By the way from a technical point of view the R26 DAC board hardware is similar to the Aries with 2 ladders. The Pontus provides 4 ladders to average out errors.
We should not expect a product to perform past its design. The power supply for the DAC board is also closer to Aries.
You can compare the differences below. R26, Aries, Pontus. Also take a look at the power supply filtering in the Pontus. So the comment about the R26 beating a Terminator I think can be tossed out as internet pumping.
I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and say with some run in time it could be equal to the Aries with a streamer attached but I think Denafrips software is more refined so maybe not.