Denafrips ARES II USB R2R DAC Review

[BitPerfect_]

Indeed, the bass is deeper compared with the previous firmware version.

 

[Killingbeans]

As in, the bass gets exaggerated? Or the old firmware had a high pass filter implemented for some reason?

 

[Danddd]

Not even close. The Holo May leaves it in the dust:

Review and Measurements of Holo Audio May --- Probably the best discrete R2R DAC

After I released the measurements of the Holo Audio Spring DAC, something interesting happened. The reason was because I was wrong about the version --- I measured Spring Lv2 instead of what I thought and declared Spring 2 Lv2.When the developer found me and told me this mistake. I was...

www.audiosciencereview.com

As it should for $3K more...

 

[Killingbeans]

It should, shouldn't it? But then you add ~$9K more and get this miserable result:

Review and Measurements of Totaldac d1-six DAC

This is a review of the Totaldac d1-six DAC and headphone amplifier. It was kindly shipped from europe to me for testing by a member at a high shipping cost of over 200 euros. The d1-six costs 13,500 euros including VAT in Europe and $12,400 for export. The latter translates into US $13,816...

www.audiosciencereview.com

High-end audio math is weird

 

[BitPerfect_]

As in, the bass gets exaggerated?

The bass it sounds almost like the way it was using the first factory firmware imo as far as I remember. I can’t say that it was / it is exaggerated. (There are 3 versions of Firmwares now for Ares II).

 

[pinpoint_oxford]

The bass it sounds almost like the way it was using the first factory firmware imo as far as I remember. I can’t say that it was / it is exaggerated. (There are 3 versions of Firmwares now for Ares II).

In the release notes it specifies they tweaked the bass:

* Reduce sampling rate change/switching noise with certain transport/streamer
* Fine-tune the sound quality in the mid-range and lower octave of the bass, to achieve a balanced, organic, analog-like sound signature that is characteristic of Denafrips

I will install it on mine tonight and see if I notice anything.

 

[Killingbeans]

I still don't get it.

What "quality" could possibly make the bass stand out more? It makes absolutely no sense, other than if they "cheat" and d¤ck around with the frequency response.

 

[pinpoint_oxford]

I still don't get it.

What "quality" could possibly make the bass stand out more? It makes absolutely no sense, other than if they "cheat" and d¤ck around with the frequency response.

Who's to say? They don't publish the source code so there's no way to know what they actually changed.

 

[Killingbeans]

True, but the effects of the change can be measured. Although, it would be pretty sadistic to ask @amirm to measure the ARES II one more time, just to see what (if any) difference the new firmware makes.

It's just completely nonsensical to me that a DAC would be able to influence the bass like that. Other than if dirty tricks are being deployed.

 

[pinpoint_oxford]

So I listened to a couple of tracks with good bass variety and then upgraded and listened again. The bass might sound a bit tighter and less worbly, but if there was a change it's really subtle. Either way, still sounds great to me!

 

[BitPerfect_]

I’ll try to put the v1.0 to see how it sounds compared with the last version. I remember when I upgraded to v1.2 the scene was wider. I know some will say ‘get out of here’ but it was, letting all the other components of the audio chain untouched.

I’ll get back just to see if there is a difference.

 

[Lupin]

I don't get how a firmware update that provides extra bass is supposed to be a good thing.
The job of a DAC is a 1:1 conversion from digital to analogue, preferably/hopefully being transparent, nothing more nothing less.

A DAC should NOT alter the bass or anything else in any way that is not the job of a DAC.

 

[Lupin]

The bass it sounds almost like the way it was using the first factory firmware imo as far as I remember.

I’ll try to put the v1.0 to see how it sounds compared with the last version. I remember when I upgraded to v1.2 the scene was wider.

You do know that the reliable echoic memory of humans is only 3-4 seconds....

 

[Killingbeans]

Two really, really good points.

A/B'ing for subtleties requires instantaneous switching between sources to reach any kind of reliability.

And if the effect is pronounced enough to enter your long term memory, it will be caused by something "violent", like large changes to the frequency response. That does not belong in a DAC. It's the job of an equalizer.

 

[BitPerfect_]

It’s possible to have a DSP inside? Dunno, just asking. The sound is changed for sure it’s not placebo

Overall, I don’t hear it like having a violent bass but there is a change in low freq part of the spectrum.

 

[SIY]

for sure it’s not placebo

It can't be 'for sure' unless you've tested for that. Sorry, that's how human brains work, like it or not.

 

[BitPerfect_]

How about if you know a melody well enough and you have listen that song many times before? I agree with your statement, don’t get me wrong …

 

[Killingbeans]

It’s possible to have a DSP inside? Dunno, just asking.

Of course. But DSP without a user interface is just a baked in deliberate deviation from the digital source.

I see no good reason whatsoever to make that choice in a DAC design, other than a cheap trick to stand out from the crowd.

Placebo is still the most probable explanation.

 

[SIY]

How about if you know a melody well enough and you have listen that song many times before? I agree with your statement, don’t get me wrong …

Human brain.

 

[Killingbeans]

How about if you know a melody well enough and you have listen that song many times before?

Like @Lupin told you above, roughly 3-4 seconds after you're done listening to something, your brain deletes all the memory you have of nuances. All that's left is "the big picture" and the feeling they gave you. Just a sad fact of biology.

Echoic memory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org