IMHO it isn't a simple matter of expensive DAC or not, at least in many cases. If the DAC uses an off-the-shelf DAC chip then it almost inevitably has its own internal DDC. That's how modern versatile DAC chips are designed.It’ll be interesting to hear how much it transforms more modest DACs, and whether a modest DAC plus DDC to a combined price beats the same amount spent on a more upmarket DAC. Do tell….
True, but everyone is allowed to review.You're not exactly going to say 'WTF, OMG, IT's SHITE' are you
Yes, a bit limited, but objective results of what the Holo Audio May dac does to incomming noise and jitter.Are there any DCC reviews that show objective benefits?
I still use IFI Silencers and they seem to make a small positive difference.
But the three Schiit USB decrapifiers are sitting on the shelf.
Some background first of all before I comment on my most recent purchase...
I grew up, in hi-fi terms, working in a Linn dealership as a Saturday boy while at school and college in the 80s. I arrived assuming the digital revolution would be in full swing there but it wasn't long before my first Linn LP12 turntable was installed at home and the world of vinyl opened up to me.
There were a number of key attributes that I loved about vinyl. To quote Linn's own criteria, being able to follow the tune played by every instrument, not just the lead. Being able to listen into a depths of a recording, noticing those tiny musical timing clues, feeling like it was a real band playing together rather than just a set of noises. These are the things I love about a live performance... and what I've always valued from my hi-fi.
However, as time went on, the takeover by the CD took place and so I needed to join the digital world too. So a Linn Karik / Numerik combination arrived and of all the CD players I've heard, it's still one of the better options for those musical attributes... albeit never reaching the heights of my Linn LP12 (classik Ittok, Troika, Lingo, Linto combination). The sync cable between the Karik and Numerik is clearly the magic ingredient here... remove this and those musical clues fall away leaving just sounds. Clearly digital audio is more than just the 1s and 0s.
Coming up to the current day and streaming is the next requirement for the music lover. I have been using separate streamers and DACs because often there are multiple digital sources involved, such as TVs, computers etc. I have used my Linn Numerik, I've used a Benchmark DAC2-HGC and played around with a SMSL M300 to see what a AKM chip device is like.
The problem was I couldn't use a sync cable with a streamer with my Linn Numerik, so the timing and nuance was never there. And I was never satisfied with either the Benchmark or SMSL - they both had that "digital" sound to my ears. Further research revealed that both of those devices used Sigma-Delta converters (ESS ES9018 and AKM AK4497) whereas the Burr-Brown PCM1702 used in the Linn Numerik uses a R-2R ladder approach.
I wondered if I could find a R-2R ladder DAC with better syncing with the data stream (via a USB link looked promising) to match the approach in my Linn Karik / Numerik.
I started reading about the Denafrips range of R-2R ladder DACs and so ordered a Denafrips Ares II from Willow Tree Audio. It is being fed from a Raspberry Pi running Moode as a Roon endpoint with my Mac Mini as the Roon server. All connections are wired, the Raspberry Pi has a iFi iPower supply and I'm using a Kimber USB cable. The settings on the Ares II are for oversampling with a slow filter. It has had many hundreds of hours of play now so is fully settled.
What what have I found?
For the first time, I now have a digital system that is much, much better than my Karik / Numerik... which dates from 1996, so maybe no surprise there. Except that the Benchmark DAC2-HGC didn't manage it in many musical respects. It has all the musical timing and nuance present and the ability to listen into the depths of a recording is quite unlike anything digital I've ever lived with. It has been described as having an "analogue" sound and it has made a major jump towards the things I love about vinyl.
The greatest complement I can pay it is that I'm now constantly reaching through the back catalogue and playing albums I haven't heard for ages, wondering "how will it sound on this" and noticing musical details that had previously passed me by. Particularly albums I've never owned on vinyl. It's been one of those purchases that is an absolute joy from the start and I'm so pleased that the decision to buy it purely based on internet reviews (albeit with a money back guarantee) has paid off so handsomely.
I appreciate that compared to Linn's own £30k R-2R ladder DAC / streamer, my purchase is quite down to earth, but I imagine if Linn folk from back in the 80s were to choose a sub £1k DAC in today's market, the Denafrips would be high on their list.
Anyway, I wanted to post here to give the Denafrips Ares II a wholehearted recommendation. I have no doubt the more expensive models are terrific too... but the £800 Ares II is, in my view, quite the bargain.
Thanks for reading and happy listening.
Chris
I'm kinda' on the look out for a late Kairn .. maybe the a Denafrips pre is the way to go.
BTW I also worked in a Linn dealership in the eighties - I remember the tune dem and a trip to Glasgow like it was yesterday
Having had a (Brilliant power supply) Kairn and a AV5103, I would definitely consider looking for a AV5103... if I recall correctly, it was nearly double the price of the Kairn when it was launched and although it did more than the Kairn, some of that money went on improving the 2-channel sound as well. They seem to go for similar prices second hand these days... making the AV5103 the bargain (IMHO of course!).
