Black Ice Audio The ARIES Headphone Amplifier/DAC/WiFi Streamer/Preamp.
Black Ice Audio’s ARIES delivers punchy sub-bass, vivid resolution and richly layered imaging from a remarkably flexible hybrid-tube hub. Reviews By WaveTheory found its DAC performance comparable to a Chord Hugo 2, while tube rolling, analogue EQ and an exceptionally versatile headphone amplifier let listeners tailor a spacious, dynamic presentation for almost any headphone.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
75/100
Features Usability
94/100
Value for Money
95/100
Pros
Robust, authoritative bass combines strong sub-bass extension with impactful dynamics and slam.
Highly resolving DAC performance with strong holography, imaging, separation, depth and layering.
Drives an unusually broad range of headphones well, from easy dynamics to demanding models such as the original Susvara.
Tube rolling and analogue EQ provide meaningful control over tonal balance, detail presence and bass weight.
Cons
No remote control or motorized volume potentiometer, limiting convenient across-the-room use.
Wi-Fi streaming is better suited to casual AirPlay use; DLNA setup is comparatively technical and it is not Roon-ready.
The DAC-board tube socket restricts tube rolling to shorter 6SN7-style tubes.
It can run short of volume headroom with the demanding Mod House Tungsten for listeners who prefer louder levels.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
The review finds the Aries highly accomplished technically, combining strong resolution and spatial presentation with unusually forceful, controlled bass dynamics. Its tube-rolling and tone controls make the presentation notably adjustable, while the review offers no direct comment on background hiss or hum.
Transparency Resolution
93/100
The reviewer says its DAC performance kept pace with the Chord Hugo 2 DAC, a comparison offered as high praise. Resolution, holography, imaging, separation, depth and layering are all described as very strong.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The Aries is said to sound excellent across its flexible tuning options. Tube rolling and controls for tonal balance let owners alter detail forwardness and move the sound along a wetter-to-drier spectrum without losing the reviewer's overall enthusiasm.
Dynamics
94/100
Low frequencies are described as robust, punchy, dynamic and impactful, with healthy sub-bass rumble and extension even without added bass boost. The reviewer also highlights authoritative delivery, plentiful slam and strong impact.
Noise Floor
75/100
The review does not directly address hiss, hum, or background silence with sensitive headphones or IEMs. Its noise behavior in those use cases therefore remains unclear.
Headphone Compatibility
90/100
The reviewer calls the headphone amplifier's ability to drive headphones genuinely impressive. However, the review does not provide detailed comparisons across sensitive IEMs, demanding planars, and high-impedance dynamics.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
75/100
The review does not offer meaningful commentary on chassis construction, controls, socket quality, heat management, or long-term durability.
Features Usability
94/100
The Aries combines a DAC, Wi-Fi streaming, USB-C, optical, coaxial and three RCA inputs with dual 6.35 mm headphone outputs and RCA line/DAC outputs. Tube rolling and adjustable sound controls add substantial ownership flexibility, particularly for listeners who want to tailor the presentation.
Value for Money
95/100
At its roughly $2,500-$3,150 asking price, the reviewer calls the Aries one of hi-fi's best values and says its value is outstanding. That praise is reinforced by its broad DAC, streaming, preamp and headphone-amplifier functionality.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Rated Output Power
- TBD
- Frequency Response
- TBD
- Bandwidth
- TBD
- Distortion THD
- TBD
- Input Impedance
- TBD
- Input Sensitivity
- TBD
- Output Impedance
- TBD
- SNR
- TBD
- Tube Complement
- 2 x 6SN7
- Main IC
- USB: SA9302 32BIT/384K SPDIF: CS8416 DAC: 32bit ES9038 PRO WiFi: SA9800 AirPlay/DNLA
- Inputs
- USB C, WiFi, 2x Toslink, Coax, and 3x RCA inputs
- Outputs
- 2 x 1/4in Headphone Jacks, RCA Line Output, and RCA DAC Output
- Power Requirements
- 110V-120 VAC 60Hz or 220-240 VAC 50Hz
- Power Consumption
- 30W
- Dimensions
- 4 5/8 inches wide by 13 1/4 inches deep by 8 3/4 inches high
- Weight
- 14 pounds (6.3 Kg) net, approximately 19 pounds (8.6 Kg) packaged
- Warranty
- 5 year limited parts and labor. 1 year or 1000 hours on tubes whichever comes first.
- Fuse
- 110 - 120 VAC, 1 Amp Slow Blow; 200 - 240 VAC, .5 Amp Slow Blow, Size 5mm X 20mm
Manufacturer's Description — Black Ice Audio
The Black Ice Audio ARIES is a Headphone Amplifier, DAC, WiFi Streamer, and Preamplifier that represents the culmination of 3 years of research and development.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers