Denafrips Ares II besides measurements - worth it?

[Giuanniello]

I got a vintage stereo system, preamp being an Audio Research SP9, power amp Aeron AP890, big and heavy KT88 push-pull, sources Sony CD-P X505ES (great DAC!!!), Michell Gyrodec MKI and ugly Beresford Caiman SEG to convert the data flow off an old MacMini which only streams lossless music, speakers being JBL L220.

I can't stand that BS Caiman SEG, it's ugly in every damn way, from the front LEDs which make it look like a Xmas tree to the fact that at every bitrate change there's a bump in the speakers, I need a USB and one or two optical (TV and eventually CD player or another source), I will have a sub 1K budget and I like the idea of an R2R, I have no way to listen to anything in person as where I live and in the neighbourhood there is no store where to have a listening session, a friend bought one of the high end Denafrips and he said he loves it, I read quite a few reviews stating it being a very good value for the money, more than 1K won't make sense for my setup, would love to hear your feedback based on personal experience.

Grazie

p.s. listening mostly to electronic music from 80s and 90s rock and funky, disco, house, some jazz and very little classical

 

[EdW]

Check out @amirm review

Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review

This is a review and measurements of the Denafrips ARES II USB DSD DAC based on R2R architecture. It is on kind loan from a member. I think it costs US $680 so not too high for a custom DAC. The overall look of the ARES II is rather plain: The LED indicators are quite tiny so standing top...

www.audiosciencereview.com

it doesn’t perform particularly well and doesn’t represent value for money! There are several DACs review on the ASR which are better , , ,

 

[Giuanniello]

Check out @amirm review

Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review

This is a review and measurements of the Denafrips ARES II USB DSD DAC based on R2R architecture. It is on kind loan from a member. I think it costs US $680 so not too high for a custom DAC. The overall look of the ARES II is rather plain: The LED indicators are quite tiny so standing top...

www.audiosciencereview.com

it doesn’t perform particularly well and doesn’t represent value for money! There are several DACs review on the ASR which are better , , ,

Some suggestions?

I don't want whistles and bells, no displays, no headphone amp, no BT, the more discrete the better, 1 USB, 1 or 2 optical and I am fine to go, R2R seems to better fit my listening taste.

Grazie

edit: built in power supply, I want one discrete box and one cable running to the AC outlet, no more external bricks and more cables

 

[Mikig]

Ciao!
I would recommend you just to try a nice SMSL SU-1.
I got one some time ago just out of curiosity, and I'm enjoying it so much, so much so that I forgot to put the DACs I've always used back into my main system.
Nothing, knobs, buttons, headphones, preamp, display... It has the same measured performance as much more important devices at a frankly unreal price.
Otherwise, look at the ranking and choose from everything that has been tried what best suits your preferences. There are dozens and dozens of excellent products now on the market and frankly it has now been demonstrated that the digital problem is almost completely overcome nowadays.