Denafrips Terminator-Plus R-2R ladder DAC
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- Опубликовано: 10 дек 2020
- This is the fourth Denafrips DAC I have reviewed over a short period. The reason for that is simple: each and very model offered more that excellent price/performance. Not surprising that I was very curious about the performance of their flagship model, the Terminator-Plus. Price approx € 6500 including VAT.
Manufacturer:
www.denafrips.com
Review sample lent by:
www.vinshineaudio.com
Relevant videos:
Configuration videos: www.denafrips.com/config-tplus
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Hans is the most technical, eloquent and engaging of the audio youtubers. Absolutely consistent and excellent analysis found throughout his videos. No one else comes close. Thank you Hans!
Agreed 100%.
yep, subscribed
Is also one guy from Poland:)
"ReduktorSzumu"
Genius also...
Your passion for audio is extremely obvious and thus infectious!
So well put👍
What I like is that passion meets knowledge and experience matched with a skilled straight forward presentation.
Every bit of new detail in sound is a new emotion in life, for an Audiophile. Thanks again for bringing this enthusiasm to us deliberately .
I recently stumbled across your no-nonsense videos and find them to be among the very best audio commentary I’ve watched and/or read. In fact, a confirmed analogue aficionado, this video influenced me to order a Terminator in the hopes that it will permit me to enjoy serious listening of Classical Music on CDs and through streaming. Many thanks.
Enjoy the music
Thank you so much for all your effort to be consistent and concise.., really get that you do everything that might be required to give as accurate information and thoughtful review as possible🙏
I appreciate that!
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel
You’re welcome..., I/ imagine we feel really valued / respected as Audiophiles... treated as equals..👍 (in my case a want to be) 😂👍🙏
Thanks Hans, have been reviewing all your Denafrips product line videos and based on my opinion, reviews, research and already owning an Ares II, at least to me, and offers immediate improvement and great value for money, I am leaning towards the Pontus II. Very excited indeed, cheers!
Glad to help
Thank you so much Hans. Very educational as always.
A very thorough and well explained review. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Hans has the perfect wife for an audiophile. She doesn’t care about the stuff you’ve bought (ergo no “what’s that big silver box you just got?”), she just cares passionately about the music.
Another great review. Honestly I think you could talk about house plants and I would still find it very entertaining. Of course it doesn’t hurt that your reviews are also informative.
Well, plants are not food... Or audio, of course.
We love ya, Hans! The information, analysis, insight and consistent excellence of your reviews provide is unsurpassed. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, will do!
Thank you for a very thorough and excellent review!
My pleasure!
It would really be nice if you put a score or a ranking system for the ares, pontus, venus and terminator so wed know how big of a jump in sound quality we could expect from going up the ladder.
going up the ladder haha i see what you did there
What a beast! And the Denafrips looks pretty impressive too! Seriously, what a lovely piece of kit. Too good for the rest of my 'setup 1' but nice to know how good things can be. I heard your voice quiver with emotion when you described your experiences.
Are you mistaking me with the personal transport of POTUS?😁
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel That would be better than mistaking your for the POTUS himself!
@@iansharp1171 😁
very eloquently described performance of the terminator. your comments on transparency being addictive are quite correct, be it on a DAC a preamp, etc. Nice review and technical presentation.
Thank you very much!
OMG Hans, that seems like a impressive component. DENAFRIPS seems to know what they are doing. I love this Asian companies that can blow away the competition a keep the prices competitive, not a cheap DAC, but compare to something like a DCS it seems like pocket money. I would love to know how the DAC preforms connected to a CD or SACD player. Best whishes from Colombia
Thank you Hans. You should maybe revisit some DACs in this category. What about the Hugo TT2 for example? a bit cheaper but very different technologies applied. It would be intesreting to compare these two now that you have the Ayre AX5.
Thanks, Hans!
6:53 a peculiar looking heatsink which is thermal epoxied atop SMD voltage regulators.
Well, it works 😁
If Hans's wife says now it really sounds good, then there's just no contest here, we're talking about the very best. :) I've really enjoyed the dissection of the parts to understand how far it goes to reach this level of performance.
She never did say it really sounds good. She couldn't care less😁. Shejust heard more detail and loved that. Thanks for the compliment.
Love it when you mention Within Temptation.
