R2R Vs Delta Sigma, 3 Best Buy DAC Under 1000USD Comparison
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- SMSL SU-10 DAC
Price: 900USD amzn.to/3UFiMx4
Topping D90SE
Price: 899USD amzn.to/3zJunCr
Denafrips Ares II R2R DAC
Price: 880USD amzn.to/3sZpwtc
Sound Sample with;
Sony HAP-Z1ES: amzn.to/3ckCZ5w
JBL L100 Classic 75th AE Speaker: Good Luck Finding One.
Denon PMA-SX11 Integrated Amplifier: ebay.us/NllM5G
Oyaide Neo Class A USB Cable: amzn.to/3uGFAi4
Mogami 2549 XLR Cables: amzn.to/3KGq0ej
iFi Nova AC Cable: amzn.to/3eKLewZ
Isolation Feet: ebay.us/PxmBH8
Hey!
Only Option To Listen UA-cam Sound Demo is with good headphones, not your favorite sound system because listening to two rooms at once is not a good thing, no matter how good your sound system is.,
Closest to listen my Sound Demo is with
Sony MDR-7506 amzn.to/2wAkk54 or
MDR-CD900St amzn.to/3p4PHNM
If you use these links above to purchase any items from Amazon or eBay(No Extra Cost To You), I get a small percentage which help support my work and helps me keep going.
Video Timeline
0:00 Comparison
9:22 Synergy Synergy Synergy
10:42 D90 SE Demo
11:46 Ares II Demo
12:50 SU-10 Demo
13:54 D90 SE Demo
17:33 SU-10 Demo
21:12 Ares II Demo
#tharbamar
Love the fuller tonality of the Ares II. Not as etched in outlines as the others, but given its ability to offer a larger soundstage, it might well be worth the price difference. It is good that these days there are several competent DACs that don't cost a small fortune. Thank you for all the reviews.
First cut - Only with the SU-10 can you actualiy not only hear the different bass notes of the bass strings BUT also easily hear just how tight each string individually is with proper resonation. Totally lost with the Aries. Topping hits hard initially but worse finish and is not near as musical.......2nd cut the bass and piano sound more apart from each other on the SMSL - better then Topping and Aries. Aries again sounds really slow in the bass guitar. Never quite catches up. No PRAT. I'm listening thru a VMV D1SE/AO200/Elac Debut Reference DBR62 BTW - Great review AS USUAL sir you are one of my favorite and most trusted reviewers on YT. There are only 3 reviewers I trust enough to actually spend money after hearing their reviews. Thats how I bought near all my current system thanks to YOU.
Absolutely in agreement the Ares2 has the most analogue sound piano and guitar sounded more real. The SMSL had good decay on bass notes though less organic but sn't far behind. I didn't really connect with the Topping I found it quite cold sounding with very sharp note leading edge and decay cutoffs. So my opinion on the placing is very much in line with yours. Thanks for the review.
Very helpful as usual, thank you. I bought this sacd after hearing it on one of your other videos.
Hello,
I am French on La Rochelle, Thank you for this excellent and very interesting comparative video. Mr. Tharbamar you do things in an intelligent way. To make an idea on UA-cam is very relative, the good comparison allows to make a better judgment.
That piano on the SU-10 is magnific! I would choose it over the others.
If you set yourself in background music mode, they all sound great (and roughly the same). If your "obsessively critically listen", then you come to likely incorrect conclusions. I'm sure they are all great live. Thanks for the comparison video. I say go for features and esthetics!
I'll go with the SU-10 is the best mix between that sweet analog sound and the transparency, flatness of the Topping. Let's not forget the SMSL also has the sound color options and a bunch of filters which can alter the sound even more and extend the life and enjoyment of the product!
I like the D90 SE (and there's the LE version too) and the SU-10 best but sometimes seem to prefer one over the other depending on how it renders the music or perhaps how I prefer to listen to a particular passage. While it is close, I more prefer the SU-10 based on the limited sample for that added fullness at times where its needed and the treble seems just a tad more rounded, taking the edge off of some of the more harsh sounding notes. This through a computer, in a real, and different room, perhaps a bit different experience? Still, both companies are offering top performance for DS chipped dacs under a grand.
