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Denafrips Ares 15th R-2R DAC
Package Content : Includes only the ARES 15TH R-2R DAC and power cable.
ARES 15TH Anniversary Edition
- I²S Input
- True NOS R-2R DAC
- Enhanced Power Supply
- Anodised Aluminium Chassis Silver/Black
- Upgraded 12th Anniv
Technical Highlights
- Proprietary R2R + DSD Architecture
- True balanced 24BIT R2R + 6BIT DSD (32 steps FIR Filters)
- Low Thermal Effect, High Precision Hand-Matched 0.01% Resistors
- LPNO Crystal 45.1548MHz, 49.152Mhz
- Low Noise Power Supply
- FIFO Buffer
- Digital Signal Processing via FPGA
- DSD1024, PCM1536 Supports On USB Input
- Proprietary USB Audio Solution via STM32F446 Advanced AMR Based MCU
- Licensed Thesycon USB Driver For Windows Platform
- Driverless On Mac & Linux
DSD
- DSD64-DoP On All Input
- DSD1024* On USB Input Only
PCM
- 24bits / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192KHz On All Input
- 1536kHz* On USB Input
Sampling Mode: Oversampling OS / Non-Oversampling NOS
Digital Input
- Coax x 1
- OPT x 1
- I2S x 1
- USB2.0 Type B
Analog Output
- RCA at 2.0Vrms, 625 Ω
- XLR at 4.0Vrms, 1250 Ω
Frequency Response: 20-70KHz -3dB
THD+N: 0.002%
S/N Ratio: 115dB
Dynamic Range: >119dB
Stereo Crosstalk: -124dB
AC Power Requirement: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz (Worldwide Voltage, Manual Selector)
Fuse: T2A/250VAC. 5x20mm 2A Slow Blow
Power Consumption: ≤20W
Dimension: 215W x 221D x 44H mm (Feet +18mm)
Package Dim: 375 x 330 x 115 mm
Package Content: DAC & Power Cord. If you need to add a remote control, please contact our staff.
Weight: 3.5 Kg
Color: Black / Silver
Warranty: 12 Months
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Professional Reviews 88/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
90/100
Features Connectivity
82/100
Value for Money
89/100
The Ares 15th R-2R DAC marries analog-like richness with unexpectedly assertive dynamic attack, casting an airy, precisely layered stereo image while smoothing digital glare. Tharbamar heard major gains in texture, detail and imaging, while Thomas & Stereo praised its full midrange, coherent timing and wide soundstage. A compelling digital front end for bright or lean systems.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Rich, musical R-2R presentation with stronger dynamics and attack than earlier Ares generations.
Wide, airy stage with precise stereo imaging, convincing layering and well-rendered vocal and instrumental placement.
Smooths hard edges and adds midrange body, making it an especially sympathetic match for bright or lean systems.
&
Cons
Upper-midrange clarity and the mid-bass-to-lower-treble transition could be more refined.
Not the last word in speed, transient sharpness or forensic detail compared with more analytical DACs.
Fixed-level outputs mean no preamp functionality, and the unit lacks a remote control.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers consistently describe an organic, relaxed and highly listenable presentation, with strong imaging and an unusually open sense of space for the price. The newer 15th edition is also said to bring appreciably stronger dynamics and more precise stereo placement, though ultimate detail, transient slam and upper-mid refinement remain short of the best cost-no-object converters.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
91/100
SoundStage found music emerged with exceptional ease in NOS mode, calling it natural, fluid, relaxed and invariably enjoyable. Soundnews likewise heard a lifelike, effortless character that retained micro-detail without becoming excessively smooth, while the 15th edition is described as neutral-to-rich, with fuller midrange and mid-bass weight that can help tame a bright system.
Resolution and Detail
87/100
The Ares reveals texture, layering and low-level information well, with Soundnews calling its detail retrieval especially impressive at this level and the 15th review noting better reproduction of small nuances and decays. There are clear limits: SoundStage preferred the Cambridge DacMagic 200M for outright detail retrieval, Soundnews heard more micro-detail from substantially pricier alternatives, and Tharbamar wanted a little more upper-mid clarity.
Digital Performance
89/100
Reviewers praise a quiet, clean presentation: SoundStage heard noise substantially reduced relative to a Schiit comparator, while Soundnews reported a dark, silent background and the newer model is said to improve noise control, timing and coherence. The NOS mode can expose harsh older recordings rather mercilessly, however, and the Ares is not presented as the fastest or most incisive-sounding converter available.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
90/100
Construction receives emphatic praise from the available reviews. Soundnews calls the thick-fronted, 3.5kg chassis tank-like and built to last, SoundStage says it feels exceptionally robust, and Alpha Audio found the unit well cared for with a genuine balanced output stage; the newer Ares 15th is also described as well built.
Features Connectivity
82/100
It provides USB, dual coaxial and dual optical inputs, plus balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs; the Ares 15th review additionally identifies an I2S input. USB support reaches PCM 1536 and DSD1024, and users can choose NOS operation or oversampling filters, but there is no volume control or preamp role, and reviewers note the lack of a remote.
Value for Money
89/100
At the current roughly $1,200 asking price, Tharbamar considers the sound quality price-worthy and recommends prospective buyers give it a try. Earlier Ares reviews were even more enthusiastic at their lower historical pricing, calling it a steal that could embarrass some approximately $2,000 DACs; the newer model's higher price makes that comparison less direct, but the published sentiment remains favorable.
Reviews
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- Audeos — online and in-store — Żywiec, Województwo śląskie (website)
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