Man, you have golden ears and if you lived near me, I would have just send you everything I have so you can help me review it. Thanks for the shout out!
Haha, thanks for the kind words! Maybe when the borders open back up we can meet in the middle for a video over Niagara Falls. 😂 Great to see you here buddy, big fan
You guys both do a terrific job ! I currently own a Schiit Modi Multibit, SMSL M300MKII, Teac UD-505, Gustard A18 and I received this week the Singxer SDA-6 with the upgrade option (Crystek 957 oscillators and German Mundorf film capacitors in the output). I will look to test those out on my main system shortly. So far I only did brief testing on a Violectric V200 amp with Beyerdynamic T1.1, the Singxer is the most musical among the bunch, combining an organic signature that is not usual for an AKM chip while retaining precision. My second favorite is the Gustard A18, very neutral and detailed. I believe you guys would be VERY impressed with the Singxer especially with strings and vocals.
My vote for ADI-2. Parametric equalizer is huge overlooked advantage. Preamp feature with easy access to volume, treble and bass knobs again huge feature. Headphone and IEM are great. Don’t overlook the features for $1200 this is a great deal
@@eddywaller1864 that's what I thought when I bought it ,along with my valve amp , I thought if I don't like my sound it would be my fault. Though partly because I love the sound and partly because I haven't dared touch it, I have not yet changed anything ( though I have used the EQ on my WiiM pro.)
Adi-2 is just superb device. I was using Bayerdynamic T1 headphones which were "extremely sensitive to source quality". I understood what that mean. At first those sounded bit too precise, too perfect let's say. Then I played with "crossfeed" setting on dac. Wow, after getting used to new sound characteristics I realized my headphones sound became so natural. Just an amazing dac! I sold Bayerdynamic but dac stayed. Now it acts as dac+preamp in my audio setup. I'm so happy with this purchase.
Great video, finally a sound quality showdown between some of the most popular DACs. None of the 'best we've heard', 'great for the money' or other BS caveats so many reviewers use to insulate themselves from having to share their real opinion on DACs.
Great comparisons. I just got the RME (ESS version) and totally love it. I already had an older Burson Conductor and I have a really hard time hearing a difference between them while using LCD-X, HD650, or TH900, even though the amp section of the Burson is much more powerful. I was worried it would be too cold or analytical sounding. But it's just a clean "natural" sound, true to the source as a DAC should be. The functionality of the RME is what I got it for. I love using parametric EQs just for minor adjustments and it's just great to be able to do it directly in the DAC instead of relying on Windows software (as good as PeaceEQ and Roon is). The ability to sit back in a couch and boost or decrease bass/ treble from the remote when that poorly mastered track comes on is a sweet bonus. Enough rambling, it's a great DAC/ Amp packed with well thought out features.
Great review. Happy RME ADI 2 FS owner here. ;) Comparison videos like this are very helpful for everyday users. Thankyou. I personally partner my RME ADI2 with a Firstwatt F7.. Sounds amazing IMO. I listen to a very broad range of music, IMO the RME is a good middle ground DAC that sounds excellent on most things,. The PEQ provides good options, and does sound better than Roon's EQ.
Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so! I thought I'd be getting more flack from people saying software EQ should be the same or better since it's closer to the source. Though if you check Roon's Signal Path when using it's PEQ you'll see some bit depth conversion going on. RME just may do these type of conversion handlings better with dedicated hardware.
I've got a Qutest and my amp has an internal 4490 chip based DAC. I prefer the Qutest because the bass notes don't start and stop on a hair pin like the amp, even though I love electronic genres like DnB - it's just easier to listen to the qutest for a prolonged period and doesn't have that 'edginess' you feel from other DACs Great review video, +1 sub!
Totally agree. I'll be honest with you though, sometimes I miss that edginess for certain tracks. Maybe it's just bad habits due to years of being conditioned listening to cheaper DACs. Like missing Pop Tarts every so often even though you live next to a French bakery. =) In the end the Qutest is the better overall experience and I really enjoy it!
The other big advantage of the Denafrips that many seem to overlook is that it has 2x Optical and 2x Coaxial inputs as well as the USB. I use all of those easily. Other DACS usually only have one of each.
Amazing review and comparison mix, thank you for that passion and clarity. If possible please surprise all of us with a bit lower level DACS like ir: SMSL m400, vs SU-9 vs Topping d70s, whatever you want to add. Greeting from México.
