2. digital
  3. 153511-90014

Denafrips Terminator reliability?

I'm about to pull the trigger on a new DAC and I've narrowed my list to the Denafrips Terminator.  I was looking at Aqua La Scall MKII Optologic, but it's a bit out of my price range.  Also looked at PS Audio DS Sr but I think it will be a bit too analog or laid back for my setup:

Blusound Node 2 > Balanced Audio Technology VK33SE > Emotiva XPR2 > Revel Salon 2 and JL F113 subs

The BAT is on the darker side and the Salon 2's are very neutral.  I'm afraid the DS Sr would take me further to the laid back side.  I'm looking for a DAC with a bit more of an in your face presentation.  Watching Darko's review and reading many other online reviews, the Terminator seems to fit the bill.  But this then brings me to my concern.  They no longer have a US based service center.  So if I had any issues, I'd have to send the thing to Singapore or China for warranty repair.  

For those Terminator owners out there, has anyone had any issues with the unit causing a warranty repair?  Or know of anyone who has had to use it?  

Any other DAC options in the 4-5K range that would give that front row presentation that I missed?  Lumin T2 and Auralic Vega G1 were on my radar as well, but I decided I wanted to go dedicated DAC first, and now.  Then get a new dedicated streamer later.  Maybe a Lumin U1 or Innuos Zen.
snafujg
yyzsantabarbara
4,941 posts
 
The SNR is 127 db. If it was 137 that would be quieter than my preamp. Nevertheless, 127 db is pretty good.

https://www.denafrips.com/specs-terminator-plus

This unit is now the same price as the AudioByte VOX stack, VOX | ZAP | HUB. Love to have a comparison of the 2. One obvious guy to do that would be OCDGuy but he hates DT now.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Another option is the Holo Spring dac similar to the Denfrips.
Good review here  https://www.stereophile.com/content/holoaudio-spring-kitsun%C3%A9-tuned-edition-level-3-da-processor
I've heard the level one on my system as was very surprised with my RedBook collection, especially in NOS mode which can be selected on the fly from OS mode or even DSD.

Cheers George
jriggy's avatar
jriggy
565 posts
 
yyz, a vid by him would tell us nothing, not to mention his predetermined biases you mention. 
richard_crl032
30 posts
 
Hi yyz,

Oops .. thanks for the correction that 137db is for dynamic range while SNR is 127db.

Darko just posted 11 hours ago but just like wwe.monosteteo.com, it again missed one key difference of the Terminator Plus having clock output to sync compatible source to ita ocxo. This is notable to me as it further improves sound quality when I tested with the Denafrip Avatar.

Cheera.

Richard
kw6
692 posts
 
I recently got the Ares II and love what R2R can do to 0&1s. Yes, Holo May Level 1 would definitely should be on the list. I was almost going to buy a old dac chip with an output tube stage but glad went to R2R. While popular Dacs like Border Patrol or Orchid may sound nice I don't think they can achieve the resolution. An analogy would be Plasma tv vs OLED. OLED being R2R.
More to discover