Nice review! Next insert the Gaia DDC to engage the clock out feature of the Terminator Plus. The already incredible transparency with the Terminator Plus (a level of transparency that you think cannot possibly be improved) jumps to an even higher level.
@@Burevestnik9M730 If the user did not engage the clock out feature of the Terminator Plus, I would agree. However, if you engage the clock out feature, it is no contest. The performance improvement with clock out feature engaged is significant.
Have you ever heard the Auralic Aries G2 I used as a source for the Terminator Plus? ...... I will review the Gaia in due time - avoiding to become a Denafrips channel - but I can assure you that the Aries G2 will make it a difficult task for the Gaia to sound better.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I have not tried the Aries. My sources are Sonore UltraRendu and Melco N1A/2. The Gaia will still improve your system even with the Aries is my guess, but let's find out, the conversion to I2S is the way to go anyway. Also, the "clock out" feature of the Terminator Plus has nothing to do with the upstream sources. Engaging clock out will improve the performance regardless of your source, but, you will find that out soon enough.
I would imagine venus is enough of a jump... thanks for completing the series Hans!
According to their website, the Venus is their best selling DAC.
@@khalid969 Yeah im thinking of the Venus too. The Terminator+ is way out of my budget....
Hi Hans, thanks for an excellent review! Request: If possible, please review the Resolution Audio Cantata 3.0 DAC. Thank you, Jean
I will check it out
Well done Hans, Your king of the castle when it comes to reviews 👌, wonder how the terminator compares to Chord HugoTT🤔 .
I can’t say, I haven’t reviewed it.
sold
Excellent work - thank you for your clear reviews!
I am hoping that you can review the Holo Audio 'Spring' and 'May' DACs. They seem to be of this same quality.
Search for Beekhuyzen & May in RUclips
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Do you prefer the Terminator Plus to the May?
I love that you listen to Within Temptation and Getter. 😀
I love it!
Do you have any plans to review the Denafrips Gaia (D to D converter), especially in context of other Deafrips DAC's.
Many thanks for your work, especially since I live in a country where I'll never get to hear this gear in person.
Perhaps later on.
Great as always. Hans, would you give an approximate comparison with regards t o the following. I am looking to possibly upgrade and cannot afford the Terminator+, The Ares II is the model I own and is wonderful. Since you have auditioned all the Denafrips models, in your opinion is there greater/lesser difference between the Ares II and Pontus as compared to the Pontus and Venus? Thank you.
The only thing that is important to you is what YOU would consider to bye the greater/lesser difference. I can't judge that, that's something you have to figure out yourself, I'm afraid. Feel the force, young KL
Finally!
Hi hans! Can you explain the difference characteristics between this dac and the kitsune holo may dac? Which one do u personally prefer? Thanks!
Please watch ruclips.net/video/BzLmC4n2DX4/видео.html
Geweldig
Hi Hans, your videos look so much better than they used to, did you upgrade your camera equipment recently?
Not recently, I think 2 to 3 years ago.
Thank you for a great review. Given that you have reviewed a number of Denafrips DACs, if you were to buy one with your money, which one would you pick?
the Terminator-Plus
Thx so much for the brilliant summary of this DAC! As you already reviewed the Holo Audio May DAC I want to kindly ask which of both you prefer? Hans, really thx for your work and your brilliant presentations!
That's personal, Both revery good for the money.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thx so much! Michael
Nice review as always! Impressive product indeed, would you go as far to compare with a dCS DAC or something in this price category?
I have not reviewed dCS products so I can't say. Sorry.
In about 3 years I will be at this level of DAC.
Good for you!
I love this guy
🙏🏻
This is definetely one my planed purchases (though there others - amps , phono preamps also winking at me :) )
By any chance, do you ever plan to review the Denafrips D/D converters Hans? They seem intriguing to me..
I might....
Excellent review. My Terminator II is on order and your reviews of the 4 Denafrips sealed the deal for me. Hans, what's your current audio nirvana setup right now? For streaming, I'm guessing...Roon NUC, SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo, BOTW P&P Eco 24V MkII, Terminator Plus? Keep up the great work, my friend.
