Thank you Jon. My on camera "personality" kinda sucks. Others including my Wife & my Son have told me this. So I do my videos unscripted without Audiophile/Audiophool Adjectives. My friend that lent me the DAC has 1000x better on camera demeanor than I. He saw this Video prior to my making it Public and was cool with. Understand that I'm not sponsored, nor do I do Patreon. My channel is for informational purposes and my thoughts only. Other the Terminator DAC, everything in my Video's - I own ! Once in a while I'll do a Video Review on a product that's mine only because of my excitement/love/improvements in Audio Reproduction and so forth. All The Best !
Unbelievable! Finally a review of the Terminator that I agree with. Subscribed. The Termi is a stellar DAC but some tracks come out as relatively weak in the upper mids. But for the most part I love the DAC and it was in my main system until I found the Audio GD R7 (2020 version). It's from china and is $1700 less expensive than the Terminator. The Termi has a little more high frequency detail but the R7 is no slouch in that regard, and it beats the Termi in the upper mids category IMO. It also has more bass slam than the Termi and it's toneful at the same time. Not just a thump sound like a bass drum. Pianos sound really great on both the Termi and the R7 but again, the R7 is a little better at recreating that natural tone that's difficult to reproduce. I would not classify it as "soft" though, as I would the PS Audio DirectStream.
Back in 2017 I bought the Denafrips Terminator and it replaced a PS Audio Dac senior screen glitches and all handily ,. Like your Audio GD R7 in 2019 a friend came over with a AudioByte Hydra Vox dac manufactured in Romania which sold for about $1300.00 less then the Denafrips. We played with each dac in our own systems then I sold the Terminator, also the Vox dac has an outstanding purpose built headphone section which turned me on for listening with headphones especially late at night ,.. The Denafrips is a good dac however maybe it’s overpriced,,.
@@marks.2909 It's a good thing that we have different opinions. Makes the world go 'round. I'm a complete DAC obsessed music lover and have owned a lot of 'em. The Audiobyte is a different kind of DAC than the Terminator which is an R2R ladder DAC. The Hydra/Vox is a good DAC but I like the presentation of the Terminator. To me it's more analog, and instruments sound very authentic, not an idealized version of them. Seems like there's too much processing going on in the Audiobyte.. The Audiobyte is a good deal though and is a good value. Again, to each his own.
@@williams9117 I haven't tried the Doge 7. I'm taking a breather from audio gear and am focusing on guitar so I'm sticking with what I have for awhile.
I found the upper mid range boost made the terminator unlistenable for the first 120 hours. In my case, it went away after about 150 hours. I don’t notice it anymore. It is a fine sounding dac, but I do agree that it was overhyped… And I do wish it had a remote as well…
Thanks for taking the time to make the video. I don’t own either dac so I’m not any fanboy of either. What about talking about whether instruments and voice sound realistic as opposed to artificial. Or maybe what the speed of each dac is like with music? The speed and clarity of bass? How big it narrow the soundstage is. Whether it’s realistic.Etc etc. The remote thing wouldn’t worry me as I wouldn’t spend my time switching back and fourth. That’s more of a reviewer issue. If anyone is doing that at home normally then they have lost passion for music and are only interested in equipment.
So here's the thing about my style of "reviewing". I don't use flowery Audiophile Adjectives and yet I understand what they all mean. There are others on UA-cam who are better at it than me. I've been playing with Audio since I was a kid (for 37 years at least - I'm 51 now). If something sounds good, great, awesome, Fucking Awesome !, I'll report it as that. If something sounds like crap, shit, or Fucking Shitty, I'll keep that to myself unless I've bought the product and have "skin in the game". Companies don't send me stuff to review but locally, I'll get DAC's and Speakers from friends and ask their permission before posting a review on my Channel.
Hi Joey, how do you find the Sunlight firmware with the Directstream Sr.? On my Directstream Jr, It sounded too forced foward, I lost the great 3D soundstage from Windom. It had the same tonality, but the fowardness really was annoying and lacking soundstage. I switched back to Windom.
I was in between taking down the KEF R3's and the Open Baffle Project Speakers build. I am setting up just the R3's this week and will do a formal review between the two without it taking 40 freakin' minutes like my fellow Canucks up in T.O. (Audio Excellence Canada). I'll do a UA-cam Video and do as you described and see if I get the same results. I do have Sunlight installed and am enjoying it but honestly, I'll need to to a qualitative listening session like I did for the LS 50 Meta's and regular LS50. Those listening sessions aren't easy it's solely based on my thoughts which odds are aren't the same as everyone else. Thanks D, Joe
I had considered the Denafrips for my Parasound JC2/JC5/Focal Sopra 2 setup. What stopped me was the lack of availability due to China's shut-downs back in March and also the lack of a trial period. I ended up buying a Schiit Yggydrasil A2 and really like it. Previously, I had a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ which was very good with high-res files but really unforgiving to older, less well-recorded music like Led Zeppelin.
I bought a Gungnir Mulitbit and LOVE it! A month after I bought it though, they started offering the Yggy with A1 boards for a couple hundred more, wish I had gone that route! I would consider the Denafrips, but not being able to demo the unit on my system before buying is pretty much a non-starter. Also, service consists of over the phone troubleshooting with them sending you replacement boards...which doesn't really appeal either. Looks like a well made product, they just need to get dealer and service networks in place.
You are welcome 2 Channel Audio. Again, I am not a reviewer but when I get a chance to share & compare to stuff I'm proud of in my rig (I am not sponsored and I own or am still debt with what you see in my Video...not LOL !
@@bryang9601 the Terminator has a more forward sound and controlled properly pitched bass, The DirectStream has a more laid back sound, tube like if you will. The I2S input is a must on the DirectStream, I found the bass a little loose. Just to be clear it is a wonderful DAC it just want my cup of tea ☕️ my preference was the Terminator, however at the time I had also purchased a Lampizator Atlantic TRP and it was no comparison it has all the best qualities of the Terminator and DirectStream plus a level of realism they could not achieve, effortless in it’s presentation with a stunning sound stage, I no longer look DACs this is it for me.
