DENAFRIPS Terminator II DAC, Wowsa!

DENAFRIPS Terminator II Technical Highlights
Proprietary R2R + DSD Architecture
True balanced 26BIT R2R + 6BIT DSD (32 steps FIR Filters)
Matched Precision Thin Film 0.005% R-2R Network Arrays
Encapsulated Flagship Ultra Low Noise Power Supply
Oven Controlled Crystals OCXO
Adaptive FIFO Buffer Reclocking
New Improved Digital Signal Processing FPGA Code
DSD1024, PCM1536 Supports On USB & I²S Input
Proprietary USB Audio Solution via STM32F446 Advanced AMR Based MCU
Licensed Thesycon USB Driver For Windows Platform
Driverless On Mac & Linux
Dual AES/EBU Input Supports
Sharp/Slow Filters Option
I²S Pinout Configuration
I²S DSD Channel Swap Configuration

DSD
DSD64 (DoP) on Coax/AES/Opt Input
DSD1024* On USB & I²S Input Only

PCM
24bits / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192KHz On All Input
1536kHz* On USB & I²S Input
Sampling Mode: Non-Oversampling NOS / Oversampling OS

Digital Input
Coax via RCA
TOSLink x 1
AES/EBU x 2
USB2.0 Type B
I²S via HDMI LVDS
I²S via RJ45 LVDS
I²S via RJ45 LVCMOS

Analog Output
RCA at 2.0Vrms, 625 Ω
XLR at 4.0Vrms, 1250 Ω

Clock Output
44.1KHz, 48KHz
22.5774Mhz, 24.576Mhz
45.1548MHz, 49.152Mhz

Frequency Response: 20-40KHz -0.2dB
THD+N: 0.0015%
S/N Ratio: 127dB
Dynamic Range: 132dB
Stereo Crosstalk: -110dB

AC Power Requirement: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz (Worldwide Voltage)
Power Consumption: ≤20W
Dimension: 430W x 380D x 125H mm (Includes Footers)
Package Dim: 610 x 570 x 275 mm
Package Content: DAC only. No power cord & remote control.
Weight: 19.0 Kg

0:00 Intro

1:04 Build quality
2:56 The Numbers
3:51 Downsides
5:15 the review system
5:50 The Music
11:15 So Steve, what do you really think?
11:41 Audiophiliac Viewer System of the Day!
12:59 Outro

Check out the PATREON

————MERCH——————-

Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan

#audiophiles #denafrips #digitalaudio

Looking for great sounding FREE UNCOMPRESSED and processed music? Check out these videos about the two MA Recordings samplers:

[goahead]

After watching so many videos, reviews, and other sources, I fell into the DAC addiction since CDs are my only source.
Denafrips is not a hoax.
Their DACs are truly amazing for the money.
I started with Pontus II and I was blown away.
Sold it and got Venus II.
A mild incremental improvement over Pontus.
I knew my wife will be pissed, but took a huge gamble sold that and got the Terminator II.
Wowsa is correct. T2 sound quality is simply jaw droppingly good!
But I agree with many.
You must have good components to reveal its almighty detail.
My source is Jay's Audio CDT2-MK3 Transport via i2s output to T2. Then it goes to my Kinki EX-M1+ Integrated Amplifier. Then it goes to the Q Acoustics Concept 500 Speakers.
I am very happy, but tapped out! 😎

IMHO, Pontus II is absolutely Denafrips' bang for the buck DAC in their lineup.
But if you can afford T2, it's another huge jump especially if you have great components to make it shine.

[roberthart]

OMG I see Eraserhead album in the right corner. That was one very strange movie

[robertwang]

If anyone is wondering what Denafrips stands for - Dynamic, Exquisite, Natural, Attractive, Fidelity, Refined, Intoxicating, Pure, Sophisticated lol. There you go, it does mean something.

[micpoc]

Terminator II... is it made out of liquid metal?

[thepickyaudiophile]

Steve! I will like the video 3 times, if you get a better digital source for streaming 👍

[presidentpotato]

I have a Holo Audio May Kitsune Edition coming in 2 weeks .. but a Terminator 2 + is on my wish list to try .as well as a Mola Mola

[xtctaz]

Nice review.. have you tried the Holo audio spring 3 kte?

[pauldemara]

Great review Steve. Oh-my... A crystal oscillator oven with temp control... Used to work on communications gear back in the 80's that used this technology to ensure VHF / UHF frequency stability. Cool to see this type of solution used in an audio DAC along with the other engineering choices like the fully balance discrete R2R network.

[robertreynolds]

Currently using a Venus II, however I only use headphones since living in an apartment limits me from owning premium loudspeakers. Would upgrading really provide a monumental difference? Using mainly Susvara and HE1000SE.

Update: My crazy ass went out and bought the Terminator Plus. Ridiculous sounding dac and a clear step up from the Venus II.

[glenncurry]

Interesting that in your CONS not a single audible one. Remote control? Small LEDs?

[coin]

4:00 Thats a pro. MQA is bad and sounds bad.

[michalryszawy]

I had in home terminator 2(earlier i had pontus 2). For the money Terminator is a great dac but he have very mellow all signature sound with not enough contour on highs(to soft highs) electronic and hard rock music sounds too pollite and just NOT wright(in all filters slow/sharp). But with Jazz, vocals this dac is just amazing

[jimfarrell]

So the Terminator 2 comes with added Humanity ? Is that power supply related or more to do with resistor quality ?
The crazy thing and the one which makes me think I may have fallen too far down the audiophile rabbit hole is that I kind of know exactly what you mean 😉

[davidnord]

John Mellencamps, no better then this is a very good recording on my tube I know it's old but so am

[cablebrain]

Would love to see you do a comparison of the Terminator II versus the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE or Level 2 DACs.

[sevestan]

After watching i noticed i had a lot of smoke up my arse

[bencausey]

I love my Pontus 1, right now connected to AR sp16 pre, Cary V12i amp, and Heresy 3’s with KEF sub.

[tomtemp]

I love all the downsides.
No MQA.
No display.
Invisible LEDs.
Sublime.

[brianthomas]

Love the video. Great description on your aural experience with the headphones and a good recording. That effortless sound, extra wide and 3D like, it does freak you out when it happens. I'm using a Schiit Bifrost 2 Dac, and it's a R2R ladder type dac also, but would love to try out the denafrips.

[josefbuckland]

+1 for the car honk in the background. Lol. My number one love of audio has to be the art of silence. Once you master the listening environment then you have nothing left but black and white listening experience. And I’m too old for Colour anyway. Lol