Wow, so you’re the one selling a bunch of dacs on headfi yesterday lol. I was wondering who da fuk would buy these many dacs. Anyway, good to see you back with maybe the best dacs review on RU-vid. Seeing other reviewers even separate a review to a unit to two videos with an extra pointless open box video to get more views, you are just role models here. Love it.
This is such an incredibly useful video. I was looking at buying a used Ares 2, and this solidified my decision to purchase it. Really well done, seriously. Thank you.
Great mega comparison. I was recently comparing the Ares II, D90 and Bifrost 2 for myself. I ended up with the Bifrost 2 in large part due to the 5 year warranty and the fact that both firmware and some hardware parts of the DAC can be upgraded down the line.
Thank you for doing this comprehensive review. I ask folks to do a blind test to see if you really would choose the DAC's you believe are so great. You may be surprised in your choices.
Your findings largely match my own in regards to DS vs R2R/Multibit dacs. My preferences lead me away from the DS dacs as I consider them, relatively flat and overly clinical in comparison. I'm a proud owner of the Bifrost 2 as I found it to be the sweet spot of details with that fullness and depth in the sound. Preferences aside, it's nice to hear others coming to similar conclusions for the subjective findings assuring one that they are not falling into audio-induced insanity. Thank you for the review.
I don't know anything about sound, but your command of language and descriptions was very appealing. Now I want to know more about DAC conversion. I'm amazed at how long I have settled for bad sound.
Man, you’ve done your homework here. I’m looking to buy the Ares II and who would have thought that a large comparison video would give you enough usable info? However, you’ve really been helpful here and it’s clear that you know what to listen for. When you have other respected reviewers and fellow audiophiles complementing you on your content then you’re doing some good work 👍🏻
Really great review and comparison. I had the Qutest on home dem about a year ago. I agree that it has a massive soundstage and in my case I thought also amazing detail (I'm finding it hard to imagine the D90 and RME have more detail, but I haven't heard them!). However, I wouldn't describe the sound as soft or rounded at all, if anything I found it a bit forward and hard in the higher frequencies - for example Bono from U2's voice sounded too nasal and a bit synthetic. It was extremely fast and dynamic sounding but that slightly synthetic timbre and wide soundstage started to grate after a while with some instruments seeming to loose focus and solidity and almost disappear in the mix. In the end I decided to keep my much older Chord DAC64 which provided it is fed from a high quality source and NOT run in buffer mode (i.e. a source with a better clock than the DAC64's internal clock) , I found gave 90% of the detail and soundstage of the Qutest but with a more natural timbre and solid if somewhat smaller soundstage.
I’ve done the same by getting the first Hugo tt instead of the qutest. I think the qutest has a ton of processing power but doesn’t balance it out with a worthy power source supply and the guys who suggest upgrading the wall wart are still bottlenecked by the usb dc input
@18yearsoldnot Me too. I couldn't live with never knowing when the next track was going to sound a bit harsh. I moved it on and am now happily living with a Schiit MMB2.
Wow, fantastic thorough reviews! Your presentation and delivery is engaging with perfect pacing. I own the Denafrips Ares 2 and just compared to Qutest and pretty much agree with all your findings. Keep up the great work and looking forward to more videos. Thanks so much!