Nah...you can't. But there are endless articles on the web on buying a cheap ass Sony BluRay Player and converting it via special firmware to enable ripping of SACD's onto a USB stick as a .dff DSD file. I was gonna go down that path until I bought the Chinese adapter boards. My SACD disc collection has increased in the last year because of this but I don't mind.
I had the opportunity to try the dac ares and the terminator. they are products of exceptional quality ... personally I had purchase problems because of the hakers but the head of the company as a serious and responsible person tried in every way to solve. valid products and a very serious company. I really recommend it both for product quality and professional ethics.
My problem with the Denefrips products is if (and that’s a big IF), something goes wrong. You have to do the repair yourself or hope that they’ve setup a North American repair/service/upgrade center (no clue if that’s true).
Get the PS Audio DAC. Excellent support whereas with Denefrips, if something goes wrong, you're stuck. Especially with the new Sunlight (final) DAC upgrade firmware. I'm not familiar so I can't comment.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 thanks a lot sir for your reply.I m looking natural and analogue sound with warm signature.that’s why in India most of the people running towards r2r dac specially terminator and Aries.I m little scared about ps audio because mainly it is not a dac company I mean they are specialise in power products .
@@anuragaggarwal9888 They are a DAC company since 1983 ! They were the 1st Audio Company that built an external DAC with a Buffer (Digital Lens still used in their DAC’s today). They have some of the best expertise across all their products with a 47 year history. DAC’s, Amps, Preamps, Power Regeneration is their latest claim to fame. But I am not familiar with those. Denafrips Terminator is a great DAC but with the latest Sunlight software installed on the DirectStream Sr., it will outshine the Terminator in all respects. I still stand by my comments in this Video after almost a year. How important is a remote control and volume control for you Anurag ? Denafrips has neither but PS Audio has both.
@@gumbypimp65 I agree on the USB input of the DirectStream Sr. DAC. It is thinner sounding than what I hear through I2S and even the coax and optical for PCM playback. Same goes for DSD via I2S. Ted Smith claims that the inputs are all agnostic and the user won’t hear a difference. I think the world of Ted’s work (respect) but other owners have also sensed the USB sounds “different” from the other digital inputs. I never tested the Terminator’s USB and in hindsight, you are correct, I should have.
Thanks for the video! Subscribed. I have a PS DS Sr in one system and PS DS Jr in another system, as well as a Chord Qutest for a 3rd system. I was really curious about the Denafrips DACs because of all of the positive buzz from Darko, NBTS, and Steve G. Now I feel comfortable with just being content with my PS DACs :) Check out the Matrix XSPIF 2 if you stream using a PC to your DS DAC. There's a huge thread on the PS Audio forums where the general consensus is that connecting via i2s with that little device in the middle elevates things even further, which has been my experience as well.
I've listened to the Holo May Edition Kitsune DAC at a friends place. Great DAC that outperforms the Terminator and has a remote ! I'll keep my PS Audio Directstream DAC Sr. till the day I die ! For Streaming I use my Sony/HDMI Video to I2S HDMI adapters. Also Audivanna is my main software for streaming via Qibuz (I wish it were AmazonHD compatible).
I had the Terminator DAC for a few months, bought without listening to it first (big mistake) and I was disappointed. No detail, dark sounding, lack of rithm. Fortunately I managed to sell it without loosing too much... I strongly suggest to listen to it first.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 it still doesn’t open for me. Yours is the new DirectStream DSD DAC correct? Or do you have the PWD Mki or Mkii? That was my question. I have the mkii and wanted to upgrade. That’s why I asked. Is the DSD that much better than the Mkii since it’s an FPGA and not a Sigma DAC? Thanks for your answers man.
Did you use the same cables? (The upper midrange thing could be a XLR vs RCA thing) By the way, your gear justifies way much better cables than the ones mentioned in the text intro.
Money my friend. I'm a firm believer in a good quality mechanical cable with a decent cosmetic look. But as to audio quality, there is a point of diminishing returns. But I won't pay what companies charge for their "upper tier" cables. It becomes Jewelry after a certain price point IMHO. Cables Matter but how much once you reach a certain Dollar value.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 A general rule of thumb, which I applied during my time in retail, as well using myself in my own systems, is to spend about 10% of your total budget on cables. So yeah, spending $1000 on a pair of interconnects for your $800 DAC doesn't make ANY sense! You will usually find better performance spending that money on better core components, like speakers, amps, sources, or DACs. However, I did find some great cables that DID make a HUGE improvement. Check out "Anticables" for speaker wire...they are simply thick gage oxygen free solid copper with the least amount of insulating material they could get away with...and they are both cheap AND sound great! (starting at $50/pair!) For interconnects, you really need to LISTEN to Black Cat. I got their entry level "Silverstar" digital coax cable...in a word, "wow"! This is going from my Node 2i to my Schiit Gungnir multibit DAC. Then I got a set of their entry level "Coppertone" RCAs. Again, huge results from the money spent. The Silverstar is about $300, the Coppertones were $200. I also was EXTREMELY skeptical of the benefits of aftermarket power cords...but a dealer friend of mine loaned me some Audioquest Z3 cables. More benefit than I could have imagined! It all matters, man. Don't go overboard, but don't make the mistake I did and listen using crappy cable for years! :)
@@johnnemesh5459 I've heard the Anti Cables at Ron Brenay's place and yes, the are a vast improvement over the others out there. I'm using Audioquest only because my system has seen many changes over the last year and a half and chopping up Red River cable and terminating them with XLR's was a much cheaper alternative. When I have my system finalized (hopefully soon), I'll probably try the Anti Cables once I know my definitive lengths.
For me both the Denafrips from Singapore and PS Audio from Colorado are overseas products without local dealers. I've owned American products (Scott, Infinity, among others) and they were fine, but never lasted longer than 5 years.
The PS Audio DAC had been in production for over 7 years and is being retired this year. The Denafrips stuff is still “new” in the marketplace but no remote control and no volume control is a showstopper for so many people including myself that the PS Audio easily wins in those categories. It does suck that neither company has local representation/dealer networks in certain Europe and Asia markets. But it is true of many U.S., European, and Asian Audio manufacturers.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 In my case the amplifier already has remote control and volume control, the DAC only needs to convert. I'm more curious about the percentage of PS Audio DACs that survived after 5 or more years.
