ictaros Posted June 24, 2017 Posted June 24, 2017 Got the Ares from Alvin a few days ago and he hand-delivered to my place. I've been enjoying it so far New to this forum but not new to this hobby. Looking forward to learn and share information with everyone here. Eugene
shirushi1624705781 Posted June 25, 2017 Posted June 25, 2017 Me too. Got an Ares from Alvin and connected to my bluesound node. Definitely sounded better than the built in dac even right out of box... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
David Cheah Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 "Its tiny...the same footprint as the Emotiva DC-1!!! " yes was quite shock when I opened the box. This is about the same as my Lumin D1 which I intends to outsource the Dac section and was initially hesitant as people has been saying the built-in dac (Wolfson 8741 double) is very capable. Been listening for the past few days and this little "Chilli Padi" definitely bettered the Lumins' , really enjoy the vocals which feels more natural , instruments sounds so much nicer. Only concern is the sea of caps, wonder how to know if one of them fails? Anyway it is definitely a big upgrade for my setup.
jaspok Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 Hi Alvin bro, can you add me to the Ares tour?Want to compare with my current dac if I should upgrade to Denafrips. Thanks! ;D
alvin1118 Posted June 27, 2017 Author Posted June 27, 2017 Hi Alvin bro, can you add me to the Ares tour?Want to compare with my current dac if I should upgrade to Denafrips. Thanks! ;D Added liao :)
jaspok Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 Added liao :) Tks Alvin Bro!Can't wait to hear it 8)
Juventino1624706654 Posted June 29, 2017 Posted June 29, 2017 Maybe this is better rival ? First Pontus just landed in Italy minutes ago. "Amazing, dynamic, incredible internship refined after just 5 hours... those of denafrips's diabolical
alvin1118 Posted June 29, 2017 Author Posted June 29, 2017 Hello Juventino, Yggy is gone, the same guy just receive his Terminator two days ago (yes he has Pontus and Terminator now). He's very very happy now (i'm happy too!) Some of his comments on Yggy and Pontus posted in Facebook group - Denafrips Audiophile Owners: Morning session over, I don't believe my ears... in terms of internship, I'm leaning, already exceeding yggy! And maybe even for sharpness (but I'm going to memory, Direct Comparisons to end run in) for the rest very close and we are already a miracle! About 70 hours of running in other point in favor of pontus on yggy namely percussion and drums, just deadly in this respect, where it is still slightly closed the pontus is the piano less harmonious and refined yggy compared to, but we are still A quarter of persevering. Correction: last comparison, 230 hours of running in between pontus yggy before his departure, well balanced accounts even on the piano, unbelievable! Pontus Bestbuy Ever DAC... creepy stuff! It's translated from Italian to English, a bit off but still understandable i guess ;D
wizardofoz Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 Just passed the unit to 3eb Probably well run in by now - maybe about 150hours on it. Setup was streaming from Roon via Raspberry Pi using Ropieee build and USB to the Ares then balanced out to the Emotiva XMC-1 then via LinkwitzLab LX521 ASP to Lexicon DD-8 amp and LX521 speakers. Upsampling in Roon to DSD256 most of the time, but some just upsampled to 24/192 or no upsampling at all. No volume and no headphone are going to be a bonus for some due to the VFM and no issue for those using a preamp. For me I had some issues with Roon Volume control in DSD upsampling, so had to use via the XMC-1 as a preamp. I'm not sure I prefer it over the Vinshine R2R other than value for money. That said, while the sound is different to the Vinshine for me it was not is not a night and day difference. But to my ears I can't say I would be unhappy with either as an R2R design.
alvin1118 Posted July 6, 2017 Author Posted July 6, 2017 Thanks man. Hope you had fun. 2nd Ares is with zacho
benlzy Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 Briefly heard the ares at zacho's place last night. Out of box was :-\ , but after a couple of hours it really started to come to life. If this was the pre-burn in stage, I must stay I'm very impressed by it!
Wilfred Wong Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 Just passed the unit to 3eb Probably well run in by now - maybe about 150hours on it. Setup was streaming from Roon via Raspberry Pi using Ropieee build and USB to the Ares then balanced out to the Emotiva XMC-1 then via LinkwitzLab LX521 ASP to Lexicon DD-8 amp and LX521 speakers. Upsampling in Roon to DSD256 most of the time, but some just upsampled to 24/192 or no upsampling at all. No volume and no headphone are going to be a bonus for some due to the VFM and no issue for those using a preamp. For me I had some issues with Roon Volume control in DSD upsampling, so had to use via the XMC-1 as a preamp. I'm not sure I prefer it over the Vinshine R2R other than value for money. That said, while the sound is different to the Vinshine for me it was not is not a night and day difference. But to my ears I can't say I would be unhappy with either as an R2R design. Alittle OOT, ( ok not really since i have a Denafrips on order as well), but if i almost exclusively use tidal / spotify, is there any benefit in subscribing to Roon? looking to run it straight via my laptop.
wizardofoz Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 Probably not but you could do the 2 week free trial and see if you like it’s tho it’s not cheap...then again nor is tidal
Wilfred Wong Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 I did sign up for the trial. I forgot that I had 2 hard drives of music as well. A total of 4300 albums, so it's probably not a bad dealS The UI is stunning!
alvin1118 Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 Got a returned unit from the US. Owner upgraded to Terminator. It's a special requested version with latest XMOS XU208 USB driver. Will put up this for tour. Bro tomok chopped first slot liao. ;D
alvin1118 Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 Terminator been running in non stop for approx 1000hrs, pretty good now .
zacho_ Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 sign me up for the pontus tour! Currently burning in the Ares and am really excited to hear what the Pontus can do.
Escutcheon Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Can put me on the list for the Pontus tour? Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
hephiastion Posted July 8, 2017 Posted July 8, 2017 Hi Alvin, pls kindly include me for the pontus tour. Am looking at this vs Venus Thank you
alvin1118 Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 Added all in tour list. Pontus and Ares with tomok now ;D
Wilfred Wong Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 Pontus in the house, burning in now :) Thanks to Alvin for all the assistance.
Gs Tan Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 can i use the Pontus as DAC as well as pre amp, i,e does it has VAR volume control ? the Vanshine Dac has a good Fix / VAR volume control built in feature.
3eb Posted July 10, 2017 Posted July 10, 2017 Had the chance to audition both Ares and Pontus for a short while last Sunday with Tomok. Run simple Spotify through streamer to pre power amp and dynaudio speakers. Ares is lively and dynamic. Bass is more pronounced but at times blurry. Can feel more energy overall. Pontus is another class altogether, just outright better than Ares. Much better clarity, soundstage , separation, Layer bass. Worthy upgrade. Makes me wonder the next level up-Terminator but then it's different price range. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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