Don't buy this if you like looking at measurement graphs more than you like engagement with your music. Don't buy this if your stereo set up is not properly set up for imaging and sounstage. Don't buy this if you like digitally presented/articulated with no sense of realism. Definitely don't buy this if you don't have a half decent source or you love your compressed music of mp3s. everyone else, read on..

This is a biased take, read it with that in mind. Been using the mimbyv2 for over last 10 months, wanting to sample r2r magic. Loved the mimby for what it does, coming from both AKM and DS dac before it. Bifrost2 was my first choice given the shining recommendations its got everywhere. About 2 months went by and i had to really think hard on the choice between the 2, keeping my listening choices in mind. Finally pulled the trigger on the Ares2 a week back to try a non-schiit house sounding R2R dac.

100 plus hours of break in..dac went through its motions, and it gets better everyday.. So far in, I'm floored, sold, hook line and sinker..!!

What an r2r gem, mind blowingly fantastic dac!! In a properly set up 2 channel stereo system, this dac completely transforms your listening experience. That surreal sense of holography in music is presented so beautifully and accurately, much like a vinyl rig. If you want to 'connect' with the music at a deeper level beyond just your ears, this is the one for it. If you like tube sound but don't want the struggles around it, this is a must have. Don't want to burn up money on vinyls or don't have the surgical passion/OCD for owning and maintaining a vinyl rig and want to use digital media, get this.

Its ability to project an open wide stage, superb imaging and seperation, deep tight bass, light airy treble and absolutely euphonic midrange really makes this absolutely worth the price. One of the best features is its ability to throw a deep sounstage with good space around instruments. It may sound clichéd, but i hear details i dint hear before especially the quiter parts of a song. Everything in the song has its distinct place and it doesn't sound like it's a playback of a song. You hear it all around you like it's real, in the room with subtle aspects presented in the right measure. There is ample layering, no sound overlapping another, and with all the details intact, i. e. highly resolving. It really opens up an endless space both deep and wide, which makes complex tracks with multiple instrumental arrangements a joy to listen to. Tracks like Four seasons recomposed (NDR philharmonic), Jazz variants (Ozone Percussion Group) are delivered with sublime presence, resolution and soundscape. You hear each instrument on the stage in its place and never ever does it take over the others. Its all there and its all positioned holographically in the space in front of you and around. Complex soundtracks are so well presented with a sense of granduer. Speed and attack are bang on, with just the right measure of snap, especially if paired with fast planar hp or forward sounding speakers. Another trick ups its sleeve is reverb, brings out sense of space, makes live recordings very real. The imaging is brilliant in terms of size, scale and positioning accuracy. Timbre, tonality is spot on which makes jazz, vocals, violins, acoustic an absolute pleasure with the HD650/6XX pairing. The SS is 'euphonic' and natural, just the way music should sound.

Compared with multibit dacs, this has accurate bass but has lesser thump bass. Bass drums dont have that chesty impact that one gets from multibit dac, though that difference is subtle. While that may sound like a small sacrifice, Ares II is definitely better at everything else. If you are a bass head who values thump over accuracy/speed, get the Multibit R2R.

If you are chasing intimate natural sound, accurate timber, tonality, exceptional presence and reverb, fantastic resolution and treble (without sounding metallic/crispy/sharp like DS dacs), this dac can as well be your end game for a long time to come.

Yes this is very close to analog/vinyl sound. Now who doesn't want a vinyl library of +65 million songs (using Tidal)? Do you enjoy hours and hours of musical engagement thats not a hyper detailed, in your face, wall of sound? Does music move you within? If yes, you won't regret getting the Ares2.

This is a keeper and im going to be very satisfied for a very very long time. Just ensure you set up your rig to really extract what this dac has to offer and you will be delighted every time you press that play button!!

Good job team Headphonezone for making this available in India at a very fair price. Superb buying experience end to end!! Kudos. Looking forward to more purchases in the future and trading up gear on the PLGS audiophile forum curated by Raghav!

Sound Quality – Brings home - The ‘Vinyl’ effect – Very Natural, Organic and Neutral
After 3 weeks of 24x7 - non stop burn in – the anaconda has opened its jaws up. What it displays is mamooth tonal power, outstanding balance and mindblowing resolution with dynamics. It’s been a massive step up for me into a R2R DAC after living with several chip based Delta Sigma DACs in the last couple of years. As part of this review – I will try to share my experience on what audible differences I could hear tell and the step up change R2R DAC got me hooked in. The 3 pillars of music I strongly believe are Dynamics, Articulation and tempo. If any of these are compromised – you will throw your gear in no time 😊. The notable impact for me has been in terms of how accurate the sound characteristics are reproduced from a sheer presentation point of view. Ares 2 does a stellar job on this front . Very engaging and lively. The weight of piano tones is so striking that you could immediately tell the balance in scale and changeovers. The hollowness of lower registry notes coming from a clarionet pushing the air was truly exceptional. The ‘Stop and Start’ of dime principle on Transient response was scintillating especially on complexly layered arrangement of certain tracks.
Overall enormisity of staging blows me away every time when I hear a very complex orchestral arrangement. Never in any DAC – I have experienced this level of resolution and dimensional sound.
No treble harshness whatsoever. Silky smooth. Typically – the high octave notes can always be jarry enough to your ears and too piercing if not articulated properly - but ares 2 handles the upper upper registry notes at ease. It has the ability to bring out the ‘wolf’ tones in between tracks mercilessly.
The overall marked elevation of the the analog richness that Ares II brings to the table is very profound. Being a huge fan of classical/orchestral music – this DAC ticks every box – and makes it a all-in-one DAC for a musical rhapsody.
The general proven belief is – human ear picks the higher overtones far better than the lower ends. Hence its so important for the arrangers to get this balance right and they are very careful in ensuring the mix gets mastered and recorded with this equilibrium. They switch high pass filters to eliminate any un-necessary low end rumbles, Low pass filter switch to remove hiss and other extra noise. When I tried some of the old CD recordings – the DAC was so forgiving bringing the best out of some of legendary tracks – something that I was missing in the rest.
Bringing out the overall tone colour of the sound is where R2R DACs succeed especially the overtone strengths of sound. The distinction gives you that “WOW’ fee

It is every bit of your money...