I don't understand why everyone gushed over the Terminator. None of my Audiophile friends with systems WAY better than what I have, said NO WAY. North of $4k no no 30 day policy ? Most of my friends can afford the "great stuff". They have their favourite Dealers and can swap equipment in and out their own rigs at home to audition before they buy (of course a credit card is required - but refundable). PS Audio does the same thing.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 yes PS audio is a super great company. However, I must learn everything the hard way...lol. I hope One day to be able to repair and BUILD my own custom boards. That being said it looks like I'm just going to have to learn programming. Does that sound right? Another thing is PS audio does have some stiff competition. ALL of these guys do. I'm really glad for that. That to me is the best for the consumer. SMSL is good.
Maybe I missed it, what are you using for a transport? I too have the PS Audio DAC. I also use their transport. Thinking about trade-in for their new transport in October. The combo sounds a lot like "vinyl" (without the scratches and skips.) PS Audio has a lot of nay-sayers in the audio community as you probably already know.
I said what the hell! I picked-up a Terminator-Plus, $6,500. Spent about $1500 more than I did almost 6 years ago when I bought the PS Audio DAC. IMO, It does sound better than my PS Audio DSD Sr. More detail (crisp, if that's a description?) less (how do I put it?) foggy. Maybe that's just the difference between a Chip and a R-to-R Ladder DAC. Some say it's less analog than the PSA and the original Terminator. I have very, very few hours on it now, but we're working our way thru that. I will be trading-in my present PS Audio transport for their new model later this summer.
I finally saw sense to not rush into it but being void of demonstration opportunities, i was very close to just blindly buying the Denefrips' cheaper model because It got rave reviews online plus it's time i upgraded my day. When i first began buying above the budget hi-fi realm (for me it's a means to an end in better appreciating music rather than a 'Hobby' per se) ...i always preferred the sound of equipment employing discrete transistors & components compared to that using op-amp counterparts, everyone did in the 80's, so these resistor-ladder dacs made perfect sense ...theoretically at least. Now i'm being wary, this Terminator also had stellar reviews. but i don't like the sound of overly prominent midrange as i'm not lacking there & i sometimes use my speaker crossover's high-filter on my Tannoys 15" dual concentric (horn-loaded frequencies above 1 Khz) on recordings tilted towards higher frequencies. It sure is a risk & I cant say "i wish they had a distributor here" for demo/ refund deals because double price comes with that. I think i'll wait to hear more before i take the risk of blind-buying a Denefrips from China via Singapore (i'm told), but i may eventually risk it & expect to loose 30 - 40% on resale if i dislike it. 'p.s. 'Oversampling Mode' turned off made the sound less forward in higher frequencies according to 1 review on-tube from Canadian Thomas (can't recall site name)
That's my friend Thomas & Stereo that you are referring to. I agree with what you say about the risks. Love Tannoy's. A friend of mine has a similar pair like yours.
Interesting, have similar vintage Tannoys and been mulling similar things about the Ares II. Going to try and demo the Chord Qutest first. Perhaps the Pontus would be a better match for the Tannoys than the Terminator. Will depend a lot on taste and room I suspect.
Rock on Smsl and Topping they make killer dacs for peanuts. And they are going to get more features and cheaper. It's getting very difficult for these companies to improve the quality of performance that is already beyond human hearing. If they start adding streamers and dsp we are in for a great time musically.
With no I2S inputs on the Lampizator, how are you able to spin SACD discs ? USB for DSD over PCM of course but as pricey as the Lampizator is, they don't give that option. The Topping D90 @ $900 does.
Chi fi is an issue. I had a top of the line Shanling SACD tube player ($3500) that stopped working after a year. The repair cost was almost as buying a new system.
Joey G give me a break I have to make my own videos this is a joke all these opinions about audio from these uneducated people,is this something everyone who listens to music does,I’m a audio recording engineer for more than 34 years and I’m sick of these,I listen to music so I can give the world my opinions 🥴
i agree the terminator is far from perfect but the ps audio is to soft and not exacting enough for all that money and will nice to experience i would never never pay to keep,
I'd have to disagree with you on that Mark. Understand that the FPGA based PS Audio DAC gets a free update from time to time. If one doesn't like the new update, they can easily pick any of the older software versions to suit their taste. I did this review with the Windom version of software and as I'd mentioned in the Video heard differences between the DAC's that in my setup, always favored the PS Audio DAC. Again, there were times were I could not hear the differences between the two DAC's.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 im not saying the ps audio has no merits or that its an inherently bad dac but its not enough gun in the gun fight for the outlay, its always passable but never astounding or inciteful in away i can get behind let alone get from other dacs its a safe middle ground at best but not a keep for life or stop striving for more, i mean look at the over priced dcs or msb dacs they preform and sound better but what would you pay for that pleasure, for similar money a tt2(still a half measure) or a bit more a Dave more or less easily trounces the ps dac , i dont want to argue the issues with those updates but they arnt necessarily a strength(iv only heard two versions), i guess if it was the price of the jr i would recommend it to more ppl but the value is simply not there, and really that people looking in this price point should spend half or less or a bit more, i think this price point represents the worst value overall. i do agree with you statements over issues stomaching expensive chicom products:)
Sounds like u enjoy high amounts of distortion and inaccurate sound that ps audio unit measurements are so poor its outclassed by 50 dollor dacs but hey some people see price and equate quality
Oh Boy.....I'm not a fan of ASR but I did watch the interview he Amir with Joe'N'Tell. Amir knows his stuff, no argument there, and he seems like a pretty cool educated person. I've said and so have Nelson Pass, Paul McGowan, Darren Myers, Dan D'Agostino, Ted Smith, and so many other respected Engineers in the Audiophile World. You Baseline your design to have the best specs. Then you add the flavors to make them come alive. Voice them so that the masses like what they hear so the end product actually sells, and that's it. That's not distortion, that's adding harmonics to the product for a more listenable experience. Of course they are coloring the sound, all the good companies do it so that we can listen to their products without hours of fatigue. Speakers are the worst offender's when it comes to distortion. Pucks in your net Ray.
