HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

antonio66 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:33 am Well done Fretless, I look forward to your review and hope you like it. You'll have a nice little collection of dac's to choose from.

Thanks Antonio, this comment got me pondering a bit about myself; what is it with the obsession about DAC's, why do I have more of them than is necessary and why do they so dominate my attention?

The DAC is, for me, the 'heart' of a digital-based audio setup. It is the interface between the bitstream of zero's & one's and the pulsing soundwave that comes to your ears. The character of the DAC is what you hear from the speakers - how it deals with binary code to create music. The art is ensuring that the DAC receives the best-defined and synchronised digital information you can give it and then the output needs to get to the speakers in a way that least distorts it.

As someone who grew up with LP's and turntables, the classic 'analogue' sound is still my mental benchmark, I want my system to be as lifelike and vital as a vinyl source - but then with the ease and purity of computer tech. So my individual quest for Hifi nirvana focusses on the aspect of getting a chip-generated signal to create 'living' music .

It isn't about measurements or bit-perfect accuracy for me - I just want the music to touch my soul.



On that note, here is the order confirmation email I got from Vinshine - talk about quality control:


We would like take this opportunity to share with you some of the manufacturing processes the product went through prior shipping to you.

• Each assembled PCB will go through a first round of QAQC test includes visual check, power on to measure its parameters (THD%, SN Ratio, Frequency Response, etc).
• At this point in time, the bad PCB will be rejected, and the good PCB will proceed to assembly into the chassis, along with the power transformer, connectors.
• Burn in of 100hrs starts.
• Prior shipment, a comprehensive QAQC test with Audio Precision APX525 will be performed to ensure the measurements meet the requirements.
• On top of the measurement test, listening test of all supported sampling rate of PCM44.1-PCM1536, DSD64-DSD1024 will be performed via all input interfaces (USB/SPDIF/I2S/etc).
• Final visual check of the assembly and chassis will be done prior packing. As part of the continuous improvement, we have implemented serial number for each unit shipped.
• The package will be handed to the courier agent for shipping to the rest of the world. We ship via world-best courier services like DHL/FedEx/UPS with tracking.
• The tracking number will be provided once the order is shipped.

Our products are covered by 36 months warranty.

Fretless wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:40 am The art is ensuring that the DAC receives the best-defined and synchronised digital information you can give it and then the output needs to get to the speakers in a way that least distorts it.

This is very true and I believe it boils down to two things.
1. The removal of muck or noise fjrom the digital path.
2. The CD 44kHz 16 Bit format being insufficient. I am of the opinion that ultrasonic frequencies have a bearing on what we hear , or preceive music, within the audible bandwith. I think the lack of a 44kHz cut off has a lot to do with the popularity of vinyl forty years after CD came along.

In this video review (which just happens to be for the Denafrips Ares) Dutch hifi expert Hans Beehuyzen explains incredibly clearly how an R2R ladder convertor DAC actually works - in a way that even I can understand.

Check it out from around the 5 min mark ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05bH4m-XmfA

Thanks for this thread and all who contribute. When I eventually experiment with digital this thread and similar ones here will be my first port of call.

FWIW I am still in love with my Ares 2. I am sure there are better DACs available if you have thousands to play with but sub £1k I think it's as good as anyone could reasonably hope for.

Now that's what I want to hear!

This looked a great dac, wish I'd had the spare funds to put a bid in: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lite-DAC-83- ... 4038146159

Came upon this yesterday on pfm, and they have now released the S5, small link towards the bottom of the page, and there is a introductory price offer for those interested (Fretless ) https://www.audialonline.com/s4/
I must admit I would be very interested to hear this one, nice to buy from these smaller manufacturers/individuals who have designed something a bit special.

Audial S4, a NOS DAC built in Serbia!

Based on the venerable TDA1541 chip (regarded by some as the best-sounding digital conversion device ever) and with special attention given to serious power supplies.

Looks nice but not cheap - about the same price as a Denafrips Pontus.

Email in from Vinshine to tell that the Ares II has been shipped.