In this advanced technological world, everything is possible, even digital audio to the analog audio conversation too. The device that translates digitally encoded information from an iPod, mp3 player, laptop, or other audio devices into hearable analog audio sound is known as DAC.
In the competitive market, various brands manufacture brings various types of DAC. In this article, we are going to compare the two most popular DAC, Bifrost 2 vs Ares II.
Bifrost 2 vs Ares ii Comparison :
Bifrost 2
Bifrost MB to Bifrost 2 upgrade can bring all the features you need from a DAC. Bifrost 2 is manufactured by Schiit Audio. Like all Schitt audio components, the device is also built and designed in the USA.
Bifrost audio output is comparatively better than other DAC because of its frequency response, where you will get 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.1dB, 2Hz-100KHz, -1dB frequency response.
The DAC uses Schiit True Multibit™ as a conversion type and uses two analog services, AD5781ARUZ, as a conversion IC, which ensures the device can squeeze more low-level details from the digital audio signal.
The device has 8X oversampling ability and uses a SHARC DSP processor for digital filtering, which ensures superior audio conversation. The most interesting feature of this DAC is it is upgradeable, so you won’t need to replace the device every two years.
You can upgrade the firmware through a MicroSD card slot, USB Input Card, and externally replaceable DAC/Analog Card.
However, the device can produce a 4.0V RMS balanced and 2.0V RMS single-ended audio signal as a maximum output and create <0.003%, 20Hz-20KHz harmonic distortion at this point. Bifrost 2 has referenced 2V RMS, 114dB signal-to-noise ratio.
You will get optical SPDIF, Coaxial SPDIF, and a USB as an input option; the capability for all inputs is up to 24/192. The DAC includes RCA(single-ended) and XLR (balanced) both output options where you get 75 ohms output impedance for both outputs.
The front panel of the device includes a white LED, and in the rear panel, you will get an AC power switch, an IEC power cord socket, Coaxial SPDIF, optical SPDIF, USB inputs, and XLR & RCA output.
It has a 24V built-in transformer to power up the device, including separate power supplies for analog and digital sections with eight stages of regulation. The power consumption is only 12W. You can able to control phase invert, source selection, and mute from the included remote controller.
Ares II
Aries 2 DAC comes with R2R + DSD architecture where it it can convert digital to analog audio signals with 32 steps FIR Filters. And true balanced 24BIT R2R comes with 6BIT DSD.
The DAC has 0.004% THD+N with 20-70KHz -3dB frequency response. Moreover, you will get 115dB of S/N ratio, 119dB of dynamic range, and -124dB stereo crosstalk.
The device also uses FPGA for digital signal processing so that you can get superior audio output from the device. The DAC also has PCM1536 and DSD1024 support on the USB input, and the advanced AMR-based MCU processes the USB audio solution.
For driver support, you will get a licensed USB driver for PC, and you can go driverless on MAC and Linux operating systems. As the device has no remoter controller option, you will get all the control buttons on the front side of the device.
And on the back side of the device, you will get all an AC on/off switch, a power cord port, and all the inputs & outputs ports.
On the other hand, The DAC has DSD64-DoP support for all inputs where it can receive 24bits / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192KHz audio signals.
Additionally, you will get DSD1024 support only on USB input where the device can receive a 1536kHz audio signal. The DAC includes 2 x TOSLink, 2 x Coax, and a type B USB 2.0 as a digital audio input.
And you will get RCA at 2.0Vrms, 625 Ω, and XLR at 4.0Vrms, 1250 Ω as an analog output. Moreover, it has High Precision Hand-Matched 0.01% Resistors with low thermal effects for long-lasting usage.
The device consumes 20W of power with a low noise power supply, requiring a 100-240VAC 50/60Hz AC power connection. You will also get better fuse support with T2A/250VAC on the devices, which will protect the device from overvoltage and short circuits.
Denafrips Ares II vs Schiit Bifrost 2
From the above details of the two DAC, you may already understand that comparing these two is a bit tough. Specification-wise, they are almost neck to neck. But they have some dissimilarity like Ares 2 consumes more power than Bifrost 2, and Ares 2 don’t have any remote controller like Bifrost 2 have.
But in terms of conversation from digital to analog audio, both DAC performs well. I will suggest finding someone who owns these models and inquire practically to know which one is for you as specification-wise, both are almost the same.
Final Words
If you look into the marketplace, you can see DAC is plentiful in the market, and when you go to buy one, it may create a big confusion problem for you. So we tried to review the two most popular DAC here.
Though the comparison is a bit hard between these two, both are good enough in terms of specification and user reviews, so you can choose anyone you like from these two without any hesitation.