Statistics bear out that a Toyota Yaris is more reliable than a Lamborghini Aventador, but offered either one for free, which would you take? Buy the $50 dac and stop complaining about what other people buy or prefer.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 comment was in reply to @Ray Bensinger. Edit - I didn't notice the second part of your post. I personally own a Directstream Dac, Topping D90, and Holo May.
wow...guess I will keep my Denon dcd sx1 Limited ....sacd/dac reproductor, never sold outside Japan...It's Denon's Best...do your research...It has the absolute best parts and built to last a lifetime...these cheap dime a dozen dacs coming out everyweek to the over priced MSB DAC's ...I realize how good what I already have is....😂
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 Not all great audio gear has a 30 day return policy. Would it be good if it did sure. But by only buying gear that has a 30 day return policy you are severe limiting your potential scope of gear.. especially high performance/price gear. As for PSDS.. meh.
Chord higher priced model DAC’s are excellent sounding but a higher price than PS Audio and are not as flexible as the PS Audio DirectStream (dual I2S i inputs), and remote volume with a selectable 20dB attenuator.
Nah...I said in the Video how I felt about the product. It's sound equaled the DSSr. in many ways but certain music tracks, the DSSr. edged out the Terminator. R2R Ladder DAC's have come a long way since the 1980's. Just look at the Holo May DAC by Kitsune. I've heard that one too but never got a chance to do a "head to head" against the DSSr.. Features....lacking the remote is a huge one. I know folks that shied away from Denefrips and went Holo Spring or May because of it. Also, why all the RJ-45 I2S inputs ?. Holo gives you 2 HDMI I2S which is how I did the review and how my DSSr. is used. One for DSD, the other for PCM. Since Kitsune came out with their top line DAC's at the same price as Denefrips. Denefrips is now just a footnote in the DAC war's of 2020/2021. But I'll stand by my DSSr. till I die !
I had the latest ps audio with snow mass firmware , the Denafrips terminator was more defined better bass As well as imaging, the ps audio had a bit more tube softer leading edge , that doesnot make it better inside pc audio built like crap ,not even in the same ball park the Denafrips big dual Torroidal tons of $$ caps And over 140 filter caps and precision 4 R-R2R ladders with resistors bettering .005 for $4400 delivered A n9 Brainer, for $6400 ps audio money the 44 lb Terminatir plus Destroys it literally It can compete with any dac 2-3 times its cost , when I can afford it thst will be my center piece and I have had a bunch od well known dacs and parts quality mainly US and Europe and tested several times over 100+ Hours before even shipped , China as a country I may not care for but Vinshine in Singapore has strict QC parameters.
The Terminator DOES NOT destroy or is better the the PS Audio DirectStream Sr. DAC. At times, I couldn't hear a difference between the two but in the end, as I mentioned in the video, Ted Smith's FPGA based DAC won over the Terminator's Resistor to Resistor Ladder DAC. Before you trash PS Audio, understand that I will always be biased towards ANY product Made in the USA, Canada, or Mexico along with certain European Brands that are made in Europe. Myself being a casualty of Electronics Manufacturing being outsourced to China, I will always have a sorespot for Chi-Fi. Yes, I do have some Chi-Fi stuff only because it was the only source I could find for those products. Again, spending north of $4k USD on a product without listening to it and without 30 day trial period is a NO GO with many of my Audiophile friends and of course myself.
@@a5kobe313 don't get me wrong I love chinese products, I have a PrimaLuna integrated in fact. What I meant is: "a chinese product without local support".
that's exactly what everyone used to say about "made in Japan." The same thing is happening in China. Same thing is happening in Poland and Romania. Blossoming audio industry which is good for everyone except those who let politics get in the way.
That's what I do! I use the optical out from TV to my Denafrips Terminator II and it sounds great.
Great review, a lot of other reviewers ramble, but everything you said was clear, concise, and relevant. Subbed
Thank you Jon. My on camera "personality" kinda sucks. Others including my Wife & my Son have told me this. So I do my videos unscripted without Audiophile/Audiophool Adjectives. My friend that lent me the DAC has 1000x better on camera demeanor than I. He saw this Video prior to my making it Public and was cool with. Understand that I'm not sponsored, nor do I do Patreon. My channel is for informational purposes and my thoughts only. Other the Terminator DAC, everything in my Video's - I own !
Once in a while I'll do a Video Review on a product that's mine only because of my excitement/love/improvements in Audio Reproduction and so forth.
All The Best !
Joey G's Audio Channel Nah man, your on camera presence is better than most, imo. Keep doing you.
I agree, some guys could cut 90% of video time. Here he’s not rambling, well done. 👏
Also I subscribed. I like how you are nice and relaxed when discussing audio. Cheers from Italy
Thank you Three Dog Show. Habe a look when you have time at my latest Videos. I'm tto "relaxed" now. :-)
Unbelievable! Finally a review of the Terminator that I agree with. Subscribed. The Termi is a stellar DAC but some tracks come out as relatively weak in the upper mids. But for the most part I love the DAC and it was in my main system until I found the Audio GD R7 (2020 version). It's from china and is $1700 less expensive than the Terminator. The Termi has a little more high frequency detail but the R7 is no slouch in that regard, and it beats the Termi in the upper mids category IMO. It also has more bass slam than the Termi and it's toneful at the same time. Not just a thump sound like a bass drum. Pianos sound really great on both the Termi and the R7 but again, the R7 is a little better at recreating that natural tone that's difficult to reproduce. I would not classify it as "soft" though, as I would the PS Audio DirectStream.
Back in 2017 I bought the Denafrips Terminator and it replaced a PS Audio Dac senior screen glitches and all handily ,.
Like your Audio GD R7 in 2019 a friend came over with a AudioByte Hydra Vox dac manufactured in Romania which sold for about $1300.00 less then the Denafrips.
We played with each dac in our own systems then I sold the Terminator, also the Vox dac has an outstanding purpose built headphone section which turned me on for listening with headphones especially late at night ,..