I'm not sure I can remember my Linn dealership years like it was yesterday... but I do remember hearing a prototype Linn Aktiv crossover for the Isobariks... it was a massive bread board full of wires everywhere but it blew my mind when I heard it
C
I can’t remember all of it - but the Aktiv training in Glasgow was memorable.
Yep the AV5103 is better but I’m not sure they’ve aged as well in terms of reliability / serviceability.
Thanks for your feedback - much appreciated.I’ve had the Hestia & Hyperion in house for a week, so really they are just breaking in. The first 3 days were a bit up and down. So far they match up nicely with a pr. of Zu dirty weekends and a bit more surprisingly, a pr. of the Elac DFR52s. I’ve also swapped in a Mystere PA40 for the Hyperion, off the rca outs, with no problems and great sound. Nice having both hooked up. I haven’t gone the ‘Denafrips dac route’ yet, as I run a Benchmark Dac3 as my preamp. Now, the Dac3 feeds a pr. of the Hestia’s 2 balanced inputs. Hestia only has 1 pr. of rca inputs so I run my vinyl rig into those. This has resulted in a really happy ‘surprise’ I had wondered about going in. My vinyl rig, a VPI Traveler, Dynavector 20XL, Bob’s Sky step-up, Eat Glo Petite, has taken on the positive aspects which the Denafrips ‘house sound’ brings. Music has more weight, bodily presence, instrumental textures and deep tonal colors. The Benchmark Dac3 as a preamp is not lean; but robust, clean, clear, & uncolored. As a pre it passes what it is fed, untouched. Thru the Denafrips the music gains a ‘soul’. A type of seductive gravity pulses within the rhythms. The Rotel Tribute cd playing George Bensons, ‘Walking to New Orleans’ is a revelation in PRAT, in musical intent. Powerful, syncopated, balanced heartbeats, conjure a myriad rhythmical playground upon which musical events unfold. Listening becomes a joyous celebration, a moving experience, emotionally purposeful. Even very modest speakers become efficient messengers. The Elacs, being very neutral, really come alive and just let everything thru, breathing and bouncing music into the room. The Zu’s sound big, bold and a bit seductive. I really like them both, yet totally different designs and presentations. I’m liking the amps quite a bit…
You're not exactly going to say 'WTF, OMG, IT's SHITE' are you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Anyway, the GAIA DDC is a SHIT-hot product
The clock is slightly lower spec and the casing is steel with only the front panel aluminium.What are you giving up if you "settle" for the Hermes?
The clock is slightly lower spec and the casing is steel with only the front panel aluminium.
Only heard Iris vs Hermes and the Hermes was _maybe_ a couple of percent better.Let me rephrase then - what are you giving up, sonically, if you "settle" for the Hermes?
I’ve had the Hestia & Hyperion in house for a week, so really they are just breaking in. The first 3 days were a bit up and down. So far they match up nicely with a pr. of Zu dirty weekends and a bit more surprisingly, a pr. of the Elac DFR52s. I’ve also swapped in a Mystere PA40 for the Hyperion, off the rca outs, with no problems and great sound. Nice having both hooked up. I haven’t gone the ‘Denafrips dac route’ yet, as I run a Benchmark Dac3 as my preamp. Now, the Dac3 feeds a pr. of the Hestia’s 2 balanced inputs. Hestia only has 1 pr. of rca inputs so I run my vinyl rig into those. This has resulted in a really happy ‘surprise’ I had wondered about going in. My vinyl rig, a VPI Traveler, Dynavector 20XL, Bob’s Sky step-up, Eat Glo Petite, has taken on the positive aspects which the Denafrips ‘house sound’ brings. Music has more weight, bodily presence, instrumental textures and deep tonal colors. The Benchmark Dac3 as a preamp is not lean; but robust, clean, clear, & uncolored. As a pre it passes what it is fed, untouched. Thru the Denafrips the music gains a ‘soul’. A type of seductive gravity pulses within the rhythms. The Rotel Tribute cd playing George Bensons, ‘Walking to New Orleans’ is a revelation in PRAT, in musical intent. Powerful, syncopated, balanced heartbeats, conjure a myriad rhythmical playground upon which musical events unfold. Listening becomes a joyous celebration, a moving experience, emotionally purposeful. Even very modest speakers become efficient messengers. The Elacs, being very neutral, really come alive and just let everything thru, breathing and bouncing music into the room. The Zu’s sound big, bold and a bit seductive. I really like them both, yet totally different designs and presentations. I’m liking the amps quite a bit…
That's a killer high value system you put together. Hats off. Great VFM and I would imagine good balance between the components.
That being said I would be very curious to hear about your evaluation of a denafrips dac vs. your current benchmark. The benchmark is no slouch obviously.
It’ll be interesting to hear how much it transforms more modest DACs