DENAFRIPS Ares User manual
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1. INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing DENAFRIPS products! The Ares DAC is a 20Bit/384KHz discrete
resistor ladder Digital To Analog Converter, also known as R-2R DAC.
The Ares is built to reproduce digital music in this modern era. The use of advanced
hardware design, powerful digital processing technology, combined with the recording
technology, digital music playback technology experience, to achieve the perfect music
playback goals and accurate music expression.
The architecture uses the most primitive R-2R DAC technology, it is probably the most
suitable architecture to reproduce music. Despite the test results of various measurements
and parameters of the conventional R-2R DAC are usually not as good as the mainstream
integrated DAC chip, but the sound of R-2R DAC, is often filled with emotion, comfort, high
fidelity, transparency, and additive musicality that most of the common mainstream
integrated DAC chip cannot match.
To achieve a decent sounding R-2R DAC, the use of ultra-precise resistors is necessary. The
cost of high precision resistors is expensive, each resistor must be stringently measured and
matched by machine with human intervention to cross-check. These results in a very high
cost in the manufacturing process, hence, R-2R DAC is also a symbol of high-end DAC.
The Ares employs true balance R-2R DAC design. Each channel is decoded by 4 sets of R-2R
network. This design has very small linear error, high decoding speed, low digital noise, not
only to ensure that the audio signal is low distortion, but also to ensure a very low
background music noise; allow listener to enjoy the true music with dark background.
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2. DESIGN HIGHLIGHT
2.1 AMANERO USB MODULE – Upgraded since 20th Sep 2017
The Ares is equipped with the famous Amanero USB Module, with DENAFRIPS redesigned
and optimized circuitry, allow the Ares to be used as high-end DAC with computers /
streamers. It supports 24bit/384kHz PCM data stream, and DSD64, DSD128, DSD256
decoding via asynchronous USB input.
NOTE: The USB Module is designed to switch on only when USB Input is selected. This is
specially designed to reduce inputs interference for best sound reproduction.
2.2 LOW JITTER AKM AK4118 DIGITAL AUDIO RECEIVER
It is known that the jitter contributes greatly to the sound quality. The use of a low-jitter
digital audio receiver chip is indeed necessary. The AKM AK4118 is currently the lowest
clock jitter digital receiver audio chip available in the market. The Coaxial, Toslink input
support to 24bit/192kHz digital audio format.
2.3 SAMPLING
Depending on the sampling rate of the input signal, the Ares automatically converts it to the
most suitable sampling rate of the R-2R DAC for decoding. Although the R-2R DAC can
decode almost all the sampling rate of the audio signals, but in fact, the actual R-2R
architecture and circuitry design, decided the best sampling rate to sound best that it shall
decode. The use of up-sampling processing converts all digital audio input signal to the
predefined sampling rate, so to ensure all kind of audio format can be decoded with the
best sound performance.
2.4 PROPRIETARY R-2R AND DSD DECODING ARCHITECTURE
The Ares is equipped with 20Bit R-2R DAC to decode PCM data stream and 32 steps FIR
analogue filters hardware decoder to decode DSD data stream. These designs guaranteed
the PCM format can be perfectly decoded, at the same time, the DSD format can be
perfectly decoded as well. It is rare in the currently market that a R-2R DAC can hardware
decode both PCM and DSD formats.
2.5 SIMPLIFIED ANALOG FILTER
The simplest analogue filter makes the audio signal path shorter, avoided the traditional
filter phase shift, lowered the distortion, and achieved higher signal to noise ratio.
The Ares absorbed the mainstream DAC’s technology available in the market, more
importantly, adopted DENAFRIP proprietary technology to made this DAC stand on its own
feet to be the star on its own.
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3. INSTALLATION AND SETUP
The Ares is easy to use. Nonetheless, DENAFRIPS advice to read this section to fully
understand the functions and features available.
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Figure 1. Ares Front Panel
Description:
(1) Standby Button
Press the button once to switch on the DAC, vice versa, press once to switch the DAC into
standby mode.
(2) Standby LED
The Standby LED shall be on when the DAC is in Standby Mode. The LED shall be dimmed
when the DAC is in Operating Mode.
(3) Input Selection: USB
Press the button to select USB as current input source. The respective LED shall be on.
(4) Input Selection: COAXIAL 1
Press the button to select COAXIAL 1 as current input source. The respective LED shall be on.
(5) Input Selection: COAXIAL 2
Press the button to select COAXIAL 2 as current input source. The respective LED shall be on.
(6) Input Selection: OPTICAL 1
Press the button to select OPTICAL 1 as current input source. The respective LED shall be on.
(7) Input Selection: OPTICAL 2
Press the button to select OPTICAL 2 as current input source. The respective LED shall be on.
(8) Phase Button
Press the button to toggle Phase Output. Phase LED On: Negative Phase, Phase LED Off:
Positive Phase
(9) Mute Button
Press the button to enable/disable Mute. When mute, the Mute LED will be blinking 1s in
interval.
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(10) Digital Audio Signal Input Sampling Rate
The following table illustrate the Input Sampling Rate LED status:
Base Sampling Rate Multiplier Input Format
44.1 kHz
1X 44.1 kHz
2X 88.2 kHz
4X 176.5 kHz
8X 352.8 kHz
48 kHz
1X 48 kHz
2X 96 kHz
4X 192 kHz
8X 384 kHz
DSD
1X DSD 64
2X DSD 128
4X DSD 256
8X N/A
Table 1. Sampling Rate
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Figure 2. Ares Rear Panel
Description:
(11) AC Power Supply
CAUTION! Select the correct AC Power Supply voltage prior supplying the power to the
Ares. The voltage selector switch is located underneath the Ares chassis.
(12) Digital Audio Signal Input
There are 5 inputs, namely, USB, COAX 1, COAX 2, OPT1 and OPT2.
(13) Analog Audio Signal Output
Balanced output via XLR (pin2 hot), singled ended output via RCA. The Ares is a true
balanced DAC, we recommend using balanced output whenever possible.
NOTE:
The Ares chassis is connected to the power supply earth.
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4. SPECIFICATION
Description Parameters
AC Power 115/230V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption < 30W
Frequency Response 0-70K Hz(-3dB)
THD+N ≤0.004%(1KHz A-weighted)
Output (RCA) 2.2(+/-10%) V RMS(1KHz)
Output (XLR) 4.4(+/-10%) V RMS(1KHz)
Supported Format (DSD) 2.8224MHz(DSD1X) All Input
5.6448MHz(DSD2X), 11.288MHz(DSD4X) USB Only
Supported Format (PCM) 24bit/44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8(USB), 384(USB) kHz
S/N Ratio 115dB(RCA), 114dB(XLR)
Dynamic Range >119dB(RCA), >120dB(XLR)
Stereo Crosstalk ≤-124dB(RCA), ≤130dB(XLR)
Dimension 215 *230 *45 mm
Weight 3.5kg
5. WARRANTY & SUPPORTS
DENAFRIPS Ares comes with 36 months of warranty from the date of purchase / delivery
(whichever later). Customers shall bear the two-way shipping cost for RMA. In event of
tampering found on the unit, the warranty shall be voided.
Visit our website at www.denafrips.com for more updates
Enjoy The Music!
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