The Denafrips is a good dac however maybe it’s overpriced,,.
@@marks.2909 It's a good thing that we have different opinions. Makes the world go 'round. I'm a complete DAC obsessed music lover and have owned a lot of 'em. The Audiobyte is a different kind of DAC than the Terminator which is an R2R ladder DAC. The Hydra/Vox is a good DAC but I like the presentation of the Terminator. To me it's more analog, and instruments sound very authentic, not an idealized version of them. Seems like there's too much processing going on in the Audiobyte.. The Audiobyte is a good deal though and is a good value. Again, to each his own.
@@cosmonaut9942 Thanks for your comments, really helpful ! Have you tried the Doge 7 dac ? How does it compare to the hydra and terminator ?
@@williams9117 I haven't tried the Doge 7. I'm taking a breather from audio gear and am focusing on guitar so I'm sticking with what I have for awhile.
@@marks.2909 thanks for enlightening me about the Audio GD R7
I found the upper mid range boost made the terminator unlistenable for the first 120 hours. In my case, it went away after about 150 hours. I don’t notice it anymore. It is a fine sounding dac, but I do agree that it was overhyped… And I do wish it had a remote as well…
Where did it go to ?
Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
I don’t own either dac so I’m not any fanboy of either.
What about talking about whether instruments and voice sound realistic as opposed to artificial.
Or maybe what the speed of each dac is like with music? The speed and clarity of bass? How big it narrow the soundstage is. Whether it’s realistic.Etc etc.
The remote thing wouldn’t worry me as I wouldn’t spend my time switching back and fourth. That’s more of a reviewer issue. If anyone is doing that at home normally then they have lost passion for music and are only interested in equipment.
So here's the thing about my style of "reviewing". I don't use flowery Audiophile Adjectives and yet I understand what they all mean. There are others on UA-cam who are better at it than me. I've been playing with Audio since I was a kid (for 37 years at least - I'm 51 now). If something sounds good, great, awesome, Fucking Awesome !, I'll report it as that. If something sounds like crap, shit, or Fucking Shitty, I'll keep that to myself unless I've bought the product and have "skin in the game". Companies don't send me stuff to review but locally, I'll get DAC's and Speakers from friends and ask their permission before posting a review on my Channel.
Hi Joey, how do you find the Sunlight firmware with the Directstream Sr.? On my Directstream Jr, It sounded too forced foward, I lost the great 3D soundstage from Windom. It had the same tonality, but the fowardness really was annoying and lacking soundstage. I switched back to Windom.
I was in between taking down the KEF R3's and the Open Baffle Project Speakers build. I am setting up just the R3's this week and will do a formal review between the two without it taking 40 freakin' minutes like my fellow Canucks up in T.O. (Audio Excellence Canada).
I'll do a UA-cam Video and do as you described and see if I get the same results. I do have Sunlight installed and am enjoying it but honestly, I'll need to to a qualitative listening session like I did for the LS 50 Meta's and regular LS50. Those listening sessions aren't easy it's solely based on my thoughts which odds are aren't the same as everyone else.
Thanks D,
Joe
I had considered the Denafrips for my Parasound JC2/JC5/Focal Sopra 2 setup. What stopped me was the lack of availability due to China's shut-downs back in March and also the lack of a trial period. I ended up buying a Schiit Yggydrasil A2 and really like it. Previously, I had a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ which was very good with high-res files but really unforgiving to older, less well-recorded music like Led Zeppelin.
I bought a Gungnir Mulitbit and LOVE it! A month after I bought it though, they started offering the Yggy with A1 boards for a couple hundred more, wish I had gone that route! I would consider the Denafrips, but not being able to demo the unit on my system before buying is pretty much a non-starter. Also, service consists of over the phone troubleshooting with them sending you replacement boards...which doesn't really appeal either. Looks like a well made product, they just need to get dealer and service networks in place.
@@johnnemesh5459 Could not have said it better myself John.
Thankyou for sharing the info.
You are welcome 2 Channel Audio. Again, I am not a reviewer but when I get a chance to share & compare to stuff I'm proud of in my rig (I am not sponsored and I own or am still debt with what you see in my Video...not LOL !
I had the Terminator and the DirectStream. I sold them both after I got a Lampizator Atlantic TRP no comparison
@@bryang9601 the Terminator has a more forward sound and controlled properly pitched bass, The DirectStream has a more laid back sound, tube like if you will. The I2S input is a must on the DirectStream, I found the bass a little loose. Just to be clear it is a wonderful DAC it just want my cup of tea ☕️ my preference was the Terminator, however at the time I had also purchased a Lampizator Atlantic TRP and it was no comparison it has all the best qualities of the Terminator and DirectStream plus a level of realism they could not achieve, effortless in it’s presentation with a stunning sound stage, I no longer look DACs this is it for me.
Can you rip an SACD on either of these to stream the DSD? Keeping discs and using them for playback is a pain in the ass.
Nah...you can't. But there are endless articles on the web on buying a cheap ass Sony BluRay Player and converting it via special firmware to enable ripping of SACD's onto a USB stick as a .dff DSD file. I was gonna go down that path until I bought the Chinese adapter boards. My SACD disc collection has increased in the last year because of this but I don't mind.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 You should do a video on how to do that! 👍👍😂
I had the opportunity to try the dac ares and the terminator. they are products of exceptional quality ... personally I had purchase problems because of the hakers but the head of the company as a serious and responsible person tried in every way to solve. valid products and a very serious company. I really recommend it both for product quality and professional ethics.
My problem with the Denefrips products is if (and that’s a big IF), something goes wrong. You have to do the repair yourself or hope that they’ve setup a North American repair/service/upgrade center (no clue if that’s true).
Hello
I m planing for ps audio direct stream dac .want to know it quality as compare to terminator and metrum acoustic pavane .
Get the PS Audio DAC. Excellent support whereas with Denefrips, if something goes wrong, you're stuck. Especially with the new Sunlight (final) DAC upgrade firmware. I'm not familiar so I can't comment.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 thanks a lot sir for your reply.I m looking natural and analogue sound with warm signature.that’s why in India most of the people running towards r2r dac specially terminator and Aries.I m little scared about ps audio because mainly it is not a dac company I mean they are specialise in power products .
