Denafrips Terminator dac ...
- Thread starter joeinid
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CPP
Active member
The Terminator arrived yesterday. Putting some hours on it at the office before carrying it home.
Turn it on, burn it in and give us some feedback Marty
Randy Myers
Active member
Hey Marty,
Have you compared it to your T+A? I would have a hard time believing anything in this range can compete with the DAC 8 DSD, especially if you are a DSD fan.
Have you compared it to your T+A? I would have a hard time believing anything in this range can compete with the DAC 8 DSD, especially if you are a DSD fan.
nc42acc
New member
Randy it will be a week or so before I take it home to listen. I will post an update when I get it home.
Randy Myers
Active member
Ahhh, got ya 
....
....Most welcome sir, at your service :audiophile:
audio.bill
Active member
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nc42acc
New member
Well I have had time to go through four DACs and do some comparisons.
1. Denafrips Terminator: The most open, dynamic and transparent of any DAC I have had to date. Amazing realism with vocals like the artist is in the room. Bass dynamics and weight is off the charts compared to the rest. NOS mode and sending it DSD256 from Roon with a microRendu.
2. T&A DAC8: Very close to the Terminator but just cannot create the "you are there" realism. I am just feeding it DSD256 via Roon so this could change when I have the ability to send it DSD512. Stay tuned.
3. Holo Spring Level 3: Close behind the T&A but another level of less realism and dynamics. Does some things very well like the bass. Tried it with just USB and I2s with a Singxer. Also sending it DSD512 from Roon and using the NOS mode.
4. PS Audio Directstream: Scratching my head as this has a very different sound. Not going to put anything in writing until I try it with a few more inputs. I have been using the Bridge II for all my listening so far.
Remember this is how these sound in "MY" system and will greatly vary with different equipment and setups.
1. Denafrips Terminator: The most open, dynamic and transparent of any DAC I have had to date. Amazing realism with vocals like the artist is in the room. Bass dynamics and weight is off the charts compared to the rest. NOS mode and sending it DSD256 from Roon with a microRendu.
2. T&A DAC8: Very close to the Terminator but just cannot create the "you are there" realism. I am just feeding it DSD256 via Roon so this could change when I have the ability to send it DSD512. Stay tuned.
3. Holo Spring Level 3: Close behind the T&A but another level of less realism and dynamics. Does some things very well like the bass. Tried it with just USB and I2s with a Singxer. Also sending it DSD512 from Roon and using the NOS mode.
4. PS Audio Directstream: Scratching my head as this has a very different sound. Not going to put anything in writing until I try it with a few more inputs. I have been using the Bridge II for all my listening so far.
Remember this is how these sound in "MY" system and will greatly vary with different equipment and setups.
CPP
Active member
Hey Marty a friend of mine in Jacksonville has the Terminator and he said, give it a try via the I2S input, with the Singxer SU-1
nc42acc
New member
smodtactical
Banned
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Would be really curious if the Singxer changes things on the terminator.
Anyone using terminator with their headphone rig ?
Anyone using terminator with their headphone rig ?
smodtactical
Banned
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- 48
Thanks Joe!
Are folks finding s/w upsampling, say to DSD256, and using the Terminator in NOS mode sounds better in their setup ? I have a mixed reaction between s/w upsampling and native bitrate in OS mode - while some recording sounds better with s/w upsampling, other sounds better in OS mode.
mresseguie
Member
Hi, Devg.
This isn't a direct answer to your question because I do not own a Terminator. However, in the last year and a half I have learned a lot about my preferences. Whereas I initially thought I wanted OS capability because it's 'new' and 'it's where technology is making its greatest strides', I have discovered that I really prefer and want NOS sound. I bought a dB Audio Labs Tranquility SE DAC (with Jupiter Cu caps) this year and I love how it sounds. I've used it in three different systems now and prefer it over my Gustard X20u and a Nuprime DAC-9.
Regards,
Michael
This isn't a direct answer to your question because I do not own a Terminator. However, in the last year and a half I have learned a lot about my preferences. Whereas I initially thought I wanted OS capability because it's 'new' and 'it's where technology is making its greatest strides', I have discovered that I really prefer and want NOS sound. I bought a dB Audio Labs Tranquility SE DAC (with Jupiter Cu caps) this year and I love how it sounds. I've used it in three different systems now and prefer it over my Gustard X20u and a Nuprime DAC-9.
Regards,
Michael
Michael,
thank you for your feedback. I haven't heard dB Audio Labs Tranquility DAC, so can't say the difference but for the Terminator the OS mode sounds lot better than NOS feeding bitperfect files. However, I can't really put my finger on this DAC and say I am totally impressed. Don't take it wrong - this DAC is very good in its own right. This lead me to find out what's the best way to feed this DAC. Currently I am trying out different HQP filters in NOS mode and see if I can get the best out of it.
Randy Myers
Active member
Hey Chris, I don't think you ever said weather you tried HQPlayer or not? If you have not I would highly advise you load HQPlayer and set it to upsample everything to DSD512 with 48 base clock, run Roon through by setting up a HQPlayer zone; through the T+A. I would be shocked if you then said it was missing the "you are there" aspect any more.
Btw, Michael have you heard the newly released Nuprime Evolution DAC yet ?