I'm still playing with the Terminator-Plus with GAIA for now. The rest of the setup can be seen here: ruclips.net/video/JM5XIOb6d8g/видео.html
Hi Hans. Enjoying your channel. Wondering if you have any thoughts on NOS filterless DACs and how safe they are. I have read comments online how they let a lot of "high frequency hash" through and that not all amplifiers can deal with that. On the other hand, people use these DACs and we don't really hear of amplifiers failing because of them. Still, it makes me a little hesitant to try such a DAC.
That is a generalisation. It might be that in exceptional cases - certain combinations of a filterless NOS DAC and a wide band amplifier, problems can occur.
Even the construction on the inside looks very nice.
But why an OCXO instead of MEMS?
or any other FLA for that matter.
Great review Hans, would this become your new reference in setup 1? :)
I just bought a very expensive amp☹️
Hallo Hans, you compared the Auralic Sirius; but did you compare the Denafrips Gaia? Seems one of the best at the moment for a third of the price..
Sorry but that is comparing a TV to a dishwasher!. The Sirius is an extremely good upscale where the Gaia does no upscaling. Only the Chord M-Scaler is comparable to the Sirius.
What did you listen with, OS or NOS? And which filter if OS? - Also, have you ever heard Chord's DACs, I'd be interested in seeing you review and your opinions on both the Qutest and TT2 (and the Dave, but that's way beyond my budget!). Cheers
Whether OS or NOS will sound better is a matter of taste. Both are not perfect so the approach that has artefacts that bother you less, is the best for you. And that can be different for each and every person. The same goes for the filters. FYI I have owned a Chord QDB76HDSD, a Hugo and still own a Mojo.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thanks - and any plans for the newer Chord stuff to review?
Hi
Will the terminator play alac - apple lossless from an iPhone full resolution?
Thank you!
You can’t connect an iPhone directly to a DAC. You need an adapter from lightning connector to usb. But then it will work.
Great set of Denafrips reviews Hans. Now it begs the question... Which one is best value for money? Thw law of diminishing returns being what it is...do you have any thoughts on this?
Whether the Plus is worth the money depends on how you value money. Someone white a € 50,000 a month income it is small change, for someone earning € 1,000 per month it's certainly not.
Hans, love the channel - understand this review not exactly the correct topic to post this question - do you use “audiophile performance” Ethernet cable between your modem & the router /switch ? Note I have AQ vodka between computer & router as well as between ultrarendu and router, would I benefit by a third higher quality cable between the two boxes from the cable company ?
I have used a AudioQuest Diamond CAT7 ethernet cable, what really works in your setup, your perception and your financial situation, I can't say.
how does the sound quality compare between oversampling and non-oversampling? is there any hint of unnaturalness to the sound when oversampling?
In general oversampling or not is more a matter of 'taste'. Or, put differently, how the user experiences the draw-backs both modes have. On the Terminator-Plus the differences are limited and I can't say I prefer one over the other. It more or less depends on the album played too.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you for the reply.
Hi. I'm sorry if I missed it. Do you have any opinion on this vs the holo may? I'm considering getting one but can only afford one after saving for a while
You find the review of the Holo May here: ruclips.net/video/iAj_0WZT5Eo/видео.html
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Awesome. Thank you so much. Appreciate it
Hans, this seems to be a very good product. Is there a chance to hear this product somewhere in Germany
I don't know but you might ask Vinshine Audio at sales@vinshineaudio.com. They do worldwide distribution.
Hans, any chance that you could review the Doge 7 tube DAC?
Can't say fo now.
Thank You Very Much for this review,! I was setting my crosshairs on the first Terminator after much reading and watching of what those reviewers that I relate to say... and then the Plus came out???...
So what to do... the Plus has had several great reviews, some of the reviews included a DDC the GAIA... which does something with clocks... I don’t understand that very well.. but apparently it was reviewed to make things noticeably better... (imagine that )
Do I need one of those?
Also one reviewer was a bit confusing when he basically said it did everything unbelievably amazing!... but it wasn’t his thing and preferred the original Terminator. 🤔
After your as always trusted and detailed review my mind is made up... going to put in my order for the plus after Christmas!
I’d love for you to touch on what that GAIA is / does and how would I know if I might want to consider one?
Thanks for all you do Hans!