@@anuragaggarwal9888 They are a DAC company since 1983 ! They were the 1st Audio Company that built an external DAC with a Buffer (Digital Lens still used in their DAC’s today).
They have some of the best expertise across all their products with a 47 year history. DAC’s, Amps, Preamps, Power Regeneration is their latest claim to fame. But I am not familiar with those.
Denafrips Terminator is a great DAC but with the latest Sunlight software installed on the DirectStream Sr., it will outshine the Terminator in all respects. I still stand by my comments in this Video after almost a year.
How important is a remote control and volume control for you Anurag ? Denafrips has neither but PS Audio has both.
I had both the terminator was superior the USB implementation on the PS Audio did not sound good you must use the I2S input
@@gumbypimp65 I agree on the USB input of the DirectStream Sr. DAC. It is thinner sounding than what I hear through I2S and even the coax and optical for PCM playback. Same goes for DSD via I2S. Ted Smith claims that the inputs are all agnostic and the user won’t hear a difference. I think the world of Ted’s work (respect) but other owners have also sensed the USB sounds “different” from the other digital inputs.
I never tested the Terminator’s USB and in hindsight, you are correct, I should have.
I have a Lampizator Baltic it was 5k and is my preamp too and it is amazing.
I've the Lampizator. It's a damn good DAC - no argument.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 100%
I’m still using my Denon 3520 CD player ...decades old ..and still sounds fantastic
I occasionally use a Denon 5910 just for a change.
Thanks for the video! Subscribed. I have a PS DS Sr in one system and PS DS Jr in another system, as well as a Chord Qutest for a 3rd system. I was really curious about the Denafrips DACs because of all of the positive buzz from Darko, NBTS, and Steve G. Now I feel comfortable with just being content with my PS DACs :) Check out the Matrix XSPIF 2 if you stream using a PC to your DS DAC. There's a huge thread on the PS Audio forums where the general consensus is that connecting via i2s with that little device in the middle elevates things even further, which has been my experience as well.
I've listened to the Holo May Edition Kitsune DAC at a friends place. Great DAC that outperforms the Terminator and has a remote ! I'll keep my PS Audio Directstream DAC Sr. till the day I die ! For Streaming I use my Sony/HDMI Video to I2S HDMI adapters. Also Audivanna is my main software for streaming via Qibuz (I wish it were AmazonHD compatible).
I had the Terminator DAC for a few months, bought without listening to it first (big mistake) and I was disappointed. No detail, dark sounding, lack of rithm. Fortunately I managed to sell it without loosing too much... I strongly suggest to listen to it first.
I agree !
Is your PS Audio PWD an MKiii? I don’t know what Sr. Is. Thanks
www.psaudio.com/products/directstream-dac/
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 it won’t let me open it.
@@Puroplatino I just checked the link and it’s good.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 it still doesn’t open for me. Yours is the new DirectStream DSD DAC correct? Or do you have the PWD Mki or Mkii? That was my question. I have the mkii and wanted to upgrade. That’s why I asked. Is the DSD that much better than the Mkii since it’s an FPGA and not a Sigma DAC? Thanks for your answers man.
@@Puroplatino Yes it is.
it's Ted Smith's design that been out for about 7 years with many user upgradeable software updates
Thanks for the review.
Did you use the same cables? (The upper midrange thing could be a XLR vs RCA thing)
By the way, your gear justifies way much better cables than the ones mentioned in the text intro.
Money my friend. I'm a firm believer in a good quality mechanical cable with a decent cosmetic look. But as to audio quality, there is a point of diminishing returns. But I won't pay what companies charge for their "upper tier" cables. It becomes Jewelry after a certain price point IMHO. Cables Matter but how much once you reach a certain Dollar value.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 A general rule of thumb, which I applied during my time in retail, as well using myself in my own systems, is to spend about 10% of your total budget on cables. So yeah, spending $1000 on a pair of interconnects for your $800 DAC doesn't make ANY sense! You will usually find better performance spending that money on better core components, like speakers, amps, sources, or DACs. However, I did find some great cables that DID make a HUGE improvement. Check out "Anticables" for speaker wire...they are simply thick gage oxygen free solid copper with the least amount of insulating material they could get away with...and they are both cheap AND sound great! (starting at $50/pair!) For interconnects, you really need to LISTEN to Black Cat. I got their entry level "Silverstar" digital coax cable...in a word, "wow"! This is going from my Node 2i to my Schiit Gungnir multibit DAC. Then I got a set of their entry level "Coppertone" RCAs. Again, huge results from the money spent. The Silverstar is about $300, the Coppertones were $200. I also was EXTREMELY skeptical of the benefits of aftermarket power cords...but a dealer friend of mine loaned me some Audioquest Z3 cables. More benefit than I could have imagined! It all matters, man. Don't go overboard, but don't make the mistake I did and listen using crappy cable for years! :)
@@johnnemesh5459 I've heard the Anti Cables at Ron Brenay's place and yes, the are a vast improvement over the others out there. I'm using Audioquest only because my system has seen many changes over the last year and a half and chopping up Red River cable and terminating them with XLR's was a much cheaper alternative.
When I have my system finalized (hopefully soon), I'll probably try the Anti Cables once I know my definitive lengths.
For me both the Denafrips from Singapore and PS Audio from Colorado are overseas products without local dealers. I've owned American products (Scott, Infinity, among others) and they were fine, but never lasted longer than 5 years.
The PS Audio DAC had been in production for over 7 years and is being retired this year. The Denafrips stuff is still “new” in the marketplace but no remote control and no volume control is a showstopper for so many people including myself that the PS Audio easily wins in those categories.
It does suck that neither company has local representation/dealer networks in certain Europe and Asia markets. But it is true of many U.S., European, and Asian Audio manufacturers.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 In my case the amplifier already has remote control and volume control, the DAC only needs to convert. I'm more curious about the percentage of PS Audio DACs that survived after 5 or more years.