I use the D70s with good results. Recently picked up an Aune X8 and Sparkos chip which I will try out soon. For budget gear under $500, I would say the forerunner picks (my opinion) are the Aune X8 with ability to mod out with different op amps or the Geshelli dacs available right now. If you want to go higher in price, there's some R2R dacs as well as the top offerings in DS and R2R by Gustard. Something for most everyone.
If you have money to burn, the sky's the limit but my audio flight plan has a lower ceiling. The other factor I consider is perceived reliability, but I think SMSL may have caught up to Topping.
What's your experience, preference (all viewers welcome to comment)?
Fine job there my friend. Aries 2 sounds engaging but less dynamic, slow though. Next up ladder schuman vs r26 vs pegasus??
SU-10 a more open and detailed sound, you can feel the emotions that the musician conveys
You nailed it.
Ah, a perfect video! 😁 I'm so glad that you did a comparison between these three, that is absolutely what I wanted to know. In the Demo, even though I am listening through my secondary system, I can easily tell that I like the Ares II the best. You can actually hear the plucking of the bass strings, whereas on the other two I could not. Also, the Ares II to me came across a LOT more natural sounding and much more vibrant. The voice and percussion were far more 'airy' and spacious sounding.
I have the SMSL DO200 which I bought as my very first DAC specifically due to your review 😊 But, if I ever decide to try another one, it would be the Ares II. Do you think the SMSL DO200 falls very far behind the Ares II? Do you think it is worth the replacing the SMSL DO200 with the Ares II? Would you mind mentioning the differences you have noticed? Thank you!
DO200 is great sounding DAC at that price point but going up on chain will increase in sound quality like in more expensive sound, articulate notes etc but if you enjoy your music with DO200 I think you will enjoy more with Ares II, thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you kindly Sir!
Denafrips just sounds so smooth and easy to listen to, my kind of Dac.
You are doing a great job on these dac review my man! Thank you. Seems like you really like the ares 2, where do you feel the gustard r26 improves on the ares 2? Or does it lol?
I will let you know. Thank you.
@@Tharbamar awesome, I think a lot of people are thinking about the upgrade like I am. I think it’s more because we have upgradeitis lol
Many thanks, as always, for your great review and product comparison.
Thank you for watching.
very helpful, thank you! I'm using a Sanskrit 6th right now (for my headphones) and i'm looking for an upgrade. I guess i will go with SMSL SU-10.
Great choice, Thanks
Yes, this is the review I'm waiting for. Thanks Tharmabar
Great comparisons. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the comparison!
If I may suggest that you try closer miking with careful recording level adjustment because I can clearly hear your room and some compression etc. - veiling DAC differences
Thanks, I wonder how do you listen to it?
@@Tharbamar I have listened with my headphone rig: Whitenoise headamp to Sennheiser HD650
@@IvicaMarusevic HD650 is great but not 100% natural because it has added frequency enhancements from bass to upper mids, only Sony MDR-7506 or 900ST will be able to reproduce closer to actual sound quality of my samples, Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic test . Keep them coming. Topping d90 sounds way more transparent and live than the others!!!!!
Yes, D90SE is one of the most transparent without getting bright, thanks
Sounds kinda flat though, so your speaker and amp need to have some excitement to take advantage of the transparent sound.
All DACs were great, myself I preferred the Ares II.
终于找到提供中文字幕的HIFI器材评测频道，而且质量水准相当高，赞一个！
我刚好正在选择dac，请问长时间低音量播放的话哪一款更好？
Any of these are capable for any level of listening, thanks
Great review of those DAC. Thanks. In the measureing of performance to DAC, Topping SMSL are Better than R2R . But R2R is always more musical than them
That's why 40 years old good DACs better than them all
More musical???? Especially denafrips R2r with rolloff in high freq...
