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Do hi-end DACs offer true value or diminishing return...

These two hi-fedelity recordings posted on Youtube allow one to audition the state-of-the-art, highly raved R2R DACs with values ranging from $850 all the way to $6,500. Please use headphone or, play back to your stereo system if you think your system is revealing enough. The question to ask to yourself is that the true hi-end (w/ high price tag) gears offer you true values or just a diminishing-return foolproof. In my system, I do hear the differences but, to me, the differences might not be that significant to justify the luxious spending. Maybe my system is not revealing enough.  Maybe the recording quality through the on-line broadcasting degrades.  How about you? Do you hear major differences? 

Terminator Plus ($6.5k), Venus II ($3k)

Terminator $4.5k, Ares II ($850)

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lanx0003
mid-fi-crisis
71 posts
 

You can almost guarantee that high-end anything is just an overpriced offering to those who need to spend a lot to feel good. People start chasing mirages and they think they're achieving small steps to perfection but are really just getting sucked into the hype stirred up by manufacturers, retailers, and reviewers. You have the cash and its their job to get it.

noske
783 posts
 

@jasonbourne52 The higher the price the more confirmation bias is in play!

Careful now. You may get banned for using long words or introducing concepts that may require reading/research.

mrmeaner
44 posts
 

I’ve had the Denafrips Ares II and thought it was a great product, especially for the price tag and I thought wow these are a great company, I thought I want even more of this so I moved up to a Denafrips Pontus II and it was more of the same, much more. 
Is it a point of diminishing returns? Yes of course, I think everything in the HiFi world is, but at the same time the Pontus is still great value compared to many DACs out there, would I want a Terminator + ? Yes, but I’d have to change a few other components first, starting with a new MRS. 😂

noske
783 posts
 

If you seek an R2R DAC, I know that the Denafrips Ares spits out pretty respectable test measurements. As does the Holo Audio DAC, which is eye candy, too.

Terminator has some engineering enhancements compared with Ares. So, toss-up between Terminator and Holo I reckon.

Yes, you will hear a difference.  I know this, for reasons.

This is about R2R DACs only.

bigkidz
3,381 posts
 

@ghpprentice my system is listed on Augdiogon.  I am a manufacturer and modification/upgrade/repair service for any electronic device.  Direct Heat Triode DAC using 101D tubes with 25 pound power supply, 6SN7 preamp with separate power supply, either pure class A stereo power amplifier 50wpc, hybrid power amplifier 100wpc, tube mono blocks 40wpc class A & 70wpc AB, VAC music box 160 tube mono blocks, VTL tube mono blocks, etc  Speakers Vandersteen 7s, 5As, Sonus Faber Stradivari, Horning, filed coils, etc.

Happy Listening

 

 

 

 

 

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