Denafrips Arce Streamer

[half baked]

As there’s not much info about this new Denafrips Arce streamer I thought I’d share my thoughts about the one I just purchased from Dacman Audio.

I’ve been streaming my music for a few years now with various PC setups and have been happy with my latest set up which consists of the IFI Zen Stream as a Roon bridge with an Apple Mac mini M2 as a Roon core, Denafrips Gaia DDC , Denafrips Terra clock reclocking the Gaia and Silent Angel Bonn ethernet switch.

I had thought about upgrading the IFI Zen to the Lumin U2 mini but after listening to a mates in my system I didn’t think the sound upgrade was worth the extra outlay .

 After hearing the Arce streamer at Dacmans I knew I had to get one, feature wise it’s pretty minimal but as I only use Qobuz and Tidal with Roon and have no need for a screen the Denafrips is all I need.

Tech info

https://www.denafrips.com/arce

So how does it sound in my system which consists of the above with the open baffle Pure Audio Project Trio 15s with 10 ‘’ coax mid range and horn tweeter, amps are the Kinki Studio ref P27 preamp and Kinki B7 250W monoblocks. Dac is the Gustard R26

As my wife also has a little sound system in her weaving/craft room she’s hoping to get the Ifi Zen so she sat with me to have a listen to the new streamer.

 Stone cold straight out of the box and playing a couple of her favourite tracks by Ben Howard and Radiohead all she said a couple of times was  “wow” and then “I don’t want the Zen I want that” , not what I expected to hear.

The Zen stream isn’t remotely in the same class as the Arce so it’s pointless making comparisons, what hit us both was the  huge open 3D soundstage, the way vocals sounded live and in the room ,tight deep bass, dynamics seemed effortless. Details popped out of an inky black background and  everything we played sounded fabulous with no hint of harshness or sibilance.

Reading this back I’m thinking maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but playing ‘Liberty ‘by Annette Askvik as I’m writing this  Nah this streamer is bloody awesome,

easily one of the best buys I’ve ever made. 

And I still haven’t connected to the Terra clock yet .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited October 8, 2023 by half baked

[thimmy118]

Jolly good. Thanks for the brief review. I have been looking out for a reasonably good streamer for a while that will perform better than my Project Streambox and it would appear this may be the one with only one handicap; i don't have Roon and do not intend to install one. I am not keen on using a 3rd party app. So unfortunately, this is a no-go for me at this stage.

[Guest]

Apologies to OP.  Sorry but cannot help but notice that we have half baked comments about Arce...      (an unfortunate product name).

[half baked]

I don’t appreciate you poking fun about my Arce. This is a serious forum about audio related topics, I’m sure if you saw and heard my Arce you would not be so glib

[Guest]

Thank you for letting me go OT .  But let's get back to topic (and try to keep a straight face!)  

 

Have you had the chance to connect the clock to the Arce?  And do you know someone who has an Eversolo?  It would make for an interesting comparison with the current forum favourite.

 

I suspect that the synergy between Denafrips components is what is delivering the improved SQ.  So it will interesting to learn how the Arce fares with other DACs and systems...

 

 

[half baked]

I did I connect the clock and yes the SQ improved yet again in all areas, lower noise floor and  larger soundstage were instantly apparent. But even without the Gaia and Terra clock this streamer kicks Arce ( sorry couldn’t resist ).

I do  use the Gustard R26 Dac  not a Denafrips and the streamer works fine with it without any issues, the latest firmware updates have fixed a few issues the first released ones had.

It would be interesting to compare it to the Eversolo  but my hunch would be the Arce would have better SQ, it’s a minimalist streamer built solely for that purpose , no screen, dac or built in pre ,  considering how much better it sounded against the Lumin I think you would have to spend big to better it.

But you never know

 

[MattyW]

I've heard baked beans can have a negative effect on it 

 

I wonder how it would compare with the Soundaware D300REF?

[wadiman]

How would you access internet radio via this?

[half baked]

28 minutes ago, wadiman said:

How would you access internet radio via this?

Sorry I can’t help with that , I only use roon.

 Alvin from Denafrips would be the best bloke to ask

[half baked]

Although I haven’t compared side by side I’m very familiar with the D300 Ref as a friend has one , it’s a great player but I’m pretty confident the Arce is a better sounding streamer although lacking the features of the Soundaware.

would be great to do some comparisons 

[JPete9]

Can this do direct stream from tidal, qoboz, spotify and apple music in the same way the Wiim Pro can?

[half baked]

 Not yet, coming apparently.

tidal and Qobuz thru Roon only at the moment

[JMN1999]

Thanks goodness Denafrips were first to use this name before Schiit got hold of it. 

[MattyW]

On 7/11/2023 at 6:17 PM, JMN1999 said:

Thanks goodness Denafrips were first to use this name before Schiit got hold of it. 

Yeah but T-Arce isn’t taken yet: Schiit T-Arce.

[Crakers]

Are you still enjoying it ? Any problems so far ? Cheers

[dbastin]

I am wondering if you used the ZEN with wifi?  And what power supply?  and tried something to reclock its output?

 

I am guessing the big advantages of the ARCE are the power supply and reclocking (DSP?) ...