You Rock!...lol
Congrats, excelent decision. The GAIA effectively 'cleans up the digital signal' coming from a less than perfect source. Whether it will improve the sound quality when a high quality network player or server is used, I can't say since I have not reviewed the GAIA.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I sure wish you could review the Denafrips DDC (iris/hermes/gaia). I'm thinking though if DDC would still be useful if you are already using an optical connection going to your streamer (so there's no more to clean up?). It's like OpticalRendu+Optical modules vs DDC vs EtherRegen or use all?
@@jonathanmatthew5631 I have the same issues. Just ordered the T+ and was wondering if a DDC will improve my sound, since I am using an Optical Rendu/Optical Module combo.
ouch that price ($6500+) but man that performance -
Bugger!, after clearly honest review... I’m forced to sell limbs to get one😬
Sold my DAC and CD player - it is worth it:-)
@@wouterkolkman
Cheers!!, but I was saying I’d have to me limbs..& you’re like yeah 👍👍👍👍 go for it😂
Received mine last Friday - absolutely amazing:-)
@@wouterkolkman
👍 where do you live😂
@@wouterkolkman
I’m dead jealous mate.., enjoy👍
Frequency response:
Venus ii 20hz ~ 70khz
Terminator Plus 20hz ~ 40khz
Hi, I thought the higher model should have better frequency range, but Denafrips seems the opposite way, did you check with Vinshine?
I don't know why but the difference is totally irrelevant. It could be that for the Venus II a milder slope is chosen since it's cheaper to make while maintaining sound quality. The danger is that extreme high frequencies have negative effect on the sound quality of the amplifier.
I could see his marriage being one of those opposites attract relationships.
spot on. And I still love her dearly
Too bad that you didn't tell something about using the clock output and how it effects the music reproduction..
They are only of use if you use sources that have clock inputs. And those were not on review here.
If you want a R2R dac for redbook playback, what bargain solution should you choose?
The best you can afford.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel which dac only supports old sample rates and can cut costs because of that? Is the airist dac from Drop an example of that? The qualities of R2R without the component support of high sample rate standards. Should I be looking for vintage R2R?
Hi Hans, thanks for making informative, solid and dependable videos! The Denafrips Terminator Plus seems indeed an intriguing dac, but rather expensive though. If I may be allowed to make an inquiry for a coming review, an interesting subject I think, would be the czech Okto Research dac8 Stereo. For more plain man's finances :-) this one according to Stereophile, at less than €1500 including VAT, is described as competitive with a more than 10 times expensive high end dac (MBL N31)
I will try to get a review sample on loan.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel looking forward to your review on the Okto dac8. Also wondering if you have plans to review the Holo Audio May L3 DAC. It will be an intriguing comparison with Terminator plus
Based on your excellent review I'm sure the DAC has a great sound and performance. But the absence of a remote control and the lack of some kind of display screen on the front panel showing the current mode and other bits of info seems to be an unfortunate oversight on Denafrips part and may hurt sales of this unit.
“Mode and other bits” are indicated by LEDs on the front panel.
How could you integrate with Roon best ?
I use an Auralic Aries G2: ruclips.net/video/rIeI4Zr1J7Y/видео.html
Guy keren
Hello sir ,
What do you think will be a better investment combo the Venus 2 and the auralic g2 or the terminator and the auralic g1.
Thanks a lot
Great fan,
Guy
My guess would be the Venus. II and Aries G2
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you very much sir. Appreciate it.
Knowing that a quality DAC can fit in size form factor of a USB thumbdrive... it amazes me how big this thing is. It makes my fairly large Nuprime DAC with XLR ports and Class A stage seem tiny as well.
Whatever it takes to get this sound quality, I go for it.
The Venus II is significantly better than the Nuprime Evolution DAC it replaced in my setup. I can only image how nice the large Terminator Plus sounds!
Hans, how do you turn off critical listening and get back to enjoying the music. I have two fairly high-end systems that sound different from each other which makes it even more difficult.
I have been reviewing equipment for over 4 decades. I don't know how it works but I can enjoy music even on a mediocre car stereo. But listening on a good system is, of course, a totally different experience.
Me Me Me ..want
Now I will have to be jealous for the rest of my life.
The same here...
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Hans you are a scholar and a gentleman and I just love your reviews. I discovered you only recently but have devoured all the posted content in a couple of weeks. Just wonderful.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 😂