I am LOVING my Gungnir multibit! It's WAY more versatile than I thought when I first bought it. I started out hooking it to my main system, an older Marantz SR7007 AVR, running in stereo ("Pure Direct") only, bi-amping a pair of Martin Logan Theos speakers. I shortly thereafter upgraded from a Chromecast to a proper streamer...the Bluesound Node 2i, so I could get high-res digital audio to the DAC. Then I realized that I had a wireless audio transmitter and receiver in my box of cables, the Atlantic Technology WA-50, being unused. I took those out and hooked it to the second RCA output from the Gungnir, and hooked the receiver into my bedroom system (Parasound 2100 pre-amp, Proton D-1200 amp, Atlantic Technology AT-1 speakers). I know the WA-50 probably does horrific things to the sound quality here, but it's primary purpose is to link the Node 2i to the bedroom system for internet radio while I sleep...I have a Parasound ZDAC (v1) in there as well, if I need better sound quality...also a Sony turntable. Later, I decided to pick up a headphone amp and connect my PC audio as well. I currently just have a set of Bose QC35 II headphones...not the best, but they are OK for now, I will upgrade soon. I picked up the Schiit Magnius headphone amp (which is, honestly, a STEAL at $200!) and then hooked the unused XLR outputs from the Gumby to the amp. So yeah...now I have a single DAC running 3 audio systems! And they all sound pretty great! In the future, I will probably switch things around a bit. I want to get a good balanced pre-amp (looking at the Schiit Freya+), then I can run balanced cables all the way back to the bedroom through my crawlspace...and use the RCA for the main system and the headphone amp. The only thing I really wish for on the Gungnir, which the lower cost Bifrost 2 has, is a remote. Fortunately, I have a small house, but if I want to change inputs, I have to get up and go press the button on the face of the unit...a little less than ideal. Still, I am THRILLED with the performance of this DAC, and I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone considering a DAC in this price range! HOWEVER, Schiit just did something amazing. They recently improved the analog audio stage of their higher end "Yggdrasil" DACs, and offered their customers an upgrade. They ended up with a pile of the "old" Analog 1 boards from those upgrades, and didn't know what to do with them. They decided to put these old boards into new units and sell them at a pretty steep discount! So, right now you can get the Gungnir multibit for $1250, or for $1599 you can get the Yggdrasil with one of these old boards (with an option to upgrade later to the new one), or you can buy the "new" Yggy with the v2 analog stage for $2449. It's nice having options!
Thanks so much for the detailed comment! Amazing price on a Yggy!! I actually have a Chromecast streamer for my 2-chan setup and was looking at the Blue Node 2i. Did you hear any difference on basic 16/44 music from Tidal? And yes I absolutely love the Gumby and am sad I sold it. :( There's a used one going for a good price right now but my wife will kill me if I start buying up more DACs again. Do you notice a difference on the Gungnir when using the RCA vs XLR outputs? I heard some chatter that there may be a difference in SQ.
Outstanding video!! I almost pulled the trigger on the Ares II when I was looking for a DAC, several weeks ago. Ended up buying the D90 MQA because it was about $300 less expensive and I could get it in just a few days. I'm very pleased with its performance and expect it to provide years of listening enjoyment. If I decide to try an R2R DAC, the Ares II will be my first choice.
This is a great review; I would say it's also rare to find one that covers so much ground so well. You have a way of describing differences and sound characteristics that is very nuanced and gives the viewer a detailed and rather thorough idea of what to expect. I purchased the Schiit Bifrost 2 and am very happy with the overall sound, its great reproduction of the timbre of different instruments, the sound stage, as well as the smoothness and level of detail. I also like the fact that it is upgradeable in certain ways. Thanks again for the great service you provide for those of us who don't have the chance to listen to a variety of audio equipment.
Nice video! Can‘t wait for part 2. I allready own an arya hp with a rme adi-2 dac, but I want to expand my collection with a meze empyrean, a ttube amp and a fitting dac. I will wait for part II before I decide what dac and amp I will get...
I just bought a little bear MC3 switcher. I want to use the same amp and fronts in for both theater and 2 CH. I bought the RME for my DAC/ preamp for the stereo side. It showed up two days ago, the wife snatched it up, wrapped it and said I couldn't have it till X-mas. After hours of research, reviews, comparisons, figuring out the financials, finding the best deal, waiting for delivery, CRUSH! I have to wait. Have a great holiday.
absolutely AWESOME review...This guy is an audio savant and fantastic video editor. I've found myself in the DAC rabbit hole watching countless reviews of just about every DAC worth considering. This is by FAR the best and most well thought-out and laid-out. Thank you!
Could have used more info on the D90 and Qutest filters. I've heard that the D90 filters are less perceivable than those available on Qutest. An awesome review that manages to include all the DACs on my shortlist - big thanks for that!
Oh I definitely A/B'ed the hell out of the filters on all the delta sigma models. I should've mentioned it, your right, but I didn't bring it up because there wasn't a huge difference. I mentioned it during the ARES portion but I generally prefer slow filters on delta sigma DACs, and this is true for the D90 as well. The difference in sound toggling through the filters is roughly the same on D90 as it is on the Qutest. There is a change in sound but it's very slight. For personal, non review listening, I keep the Qutest on the green filter and the D90 on either slow or SD slow (couldn't decide which I liked better).