S.m.S.L - noticeably deeper and more detailed soundstage. He is the best here.
I agree. As it's a very well-measuring DAC anything different would come as a surprise. Airiness, musicality, soundstage, naturalness, flow, sparkle, bite - it's all there, delivered to us and originating from great measurable capabilities.
BTW, you will notice a significant difference when you angle your blinds downwards towards the floor vs. upward towards the ceiling. Try it and tell me what you notice. I've done that many times and it's not subtle.
Which of the DACs listed here do you think would go well with the Unison Research Unico Nuovo Hybrid Amplifier?
Hello there, Thanks for such a nice review. I am currently using the Ares 2 , if you dont mind can you recommend me a step up DAC from the Ares 2 , something thats got a Remote too..... Budget would be something less that $2000.
I love the natural sounding Ares 2 but the lack of remote is killing me now. I once heard the Chord Qutest and its harshness was absolutely a pain in the Earse. Have a good day... Hope that the subtle joke brings you a smile.
Gustard R26 would be great option for R2R DAC with remote control.
I have D90SE and I'm very satisfied. It has very detailed sound and fast response.
I agree with your review.
D90SE could be up there with studio quality DACs in transparency and performance.
@@Tharbamar I agree with you
I found the cymbals annoying with the topping and also at the end of the solo with high ptiched piano and guitar notes it felt like woodblocks to me and was odd. With the smsl I didnt notice anything bad and found the apploud impressive at the end. When the dena played I had this tingling in my back, I also found there was more depth. At the end the apploud was further behing my speakers but somehow the singer was not as intimate when she spoke as the smsl. I have the same preference order as Tharbarnar. For me the topping would not do, cymbals got me over distracted. Also its bad to have window surface exposed it makes the room echo. I listened on p3esr in nearfield with a naim superuniti and kef kc62 in a treated room. EDIT: after a full relisten, I think the dena renders better the sustained notes mostly at the begining when the guitar is rythmic giving the song a better overall structure making it more uplifting.
Please hear the original recording of the music because my room not echoing and also listening in you system instead of headphones makes it you are listening to two room at the same time.
Topping/SMSL are head-and-shoulders - Topping being faster in the bass and SMSL more revealing in the mids, while Denafrips lacks speed and resolution, trading it for subjective "warmth".
Another great review! Thank you! Comparisons like this helps me understand your sound preferences so when I watch your review of individual DACs, it makes more sense to me. I am a headphone user now and will perhaps get floor speakers soon.
If you ever decided to go floor speaker I would recommend you to try KLH Model 5 or Polk R700 which will be much better buy and sound quality than any other brands in same price range, thanks
@@Tharbamar, thank you for taking time to reply. I’ll definitely have your recommendations in mind, hope I can find those speakers here in Singapore. When I come to that point, I’d seek your advises again on what amps, equipments to get along with the speakers.
@@Tharbamar sorry, guess I don’t have the proper space required for floor speakers . I think that speaker size that’s between bookshelf speakers and floor standing can work. The KLH Model’s classic look is great but it’s wide. Also, active speakers are preferred. What do you recommend for active speakers (with sub)? I like the front row concert feel
This is a great vid, I like the comparison of these 3 particular DACs which are all on my radar right now. I do think this vid will help me move very close to a decision. Thank you.
I love the swing on the SMSL...
Have you tested the NEO by Oyaide d Class S USB cable? How does it compare to Class A?
ares 2 i can listen with pleasure for long time at hight volume,, other 2 too shine and bright , 2 songs and out, enough !
Could you provide uncompressed files of every dac samples(one file - for every model)?
Then it can be listened uncompressed and also can be done A/B/C unbiased test.
As honestly I think that differences are so small that it will be hard to guess which one is playing.
Listening from my phone I can hear clear differences among the three in line with how he describes. Love the three-dimensionality of space with the Aries II the best. The Topping a bit sharp. The SU-10 very accurate tonality
Okazuje się, że chip ES9038PRO zastosowany w TOPPING D90SE oraz SU-10 jest lepszy niż chip ES9039PRO zastosowany w SU-9PRO ?
