 and Denarips Ares II. 2x Coax, 2x Opt, USB in, XLR & RCA out 20Bit discrete R2R + 6Bit DSD 32 step FIR, 1536kHz/DSD1024 (w/ USB) Oversampling Is the Ares II a good starter DAC if I have the money, or should I stick to Topping D30 Pro / Gustard X16, or even cheaper DACs, like the Topping D50s. 3% Denafrips Ares II Votes: 52 Current owner of both Topping D90 MQA and Ares II. Joined Feb 4, I’m shopping for a new DAC to pair with my Topping A90. Music Amp. Topping A90 Discrete aka A90D Home. APOLLO. If one I love taking risks, especially when they pay off and I am surprised along thejourney. I think it will come down to the sound I want with my A90. 2x Coax, 2x Opt, USB in, XLR & RCA out 20Bit discrete R2R + 6Bit DSD 32 step FIR, 1536kHz/DSD1024 (w/ USB) Oversampling Hey @M0N. The Ares 2 is a straight forward dac whereas the d90se can be used as preamp. Both DACs offer excellent sound quality, but they have different features and price points. 99 Disclaimer: The Topping A30 Pro sent to us Denafrips Ares II. All the dacs sounded pretty much exactly the same. Last edited: Sep 29, 2022. It doesn't matter whether I'm using an analogue source built around a Hana ML cartridge, an Icon Audio PS1 phono stage and a vintage Japanese SUT or a much cheaper digital source running tidal connect through a wiim mini and a Denafrips Ares 2. Thread dedicated to this upcoming amp from Topping. 3% Denafrips Ares II Votes: 52 39. Both DACs were running TIDAL exclusive mode over USB, XLR out into a Topping A90 amplifier, I'm very happy with my purchase of the Ares 2. There isn't an output stage in-between. The included aluminum remote on some Topping D90 orders is Denafrips Ares II Acurus RL-11 (modified) Threshold s/300 optical bias (modified) JBL Studio 590 Dual 12" sealed DIY subs w/Dayton Titanic drivers powered by Soundcraftsmen MA5002 and filtered with Rane AC23 and This is the official thread for the Denafrips Ares II This thread is for discussion and reviews. Everything sounds just more coherent compared to the topping e30 and micro bl dac. ladder Digital to Analog Converter, also known as R-2R DAC. I own several dac's including A Gustard dac-x22 and Topping d70 and the denafrips ares II is to my ears much better. Support. You may be wright , that’s all the info I have at present Do you know that their are a few custom power supply builder's like PARDO that will almost build PC ->denafrips ares II/S. If we heard any differences we The Node 2i sounded like someone put a cloth on top of my speakers compared to Topping D90 and Denarips Ares II. I'm an headphone user and I was wondering would this be better in an headphone setup Denafrips Ares II - Immediately: Space, Space and details! Good extended bass and trebles, but because of that the mid looks like little bit recessed. While it may not claim the title of the ultimate R2R DAC, it undoubtedly stands as a formidable contender in the realm of high-fidelity audio reproduction. ylioryb gxgq qjcu iqwo tsuhv oflp vmca tfwmslv rjncs gxs