dcs bartok vs DENAFRIPS TERMINATOR-PLUS

My suggestion may be to look for a used Terminator Plus. Try it in your system. Compare it to the dcs Bartok at the dealer if you can.

If you don't like it, you should be able to sell it for exactly what you paid for it.  That was my thinking in recently buying both a used Qutest & a new Pontus II. I figured I would keep whichever one I liked better and sell the other for about what I paid for it.

dcs bartok vs DENAFRIPS TERMINATOR PLUS ,.your title seems to be shouting out Denafrips model , maybe you’ve made your mind up already...
When I had the Terminator I never liked the way it reproduced transiences along with timbre and tone with well recorded vocals plus something else it did I don’t recall right now it’s been a while though maybe the plus is an improvement.

Theres word on the street the Holo Audio May KTE dac for less cost has the performance to directly compete of the likes of the DCS Bartok including the Chord Dave and certainly the Denafrips line .

Theres word on the street the Holo Audio May KTE dac for less cost has the performance to directly compete of the likes of the DCS Bartok including the Chord Dave and certainly the Denafrips line .

Could you tell me where you read that? I find it very daring

The choice between the dcs Bartok vs the DENAFRIPS Terminator-Plus is not going to be an easy decision.   This decision is further complicated by maybe considering some other DAC's such as MSB Discrete, Bricasti (M1SE or M21), Chord, DAVE, Holo Audio May KTE DAC, etc.   Additional DAC's should be added to this list.  

If possible, I strongly suggest you audition these DAC's before you make your decision.   Based on the responses you received so far, there is no consensus on what to purchase.

I went through a similar process and purchased the Bricasti M21 DAC.   The addition of the M21 substantially improved the sound quality of my audio system.  To my ears, everything sounds truly outstanding.   The M21's “advanced architecture means you can select, evaluate and enjoy three independent digital to analog converter signal paths: 24-bit delta sigma, 20-bit ladder DAC (I use the R2R option) and true 1-bit DSD for DSD content.  The M21 is a world class DAC and is recommended.  

My plan was to audition the DAC before I purchased it and, preferably, in my home and in my system.   I purchased the Bricasti because it sounded great in my home.   Both the dcs Bartok vs the DENAFRIPS Terminator-Plus are great DAC options and I suggest you arrange for a home demo to help you make a decision.    I hope this helps.  

And the only way to know if a new component sounds ‘great’ is to use it in your own home audio system. It might sound great in my system and horrible in yours. Or. The other way around. Cables, power cords, interconnect cables and all other components impact your audio systems sound quality.

My friend says “ There is no ‘perfect’ component. It is all about the synergy between components in your audio system”.