Would go with denafrips ares ll
I did not listen any difference between all them. Also you used a SACD Grace Mahya that is best option! All three are good !
Topping d90 sounds more transparent, the vocal is much clearer without being bright.
I am not sure how SMSL SU10 compares Topping E70 Velvet. I really like E70 Velvet. I purchased D400EX and then returned it - it is not better than E70 Velvet at all in my experience. I do hope SU10 is better - the only thing I am afraid it may be too soft in general (mid and high range). What do you guys think?
PS d400ex was slightly better than my Sonos’es amp internal dac but E70 Velvet is better sound. Both have 4-5 seconds delay for optical input (so make it impossible to watch TV via optical input - I am using cheaper $25 dac for optical to headset movie watching).
why do audiophiles have a preference for small jazz combo restaurant music ? if you really want to put equipment through its paces, play Prokofiev, Rammstein, Infected Mushroom, etc
Is there a download link for the recordings???
Thank you for this review. I have the Misical paradise MP-401 tube amp with no’s rca tubes and gold Lion Kt66 and my Musical Paradise MP-701 pre amp with rca no’s tubes. I purchased the Topping d90 LE (who needs mqa) and Topping U90 Bridge. The sound is phenomenal!! The Ares ll in my system I knew wouldn’t be my taste. Thanks!!
It is quite helpful.
how can you possible hear any difference between these dacs?
Which r2r DAC under $2k used for acoustic jazz alnico single driver speakers plus subwoofer? Thanks ❤
I would say Ladder Schumann, Denafrips Pontus II, Gustard R26 and Musician Pegasus are the great examples.
I'm strictly a headphone user and the R26 is the best DAC I've heard to this point. BTW there are some good sales going on right now at Shenzhenaudio and Apos on most of these Dacs and other audio gear
What amps do you pair the R26 with please?
@@BillyKueekSG I have the R26 paired with the Burson Soloist 3XP and Schiit LYR3 Hybrid Tube Amp at the moment. I also earlier on had it paired with the SMSL SH-9 TXX AAA Amp. The R26 pairs great with all 3.
@@JTB-- great to know that the R26 pairs well with different amps and thank you for sharing. What headphones are you using with the R26? I just sold the Topping D90SE, hence looking for an R2R DAC so the R26 (SGD 2,087 or USD 1,465) and Ladder Schumann (SGD1,966 or USD 1,380) are being considered. Amp wise, I still have the Topping A90 (hasn’t found a buyer yet), iFi iCAN Pro Signature, the XDuoo TA-26 tube amp (getting some tubes to roll soon) and the tiny BTR-5 to go on the road with me with cheap IEM or Focal Elegia closed back or I’ll just bring my Sony WH-1000XM2. I also have DAC amps like iFi Zen DAC V2, XDuoo XA-10 and just brought the iFi Gryphon which I use as a desktop DAC. Headphone wise, I am using the 6XX, Philips Fidelio X1S, Sundara, Arya Stealth Magnet, Focal Clear MG and ZMF Atrium. So, I am missing a good DAC now.
@@BillyKueekSG The R26 should pair well with the gear and HP's you own. It's on sale at right now too. My headphones are the ZMF Auteur Classic, Rosson Rad-0, Hifiman HE6SE V2, Ananda Stealth Magnet and HD 600. They all pair well with all my gear
@@JTB-- thank you for sharing generously. Online stores run at least a sale each month with the coming one being 11.11, then they’ll create sales with a 25.11 and then there’s the 12.12, Pre-Christmas sale and the post Christmas sale and then New Year sale, etc etc… I, still holding on because the Ladder Schumann which is cheaper has also received rave reviews. Of course, I will determine which reviewers’ preferences for sound suits me or in what ways do they differ with my preferences and decide from there,
Su-10. for the 1stplace R2r and toppings.
I wonder which one of these 3 would be best to listening to classical music?
D400EX will be great choice.
Would have liked this compared to a 200 dollar dac..... would have probably made the same minimal difference.
