DENAFRIPS ARES 15TH R-2R DAC
The ARES 15th represents the culmination of cutting-edge audio engineering and meticulous craftsmanship, achieving a standard of sonic performance that far exceeds expectations. From deep, authoritative bass to smooth, expressive mids and crystalline highs, every nuance is faithfully rendered, offering an immersive and unforgettable listening experience.
The ARES 15th now features a finely anodised aluminium chassis, available in both silver and black finishes. This long-awaited option caters to those seeking a compact DAC that combines refined aesthetics with exceptional build quality — further enhancing the already renowned construction of the Ares series.
Despite its compact footprint of just 2.4 to 2.5 litres, the ARES 15th provides a complete range of connectivity options, including USB, optical, and coaxial inputs and outputs. Whatever your setup or system requirements, the ARES 15th integrates seamlessly, adapting effortlessly to a wide range of audio configurations.
Low Phase Noise Oscillator
The ARES 15th adopts a low-phase-noise oscillator, ensuring exceptional signal stability and an ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio. This innovation significantly enhances clarity and micro-detail while effectively reducing noise and distortion across the signal chain, laying the foundation for an exceptionally clean and accurate soundstage.
Enhanced Linear Power Supply
The upgraded Linear Power Supply features a new capacitor bank branded with DENAFRIPS, custom-manufactured to the company’s own strict audio specifications. A large heatsink is securely mounted over the constant-current LDO Linear Regulators, providing thermal stability and sustained performance.
To power the FPGA, modular USB interface, and balanced R-2R Ladder Networks, the ARES 15th employs eight multi-stage LDO Linear Regulators, ensuring rock-solid voltage control and ultra-low noise delivery to each subsystem.
Hand-Wound O-Core Transformer
At the heart of the power section lies an oversized O-Core transformer, hand-wound in-house by DENAFRIPS artisans. Multiple layers of copper shielding are meticulously interwoven between the windings, dramatically reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and stray electromagnetic fields (EMF). This precision engineering translates directly into cleaner power delivery and greater musical transparency.
DENAFRIPS ARES 15TH R-2R DAC
Section
Details
Design
True NOS R-2R DAC • Enhanced PSU • Anodised Aluminium Chassis (Silver / Black) • 12th Anniversary Edition
Core Architecture
Proprietary R2R + DSD • True Balanced 24-bit R2R + 6-bit DSD (32-step FIR) • FPGA Digital Signal Processing • FIFO Buffer
Components
0.01% Hand-Matched Resistors • Low-Noise Power Supply • LPNO Crystals (45.1548 / 49.152 MHz) • STM32F446 AMR-based MCU
Connectivity
Coax ×1 • Optical ×1 • I²S ×1 • USB 2.0 Type-B • Licensed Thesycon Driver (Win) • Driverless (Mac / Linux)
PCM Support
24-bit / 44.1–192 kHz (All Inputs) • Up to 1536 kHz (USB) • OS / NOS Modes
DSD Support
DSD64 (DoP All Inputs) • Up to DSD1024 (USB Only)
Analogue Output
RCA 2.0 Vrms / 625 Ω • XLR 4.0 Vrms / 1250 Ω
Performance
FR 20–70 kHz (-3 dB) • THD+N 0.002 % • S/N 115 dB • Dynamic Range >119 dB • Crosstalk -124 dB
Power
100–240 VAC 50/60 Hz (Manual Selector) • Fuse T2A/250 VAC (5×20 mm Slow Blow) • ≤20 W
Dimensions
215 W × 221 D × 44 H mm (+18 mm feet) • Package 375×330×115 mm • 3.5 kg
Package
DAC + Power Cord
Colours
Black / Silver