30:37 re: “Pizza Guy” by Touch Sensitive - wow what an amazing track for separating the Chord vs RME. How did you come across it? My Mojo smokes my RME ADI-2 FS Pro with this track. The RME sounds harsh and muddled, whereas the Mojo plays it smoothly and deals with the complexity like a walk in the park with a smooth and clear midrange (which the RME isn’t able to render nearly as well). It’s so night-and-day that I can’t bear to listen to it on my RME - it’s the first time my Chord smoked my RME - thx for helping me with that. I agree with Thomas & Stereo...you have golden ears!
This is probably the nicest comment I've ever received, thank you 😁🙌 I love that song. I found it by listening to playlists of people much cooler than me!
@@StefanUrkel correct, the RME seems to be the much better DAC in terms of detail and resolution, thus it’s my preferred DAC for my main system. However, I’ve recently bought a much better system and will do some A/B tests to confirm this is still the case, because some people say that detail & resolution can be faked/overdone. My new system should be good enough to better tell these DAC’s apart....if the Mojo can smoke it on “Pizza Guy” then who knows what my tests will reveal.
@@StefanUrkel so I’ve just finished my A/B testing on my new system, discussed in my previous reply. Pretty incredible - the Mojo is more natural sounding than the RME. The RME, I think, is more digital and the way it achieves its famed resolution, detail and clarity is artificial because as a side-effect it produces glare. I discovered this in a few tracks: 1) “The Pink Panther”, Manchini on ‘Audiophile Speaker Setup’ from the label 2xHD. Files were in DSD256. From 2:22 to 2:57 (where someone shouts ‘Yeah’ around 2:42). RME: the trumpet solo is forward with a glaring tone which distorts the relationship between the tone of the trumpet and tone of the room ambience. This makes the musician seem closer to the mic. Chord: trumpet solo sounds natural and fits well with the ambience of the room as they sound natural...i.e. they don’t sound out of balance. The result is better depth perception (as though the musician is a bit further from the mic). 2) “Route 66”, Doreen Smith, from the same album as (1). The RME renders her voice with more precision which gives the effect of a midrange with fantastic clarity. However, the Mojo renders her voice with less clarity and less well defined edges but it sounds more natural. 3) “Sambebe” by Dom um Romao from Saudades, CD ripped to lossless FLAC. The recording of the opening trumpet solo captures the sound of the room perfectly. With the Mojo it sounds natural but on the RME it’s over emphasised, which makes it more amazing to listen to but it’s unnatural. 4) “Pizza Guy” same conclusions as my original comment. I now understand why people think the RME is so good, but I’m after a more natural sound, so I’m putting swapping out the RME and putting in my Mojo. Here’s my main system” - Vandersteen Model 1Ci speakers - YBA Heritage A100 amp - YBA Passion 600 CD player. - Isol-8 Minisub Axis power conditioner.
Hello, do you think buying decent DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17…) is better than buying these DAC? (In Terms of soundqualilty)? Also, what is the best DAc you can recommend? Hugo 2? Thank you
@@kaankucuk1612 heya! I have both the M17 and a d90/a90 stack. For my IEMs (u12t by audio64) I love both equally but for my Hifiman Arya I prefer the a90/d90 stack - it opens up the headphones a bit more. But the differences are minor. A Hugo 2 is great but again it all depends on your personal preferences, try out some dacs if you can!
@@kaankucuk1612 For me the U12T is a better option since the MKII is less of a neutral/reference IEM, it does make music sound more 'fun' and adds a touch of warmth and low-end, and I know people that REALLY want that in their music, but I don't. I primarily listen to classical music, so a more neutral approach has my preference :)
Excellent video review! You earned a new subscriber today. I sold my Benchmark DAC 3L and PS Audio Gain Cell DAC and purchased a Holo Audio Spring 2 KTE DAC. Very nice and I would like to see another shootout with the Holo Audio DACs in the mix. Thanks
Thnx for the video.. GREAT REVIEW! I just acquired Denafrips Pontus 2 & still burning it in & getting a sense of the DAC ( I had some issues with it , but as of now Alvin has sent me a board that has seemed to fix the issue) it sounds very good.. clean, clear & very powerful sound.. great sound stage. It takes quite a while to warm up & sound it's best... In Hindsight I would have spent a little more & got one of the newer versions of the yggdrasil.
Great review. I am happy with my Mojo for now - really I cant afford the Qutest even though I’d love to. But I understand why people love Chord DACs, they have a very well rounded and analog sound.. just really pleasing to hear. And they happen to be extremely capable as well.
