But, does it sound analog? Denafrips Terminator Review!

Great review. Appreciated the insights. I have the Ares 2 and will continue to look what Denafrips releases as they do sound analog

I don't have a Terminator DAC, but I do have some Denafrips gear and I can say that Alvin at Vinshine was very easy to work with. I would buy from him again without question.

Ron, just recently found your channel while researching audio components but I have to say you seem to be one of the most informed, unbiased, and knowledgeable enthusiast reviewers out there! I much rather watch one of your videos than read a 3-4 page review on stereophile or the absolute sound! Keep up the good work! I'm not super knowledgeable about circuit board topology and electrical components but your reviews help cut through the all the entracacies of the tech talk and just get to the heart of the issue! I just like great sounding music so thanks for breaking it down in dummy terms for us guys who didn't get an electrical engineer degree. This review of a ladder DAC was of particular interest to me bc Ive been looking at the new MAY DAC from Holo audio! I'm currently running a Lumin T2 which is a Saber chipset based DAC and it sounds great (very detailed and precise) but Im told that some ladder DAC's just have a better overall musical presentation that chipset DACs can't compete with. Almost like a solid state amp vs. a tube amp. Less precise but just sounds better!

Ron, you’re so right regarding the crucial importance of speaker placement. There is a strong correlation between people who think that all DACs sound the same and people who have their speakers slammed against the wall

Very good review. Thanks Ron👍😎

great review bro i will check out that dac .thank you very much.....

Very good review! I'm a musician getting studio monitors from Danny at GR. He just recommended Denafrips to me as a better DAC than my Motu M4. But I'm caught between between the RME ADI-2 DAC and Denafrips Ares 2. Speed and accuracy vs musically engaging and more fleshed out sonic qualities? Tough call for me. Also, CANT WAIT for your puffin review!!!!!!!!!!! 🐧 🐧 🐧 🐧 🐧 🐧 Both the denouncers and supporters of DSP can huff and puff all they want, don't let them stop you from speaking your mind on that puffin! Cheers bro!

Excellent review Ron. My Dad is considering an upgrade to his older Bryston BDA-1 Dac. This one could be a very good candidate. Going to check out what you have on Patreon next.

Will you review the Soundaware D300 music streamer to go with the terminator? recommended by Alvin at Vinshine Audio.

Working on re-arranging my speakers, before committing to an expensive DAC. You are awesome Ron!

I'm super stoked with your journey of discovery leading to R2R DACs Ron. I've been enjoying R2R DACs for a long time and have always wondered at why more people haven't caught on to it, seeing as how it is one of the earliest high end DAC topologies. I would love to see you getting a hold of more R2R DACs from Audio-gd, Holo Audio, Metrum Acoustics, etc - as well as multibit DACs in comparison.

Hey Ron, new sub here from Canada. Enjoying your folksy styled David Cross voice and will be trying out some of your gear recommendations and am considering Patreon. Thanks for this review!

Lol!....that was a great rant, which hit the damned nail on the damned head. Excellent and comprehensive review, so nice you applied such dimensionality to what a good piece of equipment can offer. This helped, regardless of what DAC we might be considering after our current one. Consider my noodle baked.

Hi Ron I see you have heard the terminator and the lampizator amber 3 dac, both are similar price range dacs, how do they compare, and which is better? Thanks!

The time domain section is really key. You simply will not hear all the good stuff if your setup/room/acoustics are not sorted out. I have a friend who has a stereo as expensive as my house and he thinks he has to buy the most expensive Pass amplifiers out there to get his rig to produce 'micro detail'. The rig is setup in an unfinished basement (no Sheetrock...). I keep saying he could get the sound right with about 300$ in temporary acoustic treatments..... but he simply will not think like a physicist, but instead insists on thinking like an audiophile (i.e. buy new shit until you get something that works... instead of just fixing the room). To be clear, bad setup/bad acoustics can and will disappear musical content, alter tone, mess up bass, all in all, completely change the sound for the worse if not sorted out correctly. It's physics, not snake oil.

Thank you!

Nice review, Ron! Thanks. Is there a comparison with Schiit Yggdrasil in your Patreon vid? Edit: So glad you pinpointed the placement and the source problems! A lot of folks don’t realize this at all. Spend a bunch of money and wonder where’s their quality.

Okay, good review and great presentation! But I'm still no further ahead in deciding which DAC I'm going to buy. Be interesting to know how the Terminator compares to the Nuprime EVO and the Sonnet Morpheus? Don't know much about the Nuprime but I've read some say they prefer the Sonnet to the Denafrips.

Dude! I see the Kinki Studio below the Terminator. When is the review coming? :-) (I have one. Would love to hear what you think about it)

I agree my Yamaha AS-1100 sounds best when i leave it on all weekend ! 😃 Thanks for the review Ron !