Great Review smart conciderations
I don't understand why everyone gushed over the Terminator. None of my Audiophile friends with systems WAY better than what I have, said NO WAY. North of $4k no no 30 day policy ? Most of my friends can afford the "great stuff". They have their favourite Dealers and can swap equipment in and out their own rigs at home to audition before they buy (of course a credit card is required - but refundable).
PS Audio does the same thing.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 yes PS audio is a super great company. However, I must learn everything the hard way...lol. I hope One day to be able to repair and BUILD my own custom boards. That being said it looks like I'm just going to have to learn programming. Does that sound right?
Another thing is PS audio does have some stiff competition. ALL of these guys do. I'm really glad for that. That to me is the best for the consumer.
SMSL is good.
this is obsolete. now T+ is all the buzz
terminator eyebrows indeed !
Maybe I missed it, what are you using for a transport? I too have the PS Audio DAC. I also use their transport. Thinking about trade-in for their new transport in October. The combo sounds a lot like "vinyl" (without the scratches and skips.)
PS Audio has a lot of nay-sayers in the audio community as you probably already know.
I said what the hell! I picked-up a Terminator-Plus, $6,500. Spent about $1500 more than I did almost 6 years ago when I bought the PS Audio DAC. IMO, It does sound better than my PS Audio DSD Sr. More detail (crisp, if that's a description?) less (how do I put it?) foggy. Maybe that's just the difference between a Chip and a R-to-R Ladder DAC. Some say it's less analog than the PSA and the original Terminator. I have very, very few hours on it now, but we're working our way thru that. I will be trading-in my present PS Audio transport for their new model later this summer.
I finally saw sense to not rush into it but being void of demonstration opportunities, i was very close to just blindly buying the Denefrips' cheaper model because It got rave reviews online plus it's time i upgraded my day. When i first began buying above the budget hi-fi realm (for me it's a means to an end in better appreciating music rather than a 'Hobby' per se) ...i always preferred the sound of equipment employing discrete transistors & components compared to that using op-amp counterparts, everyone did in the 80's, so these resistor-ladder dacs made perfect sense ...theoretically at least. Now i'm being wary, this Terminator also had stellar reviews. but i don't like the sound of overly prominent midrange as i'm not lacking there & i sometimes use my speaker crossover's high-filter on my Tannoys 15" dual concentric (horn-loaded frequencies above 1 Khz) on recordings tilted towards higher frequencies. It sure is a risk & I cant say "i wish they had a distributor here" for demo/ refund deals because double price comes with that. I think i'll wait to hear more before i take the risk of blind-buying a Denefrips from China via Singapore (i'm told), but i may eventually risk it & expect to loose 30 - 40% on resale if i dislike it. 'p.s. 'Oversampling Mode' turned off made the sound less forward in higher frequencies according to 1 review on-tube from Canadian Thomas (can't recall site name)
That's my friend Thomas & Stereo that you are referring to. I agree with what you say about the risks. Love Tannoy's. A friend of mine has a similar pair like yours.
Interesting, have similar vintage Tannoys and been mulling similar things about the Ares II. Going to try and demo the Chord Qutest first. Perhaps the Pontus would be a better match for the Tannoys than the Terminator. Will depend a lot on taste and room I suspect.
@@merlingarnett3613
my opinion is,
I wouldn't waste time and money on the Chord Qutest...the little half brick does nothing to engage music
Rock on Smsl and Topping they make killer dacs for peanuts. And they are going to get more features and cheaper. It's getting very difficult for these companies to improve the quality of performance that is already beyond human hearing. If they start adding streamers and dsp we are in for a great time musically.
I had the Terminator, PSAudio and Lampizator Atlantic TRP, I settled on the Lampizator it was superior in every way.
With no I2S inputs on the Lampizator, how are you able to spin SACD discs ? USB for DSD over PCM of course but as pricey as the Lampizator is, they don't give that option. The Topping D90 @ $900 does.
Denafrips is fantastic.
Don’t agree at all in my system terminator noticably better.
Chi fi is an issue. I had a top of the line Shanling SACD tube player ($3500) that stopped working after a year. The repair cost was almost as buying a new system.
Denafrips has 3-year warranty I think
you look like gargamel 🙂
I'd like to Thank Everyone for the kind comments and to all the new Subscribers.
Joey G give me a break I have to make my own videos this is a joke all these opinions about audio from these uneducated people,is this something everyone who listens to music does,I’m a audio recording engineer for more than 34 years and I’m sick of these,I listen to music so I can give the world my opinions 🥴
you don't need to be "educated" to give a personal opinion about a product... that's bs.
This has to be a satire post haha
Obviously a dipsh*t troll.
He's sick of these videos and comments, yet he comes here to watch and read. Hahaha!!
It's 11months and I don't see any videos in your page. I know of some pretty lousy engineers of all persuasions, including audio.
i agree the terminator is far from perfect but the ps audio is to soft and not exacting enough for all that money and will nice to experience i would never never pay to keep,
I'd have to disagree with you on that Mark. Understand that the FPGA based PS Audio DAC gets a free update from time to time. If one doesn't like the new update, they can easily pick any of the older software versions to suit their taste. I did this review with the Windom version of software and as I'd mentioned in the Video heard differences between the DAC's that in my setup, always favored the PS Audio DAC. Again, there were times were I could not hear the differences between the two DAC's.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 im not saying the ps audio has no merits or that its an inherently bad dac but its not enough gun in the gun fight for the outlay, its always passable but never astounding or inciteful in away i can get behind let alone get from other dacs its a safe middle ground at best but not a keep for life or stop striving for more, i mean look at the over priced dcs or msb dacs they preform and sound better but what would you pay for that pleasure, for similar money a tt2(still a half measure) or a bit more a Dave more or less easily trounces the ps dac , i dont want to argue the issues with those updates but they arnt necessarily a strength(iv only heard two versions), i guess if it was the price of the jr i would recommend it to more ppl but the value is simply not there, and really that people looking in this price point should spend half or less or a bit more, i think this price point represents the worst value overall.
i do agree with you statements over issues stomaching expensive chicom products:)
you should try the dac with duelund power cord tinned copper strands cotton sleeving with flat copper as grounding you will be amazed......