Aries ll wins- more open, airy and notes are more detailed👍🏼...but I'm very happy with my Gustard R26...after wasting money on a chord Qutest ...
Sorry you got sucked in by Chord marketing.
@@petermartin9494
thank you...but it was mainly all these full time hifi audio reviewers that got me...I have since posted on the channels of those reviewers asking how they could deceive so many people to making them believe a product is so great when it really isn't...I now know all the ones that practice this metholigy for personal gain...shame on them🤣...i now take there praises on a product with a grain of salt...yeah and a little snake oil😂
Next under $2000 please :)))
How does the smsl su10 pair with the topping a90 discrete?
It should sound very nice.
Delta Sigma seems much more realistic to me. I have seen a few R2R/DS comparions now - thank you Tharbama for your work - and I do not hear the sound quality in R2R at all. I agree - R2R is snake oil!
Hi Tharbamar, I currently have Smsl D300 DAC. Planning to upgrade to either Ares ii Or Musician pegasus. Between Ares ii and Pegasus, which is good? My other components are Ifi Zen Stream - Naim Nait 5si - Wharfedale Evo 4.2. Thanks
Pegasus is a great choice!
@@Tharbamar thanks for your quick response👍
Thanks we using evo 4.2 as well. Been looking at D300 also :( // how does it sound???
SMSL D300 is a great DAC for the money. It sounds resolving, warm with a full bodied mid, good sound stage. It pairs well with neutral sounding system
Any plans on reviewing smsl d400ex
Yes I have, it should be up within a few weeks.
Hi, friend. How about Draco, why Ares you like more?
I liked Draco but I don’t have it in hand to listen back to back, thanks
I recomend to give a shot to D90SE at filter 4 setting. After a half and hour you ll change an opinion about that dac a lot. For example filter 5 (which many reviewers recomend) actually measures a tiny bit excessive high frequencies, thats why some call it ,,unengaging". Filter 4 is very engaging, emotional with keeping truer neutral tonality balance. SU-10 sounds discusting to me, with brown sound and loosing subbass. Denafrips is not bad too but those two dacs (su-10/denafrips) seem like a toy dacks for simple people to me.
In audio is always been personal preference and synergy with paring components and or sometimes the one I like/have better mentality(not you), sound is always subjective but for build quality alone D90SE is way behind SU-10 extruded aluminum chassis with dual transformer power supply, D90SE is a good DAC for sure but it doesn’t mean everyone will love it, oh if you think other two were like toys please think of it in other way, sincerely.
@@Tharbamar Well thats that neverending battle between objective and subjective. People like many things and thats a good fact people can choose what they like. And I agree. Of course, there is other side of barricade where objectivists will like to squeeze every bit of performance from system and ,,sound colloring" they would like to let creators of content to do. I believe that that should be a target for best audio systems. Actually I like internals of SMSL-SU10 much more, you are abolutelly right about internals which are much higher quality. I feel topping should be really ashamed for asking price for much lower quality internals. But its always about a sound and there is a no go. But its good that we have a freedom in opinions and acceptance of different opinions of other people. Thats why I accept that different people have different tastes and thats why I dont feel ashamed to tell my opinion :)
Ciekawa rywalizacja dwóch interesujących mnie przetworników. Już planowałem zostać przy D90SE, ale chyba zamówię jeszcze Su-10, żeby nie żałować później, że nie spróbowałem.
Listened to this with SMSL SU-9->SMSL SP200->Sennheiser HD600. My opinion is that Denafrips Ares II is the worst sounding of the three. It is less detailed, less dynamic, generally sounds like a more compressed file. I find SMSL SU-10 to be the best sounding as it offers more air and detail.
Bypass all the components and connect HD600 to your computer or tablet will do better.
@@Tharbamar why ? He thinks the denafrips ares 11 is the worst, and measurements would tell you he is correct ! It is.
@@r423sdex Why? He is listening other DACs with SMSL sound signature, just by connecting HD600 directly to computer will do better monitoring is all.
