DENAFRIPS ARES 12th Anniversary DAC -- Better Than Ever!

There’s an Audiophiliac/Steve Guttenberg imposter scamming my viewers, There’s no FREE gifts. DON’T respond! I don't do giveaways or ask for money (except for my Patreon)

Thanks for the video. I bought the Ares II a few years back based on your original review of the Ares II. I have come to realize that the hard to see LEDs are a feature not a bug. Most electronics today feature ultrabright LEDs which can get annoying if you dim the lights and want to chill. Kudos to Vinshine for designing this product with LEDs that are almost unnoticeable during normal operation. Yes, you have to get up close to see them to change the settings but no should be changing the settings very often. I use OS with the fast filter which most reviewers preferred.

How big can this space get.

I have a Beolab 5000 that has three channels I do not use it right now but it plays stereo and the sound beats my a007 Luxman but I can not figure out what the therd Chanel is for i had a idea to use it for my tv with a center speaker. The Maschine is the most compact amp I newer felt.

My 2 cents:
I just purchased and installed an Ares 12-1 into my system. A Bluesound Node with its internal DAC had been feeding my Willsenton R8. I was pleased yet curious about an external DAC. The addition of the Ares 12-1 in OS slow filter mode has brought a significant improvement expressing itself in a soundtage that now has expanded well outside the boundaries of the speakers while adding height and depth as well. The speakers have now disappeared! Vocals seem to have found their proper place in the mix. Upper midrange has lost the chip based glare that disappointed me slightly with the Node. Gypsy violins no longer do the nails on a chalkboard thing. Call me crazy but percussion seems less mechanical now becoming more organically rhythmic.
Highly recommended.

The problem with this brand... Not available in Sweden. Sure a great product, but...

In a head to head I found the Merason Frerot better overall (even with mediocre wallwart power)

Chord qutest dac or denafrips ares 2?

Yo Steve - gotta call out something here.. In your comparison, you reviewed the new Denefrips version dac, yet you did not review and compare to the newer Schiit Bifrost 2/64 dac to make it a fair apples-to-apples comparison. Please do, Thank You!

almost pulled the trigger on the ares 12th+iris ddc but in the last minute went for the border patrol se i for the same money .i prefer a more beautiful tone over uber detail. this dac was assembled just for me in usa ,comes stock with a nos rectifier tube they don't even mention the nos part on the website compare that to denafrips's gibberish about parts no one cares about. all the denafrips dacs are built for marketing and measuring great impressive oversized everything no elegance there bad looking designs no real pride of ownership with generic boxes the ares looks like some cable tv box compare the level of engineering and design to a dave or a qutest from ten years ago...

I don't know if the 12th Anniversary version had the latest firmware update. But Alvin just released/is releasing firmware updates for all the DACs. I updated my Enoy (Ares II) this weekend and heard a very clear improvement in everything. Others are hearing the improvement and posting their results on the forums. It was really big because my wife actually noticed it (I think I put her to sleep when I talk about audiophile stuff). 🤣

Thanks for bringing back the memories of when I was a teen in the 70's and would go into the HiFi shops just to listen to and dream about owning the new gear and speak to the sales reps.

And thanks so much for the great reviews and the suggestions for new music to listen to. 👍 I bought the Anoy based primarily on your review and Cheap Audio Man's.

A Chinese product from a Chinese company? You didn’t mention that it could have been built by enslaved Catholic priests or nuns.

One of the first things that go is hearing, so what's the use philiac after being for so many years in Fidelity on Hi?

I have used the Ares ii for several years, and it was really excellent; the 12th is stunningly beautiful.

Steve, For the sake of getting a reference point, would this unit be your preference in any way vs. the much more expensive and also very "musical" Tambaqui you reviewed a little while back?

Hey Steve! I wanted to confirm something with you. I received a comment supposedly from you responding to my recommendation you listen to Holly Bowling. This person asked me to message them on telegram. I assume it's a scammer as you don't have a Telegram link on your page. Anyway I appreciate you and all the great content!

Sorry I couldn't find a place to message you so just jumped on this comment thread

Sid should buy aftermarket feet that lift the maggies of the floor, they make a difference in sound .

Thanks for being honest Steve. Very refreshing. Anyone that's been in this game long enough knows that a digital to analog converter can vary somewhat but it's not going to be big differences. Plus those differences are going to be a matter of subjective taste. Not everyone's going to pick the same ice cream flavor at Baskin Robbins.

Does the Denafrips Ares is good for movies too, does its qualites of naturality and engagement hold true ?

Hey Steve I was wondering your thoughts on a hybrid amp that has tube preamp solid state amp???

DUDE- check out the Pontus ll. One up from the Ares and it blows it away.

The Pontus ll is absolutely the best dac for the jack!

Would love you to review the latest Geshelli Labs DAC - it's a bit of a giant killer at only £400 including postage/taxes to the UK - made in the US.

Thanks Steve, what streamer did you use please?

Anyone is these comments have a bluetooth DAC recommendation for a pair of Genelec 8030 speakers? Any thoughts/models welcome thanks

Hi Steve, your evaluation of the original Ares II was what prompted me to add one to my system. I do have one question...does the 12th Anniversary edition have an oversampling toggle and associated slow/fast filters like the original Ares II? If so, were your comparison tests done with the oversampling engaged, and at slow or fast filtering? Thanks in advance...