Sounds like u enjoy high amounts of distortion and inaccurate sound that ps audio unit measurements are so poor its outclassed by 50 dollor dacs but hey some people see price and equate quality
Oh Boy.....I'm not a fan of ASR but I did watch the interview he Amir with Joe'N'Tell. Amir knows his stuff, no argument there, and he seems like a pretty cool educated person.
I've said and so have Nelson Pass, Paul McGowan, Darren Myers, Dan D'Agostino, Ted Smith, and so many other respected Engineers in the Audiophile World. You Baseline your design to have the best specs. Then you add the flavors to make them come alive. Voice them so that the masses like what they hear so the end product actually sells, and that's it. That's not distortion, that's adding harmonics to the product for a more listenable experience. Of course they are coloring the sound, all the good companies do it so that we can listen to their products without hours of fatigue.
Speakers are the worst offender's when it comes to distortion. Pucks in your net Ray.
Statistics bear out that a Toyota Yaris is more reliable than a Lamborghini Aventador, but offered either one for free, which would you take? Buy the $50 dac and stop complaining about what other people buy or prefer.
@@wty1313 You make no sense. What DAC do you own ?
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 comment was in reply to @Ray Bensinger.
Edit - I didn't notice the second part of your post. I personally own a Directstream Dac, Topping D90, and Holo May.
wow...guess I will keep my Denon dcd sx1 Limited ....sacd/dac reproductor,
never sold outside Japan...It's Denon's Best...do your research...It has the absolute best parts and built to last a lifetime...these cheap dime a dozen dacs coming out everyweek to the over priced MSB DAC's ...I realize how good what I already have is....😂
Psds not in same league as terminator with v2 board. Ps just wayyy to smooth and lacks detail and treble extension.
Wrong ! But then again, where can I demo it ? See, this is where not having a Dealer Network or a 30 day trial will bite them in sales.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 Not all great audio gear has a 30 day return policy. Would it be good if it did sure. But by only buying gear that has a 30 day return policy you are severe limiting your potential scope of gear.. especially high performance/price gear.
As for PSDS.. meh.
@@joeygsaudiochannel3972 Another vote here of PSDS is also less details (all relatively) too. Chord TT2 + M Scaler is also more details than that.
Chord higher priced model DAC’s are excellent sounding but a higher price than PS Audio and are not as flexible as the PS Audio DirectStream (dual I2S i inputs), and remote volume with a selectable 20dB attenuator.
@@QQ-td9id agreed
ChiFI doesn't seem to believe in remotes. If I am going give them $5G, they gotta show me some respect :)
Amen Brother !
The Holo Audio May has a remote, and it is about the same price as the Terminator.
They pretend it as Singapore Fi, Sinfi.
i think the review is more on features than actual sound....
Nah...I said in the Video how I felt about the product. It's sound equaled the DSSr. in many ways but certain music tracks, the DSSr. edged out the Terminator. R2R Ladder DAC's have come a long way since the 1980's. Just look at the Holo May DAC by Kitsune. I've heard that one too but never got a chance to do a "head to head" against the DSSr..
Features....lacking the remote is a huge one. I know folks that shied away from Denefrips and went Holo Spring or May because of it. Also, why all the RJ-45 I2S inputs ?. Holo gives you 2 HDMI I2S which is how I did the review and how my DSSr. is used. One for DSD, the other for PCM. Since Kitsune came out with their top line DAC's at the same price as Denefrips. Denefrips is now just a footnote in the DAC war's of 2020/2021.
But I'll stand by my DSSr. till I die !
I had the latest ps audio with snow mass firmware , the Denafrips terminator was more defined better bass
As well as imaging, the ps audio had a bit more tube softer leading edge , that doesnot make it better inside pc audio built like crap ,not even in the same ball park the Denafrips big dual Torroidal tons of $$ caps
And over 140 filter caps and precision 4 R-R2R ladders with resistors bettering .005 for $4400 delivered
A n9 Brainer, for $6400 ps audio money the 44 lb Terminatir plus Destroys it literally
It can compete with any dac 2-3 times its cost , when I can afford it thst will be my center piece and I have had a bunch od well known dacs and parts quality mainly US and Europe and tested several times over 100+
Hours before even shipped , China as a country I may not care for but Vinshine in Singapore has strict QC parameters.
The Terminator DOES NOT destroy or is better the the PS Audio DirectStream Sr. DAC. At times, I couldn't hear a difference between the two but in the end, as I mentioned in the video, Ted Smith's FPGA based DAC won over the Terminator's Resistor to Resistor Ladder DAC.
Before you trash PS Audio, understand that I will always be biased towards ANY product Made in the USA, Canada, or Mexico along with certain European Brands that are made in Europe. Myself being a casualty of Electronics Manufacturing being outsourced to China, I will always have a sorespot for Chi-Fi. Yes, I do have some Chi-Fi stuff only because it was the only source I could find for those products.
Again, spending north of $4k USD on a product without listening to it and without 30 day trial period is a NO GO with many of my Audiophile friends and of course myself.
nice video man, would love to hear a complete review and analisys of the Denafrips. $4k for a chinese product is a hard pill to swallow.
so why can't Chinese make hi end products??? and where're those iPhone pro max come from? don't be a bigot
@@a5kobe313 don't get me wrong I love chinese products, I have a PrimaLuna integrated in fact. What I meant is: "a chinese product without local support".
net news imagine the cost if it was domestic😳
that's exactly what everyone used to say about "made in Japan." The same thing is happening in China. Same thing is happening in Poland and Romania. Blossoming audio industry which is good for everyone except those who let politics get in the way.
@@triumphlover7455 Yes. New Terminator plus is $6.5K and could be >$10K if through local distributor.
Chinese brand made it 90% less appealing
Racist!
For me it makes it 200% more appealing because I know how good Chinese products can get for an affordable price
@@Ferrywijaya30 I'll be reporting you to UA-cam for hate speech shortly.
i know if this dac sell via normal retail channel, it'll be $15-20k....