Denafrips FPGA Firmware Update

The only thing that I have hooked up to the Ares 2 is my CD transport via toslink. I don’t have a streamer and I don’t have my PC or cable TV running through it.

Well that was my only other thought. A ground loop or the DAC is getting overloaded, which can happen with upsampling algorithms. The curve of the upsample exceeds the bit range on peaks and causes the DAC to produce digital sounding distortion. In other words, ticks and the like as opposed to how a receiver may sound when it’s overloading.

Couple of related symptoms:

• Happens at exactly the same place on the same tracks
• If you turn down the digital volume before the DAC the problem goes 100% away.

I have a Mac Book Pro  running Mojave 10.14.6, and wanted to know if anyone has done the firmware update with that OS? I do not want to have issues when it's time to update my Venus II. I don't want to update the OS any further or some of my software will not run.

@goex54 - I had a few pops and clicks prior to the firmware upgrade.  Not enough to bother me, but enough to know what it was from my online reading.  Post firmware upgrade, I can't say that I've had any but have not spent a lot of time listening.

I never had the popping or clicking issue on my Denafrips Area II, but finally took it apart yesterday, photographed the chip, sent in the form, and got the update last evening.

Took the time this morning and carefully followed the instructions provided by Alvin. Turned out to be straight forward as I worked my way through, step by step, even though I am on the newest Mac OS…..easy to figure out.

It is a very nice performance upgrade for the Ares II, I must say. Well worth the upgrade regardless of any past issues, or not.

Thanks to Alvin and Vinshine for this update, pretty unexpected and adds new life to the Ares. 👍

The setup guide says to download a Theyscon driver if you want to use usb into the Ares II.  Since I won’t ever e using my PC as source, do I need to install the driver on my PC?  Thanks.