Hello, do you think buying decent DAP (Sp2000, FiooM17…) is better than buying these DAC? (In Terms of soundqualilty)? Also, what is the best DAc you can recommend? Hugo 2? Thank you
You have no idea what an amazing job you did by making this video and also making it extremely detailed and organized. Thanks a lot man! What do you think of the ares II soundstage. Is it bigger than the bifrost 2 multibit.? Thank you
Thanks so much. It literally took me months to get this done but I wanted it to be as helpful and concise, while getting in proper testing time as well. Glad it was helpful. ARES II soundstage is bigger than the BF2. Both are nice but after years owning only delta sigma DACs I wanted a complete 180 and really liked the sound of discrete R2R. I'd still be completely happy with the BF2 if I only had 1 DAC
@@MidFiGuy yes...your hard work is very evident. Appreciate it man. One of the best audio gear comparison I have seen. Very tightly scripted with lots of info but without any drag. Great Job man! Thanks a lot for your thoughts on my question.
I agree with your comments about the Bifrost 2 sounding a little sharp (during the comparison with the Gungnir). I don't have a Gumby to compare with, but switching between the RCA and XLR outputs on the Bifrost, the XLR outputs sound noticeably sharper. It actually sounds a little unnatural. RCA sounds more natural, especially in the bass, but unfortunately RCA (going into my Topping A90) sounds less detailed with fuzzier image separation than with XLR out.
@@johnm3544 I've never thought of the BF2 as sibilant, but I guess I can't say for sure since I don't have any other dacs to directly compare it with at the moment. For me, anything that sounds sibilant through the BF2 also sounds sibilant through my speakers (Vanatoo T0), so I can't say the BF2 is making anything more sibilant.
Sorry, my comment was inadvertly sent off before I finished it. My question is which of the two has more power since many of my headphones are planars and require more power. Would both be OK?
In regard to your comment. Can I suggest, adding a linear psu to Quetest may change the sound signature. Can suit some systems and personal preference.
@Anton Dutch bit more straight to the point, then me. As I said, may change the sound signature. I didn't say for the better. Fairly sure with all the effort Chord put in they have not over looked the power supply. And yes, John Frank's has a power supply background in aviation, from what I remember. Pretty sure those smps are not made by Chord tho. But surely to there spec.
Planning to get a pair of HD800S or something else in that price range, I really enjoy EDM, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, etc. but especially the more ambient tracks. So I think the Sennheiser cans would be great for that, minus the issues with bass. I also want to get a nice DAC/Amp for them, so this video was perfect for me, I found it because I’m considering the RME ADI-2. At the moment, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 660S and I power them with either a Mojo 2, xDSD, or a Schitt Modi Multibit, Vali 2, and Loki EQ stack I got back in 2018-19 I think. I feel like the Schitt stack blows the others out of the water when it comes to sound quality, though I haven’t done a ton of testing, so it could just be that they’re making the HD660S louder. I really want a setup I can be happy with for a long time, as I don’t have much money and I’m terminally ill and likely don’t have much time left, maybe 5-10 years, though I think making it 10 years will require LOTS of luck and work on my part. If anyone has any recommendations, I’d be happy to hear them, especially if you have experience with the setup I’m considering.
Thanks midfiguy for a great review of these increadible DACs-Thomas you should be worried -this guy is good! I bought a D90 and I feed it with a micro iUSB3.0 power supply and run it through a valve pre amp and I feel this greatly increases the size of the sound stage and gives it the smoother more organic sound of the R2R DACs you talk about-could be the perfect DAC properly tweaked? Look forward to more great reviews!
To go with any DAC, even the expensive ones you presented, I recommend the excellent RCA coaxial cable from Fos Power, 75 Ohm, bought on Amazon, which costs only 7 euros! (I use it on the Topping E30) It sounds natural, is well balanced. It has plenty of bass and slam, its treble is not fatiguing. It is better than the Mogami 2964 which is worth 5 times more.
Never thought a 30min review could leave a feel for more...!!! keep it up..!!! BTW which do u felt like more liking between bifrost & RME because I am looking for a similar signature of balance between fullness, organic lush & detail presence...!!! (Especially for 800S)...Thanks...
Thank you! Bifrost will feel fuller and give you those details. I still say RME is better for electronic music though. Also keep your eyes peeled for a used Gumby which will cost less than the RME
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