Denafrips Terminator Dac Why I still own it.

[@DAN1L0]

hi Gaby, your videos are great! it would be great if you could compare all your other DAC builds with the Terminator regarding soundstage, dynamics, noise, etc. it would be much easier to choose what to build.

[@Temp19750118]

Exactly! If it's reference, then @Gabster1 share your experience about comparisons.

[@phillipmorris9847]

I love me some Gabster, we are all so fortunate to have you. I think we all would love to hear some sound clips (and a few words) of the 2 dacs you built and the terminator....please

[@SunnySue-q6q]

Great Video thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Denafrips Terminator Dac

[@Roger-lz9ro]

Awesome Video Thank you for your inspiration and valuable advice you always make things very practical.

[@Gabster1]

Thank you Roger

[@nadeembrossard8687]

Good to have a reference great videos

[@Thoughtflux]

Awesome video as always! 😊 I have always wondered if there is a way to upgrade clocks, power supplies etc on cheaper r2r dacs and make them sound amazing? I'm too old to start learning electronics.

[@philipw7058]

There are a lot of dacs out there that out perform it for a lot less money but to each their own

[@nespodzany]

Nice summation. Question, the discovery you made regarding the near uselessness of adding ultra high end streamers due to how the Terminator deals with the signal. Do you know if the Venus 12th II also does this? I'm pretty happy with my Lumin U2 mini connected to my Venus but just curious. Thanks!

[@Gabster1]

Yes, exactly

[@majicogarcia8417]

Thanks for posting. Been a while since I tinkered with DACS. I will be auditioning the Ares at some point thanks to your video. If I decide to get ambitious, I will splurge on the Terminator 2. The most I have ever spent on a DAC up to this point was $700 on the Musical Fidelity MXDAC, which sounded pretty good but was actually bested by the much cheaper MF V90 DAC, so I got rid of it.

[@Gabster1]

Sometimes a cheaper dac is way better if you are happy no need to change. The differences in Dacs is not huge better spend the money on Speakers first.

[@DAN1L0]

also, I'm planning to build a DAC and your builds seem to be really good. I specially like your latest D6. because most of us already have some kind of streamer, it would be great though if you build a pure DAC (without the streamer part). that way it would either be cheaper or we could spend the cost of the streamer parts on even better components (if possible).

[@cochinada01]

Thanks for the explanation!

[@mjmonjure]

Thanks, nice video. I have a Pontus II, thinking about upgrading to the Terminator, but there are other newer ones such as Holo May, now the LAiV.

[@Gabster1]

Thank you just a advice I have tried the Pontus and own a terminator A simple build like the D6 will outperform the Pontus and at least equals the terminator kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4G5YoKEZ5h_Zrssi=f6nujE5D-bbDfCjF

[@robertreynolds2212]

I’ve owned the Terminator-Plus for 2 years now & can’t imagine selling it. If you can acquire one used, it’s a wonderful deal.

[@Gabster1]

Glad you like it may be will try it sometime.

[@carminedesanto6746]

Good morning from Toronto ☕️Interesting point ..bringing YOUR DAC to them ….true the set up is different..but you’re looking for the change ( hopefully significant and positive) from the exchange of ONE component. Great video and thanks .👍

[@Gabster1]

Yes Totally that was the imp point to make here is use your Dac as a reference at the dealer before selling it and upgrading.

[@Temp19750118]

@Gabster1 I'm really interested in comparison between delta sigma ES9038Q2M and denafrips r2r dac. I mean Ian's best implementation. Those are different aproaches in dacs built.

[@TipoF129B]

You should try the new Arce streamer feeding the terminator 2 12th via I2S and with clocks synchronized.

[@HoomanR17]

Gaby, you described the Terminator sound as analog.. I'm wondering what your latest DAC/Streamer combo sounds in comparison. Is it also analog sounding or more analytical?

[@Gabster1]

Somewhere in between.

[@HoomanR17]

@@Gabster1 Thanks for your response.. I have the Ares II and often wished it was closer to my vinyl rig.. Would the dac/streamer combo be a step in the right direction from the Ares ii?

[@jasonallen1205]

You compared the Terminator to tge PS audio directstream Dac. I can get a directstream used for $1500 usd. Do you think that is a fair price for the DAC even though its technology is years old. Or can a new dac for $1500 beat it today? Im just curious what your personal opinion is.

[@Gabster1]

for 1500 it is good It may not sound better then a equivalent new 1500 dac but will resell easier.

[@jasonallen1205]

@@Gabster1 thanks for advice.

[@PalaniAcoustic]

so far i haven't found a dac that justifies the x thousands of euros extra; so i'm very happy with our self-builds :)

[@Gabster1]

I totally agree and it is a rewarding Journey.

[@MisterJDee]

Hey Gabby, how can I know if my DAC reclocks the signal from my streamer? I’m currently using a Wiim mini but I’ve bought a Raspberry Pi board with the intention to build your ultimate streamer, however your statement in todays videos has made me pause. Am I wasting my time/money building an iancanada parts streamer if it won’t sound much different from my Wiim? Love your work! Thanks!