@@Tharbamar why use external DACs at all then, if you connect directly to tablet or PC then you are using the "average" DAC inside that device.
It won't be any better to compare stuff on imo. I don't feel that using brand X makes other brand X sound better on it necessarily. Maybe it'll reduce cognitive bias which is most of the factor that occurs when it comes to minor differences like in DACs, cables, etc
@@Tharbamar if he connect direct to pc he using dac from mainboard pc which is have average or lower quality from smsl (depend on motherboard) i dont get it please tell me?
Mr
my name is Mauricio
I am wanting to buy a DAC
I want a musical dac.
Please indicate the following:
a) Musician Draco
b) SIDS SU10
c) SIDS VMS D1se
These are expensive DACs, for that reason indicate which is the best, that sounds more music
Best regards
I would say SU10 is most complete DAC for digital music playback. thanks
Would like to see faster, more dynamic and more complex music like edm or classic for demo.
Such type of music is complex, but have 0 dynamic range.
0 dynamic range? Every music have certain level of dynamic range. Take my word for it or not at all because online sound samples are just filler not to make critical decisions.
@@Tharbamar i know, but i heard demos with much more explosive music.
Soundtracks can also be solid choice for demo...
I can’t use any music due to copyrights.
@@Tharbamar oh, i see. This aggressive copyright stuff is really stupid if you ask me.
Topping is the best in my taste
Can you check out the sound reference of Topping D30 Pro, compared with these DAC? I have D30 Pro do you think it's worth it to upgrade to any of these DAC?
D30 Pro is ok for the price but it is brighter and less refined and shallower sound than these models, thanks
@@Tharbamar D30 Pro sounds different depending on the used driver. The initial driver was very bad and they have improved the sound until version 5.27. After that, they sacrificed the voices for the instruments.
I try d30 pro week ago. Is too bright and not weight in mid Freq... Many dacs are better. But scene in d30pro is really impressive.
@@Pekroo what driver you haved used? The last good versi9n imo is 5.27. I have unistalled 5.30, 5.45 and 50.5
@@tudorm6838 after 2 days I send back to dealer. :( But thx for info
how do all these dacs compare to the hapz1es internal dac?
Everything is comparable with colorless transparent sound quality plus what makes it even better is seamless DSD up conversion.
@@Tharbamar which are you talking about the hapz1es being better? or the other dacs.. sorry i didn't understand your response fully
@@MrBoomtheroom Yes with DSD up conversion capability.
@@Tharbamar U think the su10 is the best of the 3 tested?
@@MrBoomtheroom For the all around performance SU-10 is great choice.
D90se is sharper. wow.
SU-10 sounds ever so slightly recessed in the mids compared to the Topping.
a) Musician DRACO
b) SMSL SU10
c) SMLS D1se
Actually Topping is the better DAC here, in my headphones.
SMSL all day
Audio gd nfb1 dac is the best of the best…
Everyone is entitled to own opinion, reality is no such a thing as best of the best in audio in general.
Most important thing is synergy.
Its funny how people get trapped ,the Words " digital to analog" but Who comparés their Dac to an analog source.R2R sounds mechanical.
The SMSL dac has still sibilant.
1=Denafrips hands down, 2=su, 3=topping, vocals and openness gave it away, su and topping were more closed off. female vocals not as natural and airy as Denefips.
Denafrips was tighter bass also.
Tighter bass? WOW no PRAT at all in the Aries
@@gbmwaz just my opinion man......
Denafrips is clearly noisy in female vocals and poor transients. Su10 has cleanest sound and least sibilant
first: this clip and "audio test'" doesn't do justice to Denafrips which is a class above those two. secondly: other two which share almost the same components and circuit schematics as a 400$ dac like a Sabaj D5( a great unit for its price from the same company Shenzhenaudio) combined with bluetooth and MQA, which its not an option for hi-fi. Its the true.
Seems like talking without actual experience, what Schematic? R2R is much inferior in SNR, SMSL SU-10 is one of best ever in noise performance at any price point, not even my $8k R2R DAC come CLOSE to it.