Wow…Ella and Duke at the Cote D’Azure - It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing is mind blowing for the absolute joy that all of the musicians convey. They’re having the time of their life and they bring the listener in amongst it all.
I’ve listened to this recording hundreds of times and it never gets old. It’s the song that I plan to have playing when I leave this world. Thanks for featuring the album…more people need to experience this tune!

480 resistors? What happens when one goes bad?

Hey Steve check out @Holly Bowling. She's a wonderful pianist that does interpretations of old Grateful Dead and Beatles I would imagine. I just wanted to show Holly some well deserved love and I hope you give her a listen. Anyway thanks for all the great content!
Hubbs

Wow! $1350 dac! Is it 100x better than $110 Sanskrit 2? 10x? Twice? Probably 5% to 10%. I wonder if Amir will measure it. I wish I was rich or didn't have a house and wife. No, I like having a house and wife. My entire system is under $1350 (used speakers). Damn, I wonder why I'm so bitter.

maybe you could do a review of the Geshelli JNOG2 [J2]..i love this thing..

Any chance you will be review the new Terminator Plus 12th Anniversary.? To my ears, I felt the 12th Annv. Terminator+ was quite a lot better than the previous Terminator+ version... to my ears at least. And they should be for a bit of a jump in price increase.

Steve, how dare you propagate this diabolical device, the work of the Chinese Communist Party, it surely has embedded spying devices connected directly to Beijing. 😂😂😂

I'm curious about what special gear the Audiophiliac's 12th anniversary video will be about

I'm looking at that Gustard R26...

DAC’s are like speakers nowadays, so many makes and models to choose from and the only thing audiophiles can all agree on is that sound quality of them all is ultimately flawed. Spending 5-6 figures $$$$$$ per component gets arguably flawless sound reproduction however the sucker factor increases exponentially the more dollars spent on Hi-Fi, I like the Chinese attitude towards Hi-Fi, don’t be a sucker and demand more for your money or stay in the cheap market. That’s Chi-Fi wisdom! ❤

You (and others) mentioned that the front panel lights are very small and very hard to see on the Denarfrips DACs. You say that as if it is a negative. From my point of view that is absolutely a positive! I usually listen to music (and watch movies) with the lights down low, and I don't want to see any lights off in the corner of the room where my equipment rack is (it's along the front wall with the front speakers and TV monitor, but in the corner a few feet away from the left front speaker). I have taped black paper over the power LEDs on the front of my gear that has such (that is, all of it) so I don't have to see those glaring lights. Most of my equipment can dim the lights to "off," which I appreciate. My Belles Aria receiver does not have any dimming capabilities, though, so I hang a piece of cloth over the area where the bright LEDs are that show the input selection. So the fact that the Ares DAC has LEDs that are difficult to see is, for me, excellent. I wish more manufacturers were that thoughtful.

In any case, thanks for this review! I have been hemming and hawing between the Ares 12th Anniversary edition versus the Enyo (the renamed Ares II), and you've given me more to think about.

Thanks Steve, inspriring review.

Nice unit but not nearly enough connectors.

I wish you would compair it against the Gustard R26. To me that would be a fair fight

S, The Beatles music you recommended. It makes me feel, I'm falling over in slow motion. Took it off my play list. Best, D.

Nice review. I’m curious as to whether an external DAC would improve the sound of my Shanling tube CD player. As I only listen to CDs in my reference system. Not saying the cd player sounds bad, just always looking for improvements. Thanks

Thanks Steve for re-stimulating my curiosity about the Denafrips Ares. Was looking to purchase DAC several years back and was making choice between Ares and MHDT Orchid. Had a hard time deciding but came across a good deal on the Orchid and went that route. Have been very satisfied with Audio Labs 6000 transport\ Orchid combination, but there is still that itch to hear what Ares might offer. Maybe someday I`ll have to scratch that itch!

I bought mine around Christmas time and it couldn't be happier. USB to my gaming PC and optical to an Audiolobs 6000CDT. Just Wow!

Maybe nearly all Beatles jazz covers do suck...Marc Ribot Happiness Is A Warm Gun does not suck.

How does it compare to the Pontus 2?

Great review…not only interested in this dac, but adore your choice of recordings for this. Also love that you brought in Mehldau’s new project. Thank you for addressing the whole critics against jazz musicians playing the Beatles dilemma. Goes back to the 90’s when it was kind of a thing. Some were bad, but many did such a good job with it. Especially those on the level of Mark Turner and Brad Mehldau. 🙏🏼

But how do those DACs compare to the Oppo 203's sound on its own?

Steve, thanks for showcasing my system as 'The Viewer System of the Day' - it is a thrilling honour and privilege to be showcased 👍

Nice review Steve. Love those music tips. Last year you reviewed Mola Mola’s Tambaqui DAC, that must be the ultimate DAC you tested. The new PS Audio Directstream DAC MK2 seems to be amazing as well (though different price league then those in this video).

Badass reviewers system. I want it with some Maggies.