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Questions to Denafrips Terminator Plus owners (the break-in)

I just registered to this forum as I saw a number of people using this dac, so I might receive some useful feedback from you guys.

I have just received it a few days ago and it only has less than 48 hours in my system (playing random songs and pink noise). From my research, this dac takes a long time to fully break in and it is recommended to be left on (standby or otherwise) 24/7.

Well, those are fine... but I’d like to ask how it sounds during the break-in? Now, still breaking in, I really don’t like the sound. the Terminator Plus replaces my Ayre QB9 Twenty, and whilst I can hear some more details with the TP, the sound in general, especially vocal is not pleasing at all... full of sibilant and mid-high irritation! I can’t believe this is the sound from R2R dac (which is generally known to be liquid and warm).
So for anyone who also have (or had) this dac, how was it in your system during break in? Would it be better after 200-ish hour mark? For now, I’m so disappointed with its sonic performance.

FYI, I’m using USB and I know that best practice is to use Denafrips’ DDC (e.g. Gaia / Hermes) to feed I2S, but I don’t believe the dac requires that DDC to sound "acceptable". My source is Aurender streamer which should at least send out acceptable quality USB signal, of course, currently my old dac sounds way, way better!

Thanks
tortor
Post removed 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
tortor
Denafrips Terminator Plus,
I really don’t like the sound. whilst I can hear some more details


This Denafrips is a very good dac.
More detail also means if you could have other problems, these too will be magnified as well.
It could be this ( My source is Aurender streamer)
Why don’t you try a CD transport into it using the same music and see what that sounds like.

Cheers George
csr78
6 posts
 

Did the dac every break in and sound better? I just got a T+ and Gaia to replace my Terminator 1, and the midrange and vocals are loose and sound wrong. There is also a high pitch harshness.  However the mid high detail and spacial separation is better.

fthompson251's avatar
fthompson251
370 posts
 

csr78, make sure you have tested the I2s configurations, there is a Youtube vid on the Vinshine site to explain how to mate the Gaia to the DAC. Set the Gaia first then test different settings on the DAC until it sounds good. This may be the problem. Good luck! I have a Hermes waiting to be mated with my Venus II when I get back home from FL in 2 weeks.

csr78
6 posts
 

I can report that running the DAC overnight with music playing (amps off) dramatically improves sound.  After two days, it's pure magic. Break in necessary, but easy.  Vinshine said 1000 hours, so I'm sure it gets better from here. I think the initial 30-50 hours is the biggest jump.

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