I don't have a wide variety of DAC experience, esp. on the upper end. I use an Emotiva Sealth on the main system (as it has balanced outs plus a remote) and a Schiit Bifrost in the den. I recently upgraded the Schiit to the 4490 board - an easy install - and was hugely impressed by the physical quality of the boards, case, etc. It is built like a ruddy tank! Can't equate that to actual performance but if they put half the care into their designs as they do into construction, count me a customer.
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Someone in HF promised to compare The Audio GD
DAC 19 to Ares so chances are that there will be some info soon. Audio GD is supposed to be very good also but if we check spec the R2R ladder resistors in audio GD are 0,1%
precision (DA M1 modules)
but Ares has
0.01% resistors
and the top Denafrips models even use 0,005% resistor ladders. http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/diy/DA01/DA01EN.htm |
I owned the Chord Qute EX and found it's performance to be excellent. The Chord 2Qute is the upgraded model. The reproduction of music was so realistic and open and did very well in revealing micro-dynamics. The only flaw was the lack of low-end extension (Chord Qute EX), but this was due to the use of a SMPS wall-wart. The 2Qute also uses this power supply, so I would imagine that it has the same problem. The Chord gains the bass extension and more weight to the music with the addition of a linear power supply. The Gumby has a wider soundstage and may have better extension at both ends, but to me, does not sound as organic as the Chord. |
Audio GD is supposed to be very good also but if we check spec the R2R ladder resistors in audio GD are 0,1% precision (DA M1 modules) but Ares has 0.01% resistors and the top Denafrips models even use 0,005% resistor ladders.The Ares gets some very good user reviews. But as noted at Head-Fi, the Ares uses many small capacitors in its design... http://www.head-fi.org/t/833690/denafrips-ares-r2r-discrete-ladder-dac-close-up-view |
- 59 posts total