What's the 3 best buy cable risers? What's the 3 best sound improvements crystals, grounded unicorn horn or an exorcist? And what's the 3 best knee pads for bending over when paying 15k for audiofool cables?
Hmm that sounds like a new market. Audiophile knee pads and gloves
🤣🤣🤣
Yes I’m going to release Audiophile tool kit soon, which will include cryogenically enhanced ear cleaners, dielectric gloves and anti-trolling meters 😀
@@Tharbamar No need. Audiofools are already tools.
Топинг наиболее раскрепощенный и свободный звук , дальше есмсл и на третьем месте арес 2 , звук у аресе перетертый и глухой слушать нельзя !
Does anyone know of any dac with dsp that is better or as good as the RME ADI2?
ua-cam.com/video/OYuJLsfVhFQ/v-deo.html
Schiit Bifrost 2/64?
Schiit can’t do many things like these DACs can like DSD, PCM above 192K or MQA, as always sound is subjective but SPECS are not on the same level.
@@Tharbamar we don't listen to specs, we listen to music. My Gumby will dance all over any of these. Over 90% of all music ever recorded is 16 bit 144. Solving problems that don't exist.
I considered all three and ultimately chose….. the Schiit BiFrost 2. I think the best combination of all.
BiFrost 2, 24/192 max res, No proper PCM Hires, No DSD or MQA and SNR 124db is so much lacking for same money.
@@Tharbamar fair enough. I’m only using with low res sources, and it seemed to strike the best tonal balance. Perhaps I’ll upgrade when I move to hi res streaming. Thanks for the excellent review, and demo music!
D90 sound more energetic to me, more punchy, ares confused
Вода водная. В слепом прослушивании хрен кто отличит современные DACs, нормально сконструированные, друг от друга. И вся эта аудиофильская чепуха сразу сыпется.
Topping>Denefrips>smsl
Thanks for sharing.
Topping has the best resolution and dynamics, sharpest transients and tightest bass. Ares has a good tone and timbre but the least dynamics. SMSL sounds warm and has an accentuated, slightly loose bass but it has good soundstage.
Try VMV D2. Is brilliant
I’ve had the topping and ares and overall the ares is more special. Topping is a bit flat
For all those who every time come up with the measures to justify the goodness of an audio component I would like to ask how they measure musicality, the naturalness of the voices, the airiness of the high tones and the space between the instruments ... it's like trying to justify the pleasure of driving a car looking at what it does from 0-100 ... sites like audioscience talk about nothing or little more
The well measuring DACs from ASR will deliver on that. I really don't see any contrariness between your "soft skill" criteria are and what ASR does.
@Andrea Campagna , Yep I had all of the best measured components and most of them are never in everyday music listening in my house.
Hi Tharbamar, after seeing this review, I think my decision is made by Denafrips... Thanks
Great choice!
1) Denafrips Ares II 2)Topping D90 SE 3) SMSL SU-10
The big problem of Ares II is not having bluetooth and wifi connection. The dac is very limited. Nowadays, bluetooth connection (5.0/5.2) or wifi is very important for you to listen to Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, among other streamings. My preference is for Delta Sigma. 👍
Hi, It shouldn’t be big problem with adding Bluetooth to Ares II, it is very easy adding Bluetooth via optical input with external Bluetooth receivers, thanks
One thing I learned about Denafrips DACS recently, although it's not that new of news, is that there is a minor but annoying lag if used in an AV system, which will make the audio and video out of sync. It cannot be fixed, as it's the way the DACs are designed. Apparently it affects all of their DACS, including ARES, Pontus, and so on. Only an issue if you use in this application.
@@Tharbamar It's not the same on a good dac with built-in Bluetooth and wifi. Streaming audio quality is superior. Currently, listening to streaming is very practical, in addition to the offer of albums.👍
Are you serching for a DAC or a streamer?...ARES 2 is a DAC
Best sound quality is direct to dac, if people are interested in these features then you have to compromise on sound quality
Tks.👍