 

The DENAFRIPS approach to address the jitters issue by FIFO BUFFER RECLOCKING. The adaptive FIFO buffer store the source digital audio data in the memory. These data are read from the memory using the low phase noise, precision TCXO FEMTO Clock, located right in the STREAMER. This technology is close to the perfection, especially so with the local FEMTO Clock. The jitter is so small that it can be neglected.

Furthermore, the digital signals are safeguarded through Galvanic Isolation using Opto-Couplers

 

[half baked]

 Yes I tried the Zen  Stream with wifi and it sounded ok  but using Ethernet cable was quite a lot better giving more body and a larger 3D  soundstage, replacing the crappy pwr supply that came with the Zen with the Ifi power 2 power supply was another upgrade but not as dramatic as wired with an Ethernet cable.

As the Arce has a large internal power supply I don’t have to worry about external aftermarket LPS which can be quite expensive for a good one, having said that the Arce benefits greatly from a decent power cord, I’m using the OYAIDE TUNAMI GPX V2 .

Another big improvement was connecting my Denafrips Gaia and Terra reclocker , even tho Alvin from Denafrips says there’s no need for a DDC it still made a quite an improvement .

Another big improvement was the addition of Ethernet cables from Shi-tone, these replaced my Curious / Wireworld and Atlas Mavros cables.

As to Crakers previous post yes I love my Arce, it’s got better and better as the weeks have gone on with no issues at all, I’m convinced if this was a hi-end name brand with lots of bling it would be costing 5 times the price.

 

[dbastin]

2 hours ago, half baked said:

Shi-tone

?  Any chance you can provide a link, I can't find this.

[half baked]

They’re made by Dacman audio, he was using them in his system at the show,  I’ve also bought his spk cable and interconnect, not expensive but the best I’ve had in my system

[taraba55]

Hi

New to the forum. I have Gustard R26 also and use Roon. I am looking between Matrix element S and Denaphris Arce. Bouth are not available in my country so its litle bit complicated. Since there is not much information how bouth worked with Gustard any experince from the users is important for me. I am interested did you tried I2S direct conection between Arce and Gustard and if yes , does it work, any problems and of course sound qualiy.

 

Thank you and best Regards

[Guest]

45 minutes ago, taraba55 said:

New to the forum. I have Gustard R26 also and use Roon. I am looking between Matrix element S and Denaphris Arce. Bouth are not available in my country so its litle bit complicated. Since there is not much information how bouth worked with Gustard any experince from the users is important for me. I am interested did you tried I2S direct conection between Arce and Gustard and if yes , does it work, any problems and of course sound qualiy.

to the forum.

 

As a general comment, people have gotten better SQ with i2S than with other connections.  But this is dependent on the hardware combination and can involve the use of external clocks. 

 

I do not own any of the products that you have mentioned, so no user feedback from me.  You should also include the Holo Red in your evaluation.

[half baked]

 

11 hours ago, taraba55 said:

Hi

New to the forum. I have Gustard R26 also and use Roon. I am looking between Matrix element S and Denaphris Arce. Bouth are not available in my country so its litle bit complicated. Since there is not much information how bouth worked with Gustard any experince from the users is important for me. I am interested did you tried I2S direct conection between Arce and Gustard and if yes , does it work, any problems and of course sound qualiy.

 

Thank you and best Regards

Hi

I haven’t tried i2S with the Arce /R26 setup, I’m sure many will disagree but personally but I’ve found not much difference between i2S or coax or AES cable  as long as they’re decent cables, an average quality i2S won’t sound as good as a better quality coax or AES and vice versa .
A good i2S is the Tubulus Concentus which I used to have and used between an older setup but I sold it as I found a better sounding AES cable.  
I’m sure that using i2S wouldn’t be an issue between the streamer and dac.

I’ve had no problems with the Arce and R26 as a combination and it easily compares with much more expensive components.

 

 

[taraba55]

Hi

Thanks for both replays , yours time and yours eleborate explenation, However I2S is somehow “ stuck” in my head( well maybe with no good reason) but I will appreciate if some time ( no time limit of course) you chek that this connection is working properly , just with any hdmi cable.

Thank you

[Guest]

9 hours ago, half baked said:

I’ve found not much difference between i2S or coax or AES cable  as long as they’re decent cables, an average quality i2S won’t sound as good as a better quality coax or AES and vice versa .

You raise a good point.  The quality of the cable can determine which connection sounds better. And with i2S, a shorter cable is better.

[taraba55]

Hi 

I bought Arce to use it with Gustard R26. Ufortunally I2S is not working properly, I tried all 8 combinaion. DSF as dop 64 is working but Gustard display 44,1. PCM is not working at all. Very disapointef . I am not planing to buy anather device to make this work . I send meassego to Alvin if he can help. Will see.
Second  problem was shuttering issue from time to time which disapier after laster firmware udate, I hope. I use coaxial . I tidnt tried yet USB sinse 

DSD is not my priority , so my dilema is between good quality AES or  coax cable which will give me best sound quality. I am reddy to spent 300-400 $. Any particular recomendation. I will replace latter powercord also.

 Sorry for such long meassage.

Regards