Ares II vs Musical Fidelity X-DAC v3
The X-DAC v3's max sample rate is 192 kHz against the Ares II's 1536 kHz, its signal-to-noise 121 dB against 115 dB, and its thd 0.002% against 0.004%. Both share bit depth (24-bit).
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
DigitalDACsDiscontinued
Estimated price (community-sourced)
$649.50
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
About the Ares II
The Denafrips Ares II is an entry-level R2R ladder DAC from Denafrips, featuring proprietary R2R + DSD architecture with true balanced 24BIT R2R + 6BIT DSD decoding using 0.01% precision resistors and 8 meticulously matched resistor arrays (4 per channel) to minimize linearity errors. It delivers a natural analog sound signature, praised for competing with higher- Inputs include USB (PCM up to 24/1536kHz, DSD1024), 2x optical (PCM 24/192kHz, DSD64), 2x coaxial (PCM 24/192kHz, DSD64). Outputs are balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA. Recent firmware updates (e.g., July 2023) addressed dropouts and enhanced the signature organic sound with improved clarity. It remains actively supported with ongoing firmware releases and is not discontinued, though a 15th Anniversary edition exists.
Specifications
Digital Audio
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
- Bit Depth
- 24-bit
- Max Sample Rate
- 1536 kHz
- DSD Support
- DSD1024
- MQA Support
- No
- DAC Chip
- Proprietary R2R
Analog Output
Analog signal output specifications
- THD
- 0.004%
- SNR
- 115 dB
Connectivity
Input and output connections
- Bluetooth
- No
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Ethernet
- No
- Digital Inputs
- USB, Optical, Coaxial
- Analog Outputs
- Balanced XLR, Unbalanced RCA
Physical Dimensions
Size, weight, and appearance
- Dimensions
- 215 × 45 × 230 mm (W × H × D)
- Weight
- 3.5 kg (8 lbs)
- Available Colors
- Black
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions