Denafrips Ares ii

Contrary to the many people here, I don't like the SQ of Ares II.

I had one loan home and it sounded nasal and compressed vs my McIntosh C47.

Best input is via USB.  I encountered some buggy signal dropout using coax, need to toggle the inputs to kind of "reset" the bug.  SQ is ok-ish for coax.

Personal preference is OS mode, NOS mode sounded a bit rough to my ears.

Recently I bought a little toy to play and I find it beats the hell out of Ares II, SMSL D1, Gustard X26 and Topping D90.  I can highly recommend it, and it is much cheaper.  If you can access into taobao.com this is a good buy.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.18.3ddd334912AVon&id=671511806448&ns=1&abbucket=3#detail

I tried to insert image but this forum doesn't allow, implementation is strange, can only insert URL where the pic is.

Anyway, this Yiniu WD6 runs on 4 x PCM1794, comes with XLR output and RCA,  and you can roll opamp with it.  Max out at 24/192, basic DAC with no MQA/Roon/ etc.  I'm having lots of fun trying out different opamps ATM.  LM49990 (single converted to dual opamp config) and OPA1656 are very good. 😄

Honestly if such comment is true, then all low end dacs compared to higher end dacs are damaged, and higher end system are problematic. Hahahaha

On a serious note, for the money of the Ares II, personally, I’ll be willing give this one a shot instead. Dual WM8741, comes with AES digital input and XLR/RCA outputs.

Or alternatively, this one from taobao.com. Dual 9038 Pro, XLR/RCA outputs, BT capable. Options to select femto clock version or femto clock with II2S input. At half the price of Ares II.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.16.51986380tMqNn2&id=600300953359&ns=1&abbucket=7#detail

So if anyone here understand Chinese, Taobao offers a very big range of brands and configs to choose from, and range of prices too.