[@Pete.across.the.street]

All dacs reclock signal from your streamer.... It for sure will sound better than Wiim. I think what he was saying was that there's no need to use ultra-expensive clocks in your streamer. You still need a good streamer to start with. Wiim, while good for the money, is not that great.

[@Gabster1]

Well said @Pete.across.the.street the cleaner power will help a lot but don't waste a lot of $ on the clocks, and maybe consider building a Dac, it is not a lot more.

[@cenkisil574]

@@Pete.across.the.streetHey Pete. Do synchronous digital connections get reclocked too? I thought only asynchronous (USB) connections are buffered and reclocked. What am I missing?

[@Pete.across.the.street]

@@cenkisil574 there's a clock in the streamer that renders the signal, and then there are also clocks in the dac for conversion to analog. Sync and async both get reclocked in the dac, just a matter of how they arrive. One in a push configuration and the other in a pull (async). At least I'm pretty sure that's how it works. You want the clock in the streamer good enough not to introduce very much jitter, but the ones in the dac matter the most, because those are the ones that you are actually "listening " to. That being said no matter how good the clock is in the dac , if it is fed from a poor clock in the streamer, there is only so much it can overcome. Garbage in, garbage out. That is why you want a streamer with a VERY good power supply and a decent clock. There are also external reclockers that add an additional clock in the path. I have found that these work pretty well on budget gear, but it is better to keep the path short and just start with a well-clocked signal from a good streamer.

[@cenkisil574]

@@Pete.across.the.street thank you. 🤸🏻

[@andreaminguzzi2896]

Thanks

[@Gabster1]

Thank you 🙏 appreciate the support

[@marcodeangelis4535]

hi gaby! what you said about reclock by terminator is frustrating! i mean, i'm denafrips pontus owner and actually I reclock the DAC with my ian canada Q7 + scpure clock via I2s; I think to have made a huge upgrade! that's what my ears say I think...so what you said is daunting! sigh....if I well understood what you're sayng...right?

[@Gabster1]

You will hear some minor changes It may be that your previous streamer was very noisy. Try adding a dual mono DacII and a Opa861 you will move up by a huge amount you are almost there.

[@marcodeangelis4535]

​@@Gabster1 first of all i forgot to thank you for ALL you are doing with your channel! fantastic job! really thank YOU! And.....i compared my Q7 with denafrips DDC IRIS and yes...i found relevant differences in favour of Q7....so i don't think is noisy the focus point.....did you try for instance denafrips Terminator2 that has BNC 45/49 outputs? maybe could be the solution to exploit hardware DAC potentials from the simple hdmiPro+Q7? what do you think about? maybe could you make a video just to clarify this focus point? coul it be helpful for more of us? tks!!!

[@WelkySchullin]

Thx again for the video I watch most of them. If you haven´t try Audio-gd R7HE DAC you should - much better than Terminator

[@Gabster1]

Thank you, good suggestion

[@Nalimelorin]

Hi all. I have FifoPi Q7 connected to DDDAC with PCM1794A DAC chip on it and it does not uses/has any clock. It has I2S input and I2S BCK (or SCK) pin contains the clock signal generated by Q7 clock. It is so much better sounding than any DAC I tried in the last few years, including Denafrips and Ian ES9038 Dual Mono MKII (the new one)

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Q7 clock isn't a clock?

[@Nalimelorin]

​@@Pete.across.the.street yes, Q7 has clock, so?

[@Pete.across.the.street]

@@Nalimelorin you said no clock, then said clock, just confused

[@Nalimelorin]

@@Pete.across.the.street DDDAC has no clock on its own. It uses the Q7's clock through I2S connector. So the streamer/fifopi and the ddac uses the same clock.

[@Pete.across.the.street]

@@Nalimelorin oh that's cool. Does that lower jitter or more of a cost saving thing?

[@nathanbell6962]

You absolutely must buy the Iris and send the clocks out from the Terminator, big difference

[@leendertbruynder459]

According to Alvin from Vinshine, one can NOT connect the Pontus II to a new clock. NO BNC clock inputs on the Pontus…I2S is not a Pontus clock input….. 😳🙄🤓

[@Pete.across.the.street]

You can if you take off the lid AND know what you are doing. Modding is fun DIY as well.

[@iBeaver1973]

@Gabster1 a new challenge for you!! if you choose to accept this mission, the rewards will be super happy followers and most likely a huge bump in subscribers 😃 how can you show us how to build a streamer running android 11 with ability to be bitperfect with apple music!! aka the DYI eversolo dmp-a6 and now the a8. as always, awesome vid, and thanks for sharing 😊

[@Gabster1]

Thank you will have to think about this one :)

[@iBeaver1973]

@@Gabster1 I was lazy and didn't google... but found some dyi sites that have good info for getting android to not down sample. I'll look to some of Ian from Canada kit, looks like from your streamer vids, I could be in good shape!! Enjoy the music 😊

[@andreaminguzzi2896]

Thanks

[@Gabster1]

Thank you Andrea appreciate the support 😊