DAC shopping - Trying to sift through the Hype. Can I trust the reviews these days ??

So how many dac suggestions do we have here on this thread alone? Anyone shopping for a dac should be confused.

My overall take on dacs, this based on countless reviews, opinions and my own listening, is that digital as it pertains to A to D and D to A conversion has finally become a mature technology and industry. Not that difficult to achieve relatively high levels of resolution, transparency in  dacs, presentation is where the greatest differences will be found. And I'm not saying there are NOT meaningful differences in the realm of resolving, transparency, only that even at lower price levels dacs may provide all the resolution many systems are capable of. 

Streaming setups is where the real action is, innovation coming fast and furious. One can't even begin to know what their dac capable of without first attending to the entire streaming chain.

@mm1tt77 Some great info there. I'm very curious about the new LTA dac. I've always dreamed of owning one of their Preamps, but out of my price range. LTA is a solid company.

I do like that my DAC has a separate power supply, it's always best to get the power in it's own chassis. With my Antipodes streamer I also use a Sbooster. As far as streamers go... I like Antipodes or Innuos, because they both support SqueezeLite. That's my ecosystem of choice. Both companies make solid Streamer/Servers.

@Bunkertoy, if you’re interested in R2R dacs and would like to sample the technology without spending a lot of money, you may want to consider the older Audio By Van Alstine dacs. A few years back I purchased a 2008 AVA Insight multibit dac for about $300. It’s really quite good and has me wondering what the logic is in spending thousands of dollars on a dac. However, that’s just my subjective opinion and as such should be taken with a grain of salt.

Best of luck in your search for a new dac and most of all enjoy the journey! 😊

The Harmony DAC is a real surprise, fights way above its weight only negative is it's a little not tube sounding. Also the biggest change in audio quality to me hasn't been cables or components but the switch to the Is2 connection much better than USB and it's easy to tell. 

Pontus II lacks true NOS mode, while the Cyan 2 operates exclusively in NOS. It seems the Laiv is a well-rounded DAC option for a 'purist' but also want to have an option of filtering for some genres of music.

Yep, all dacs sound the same, all cables sound the same, all amps sound the same, all preamps sound the same, usb is the best interface, on and on with all the audio myths.

Huge difference in sq, huge difference in chips/non-chip dacs (I only get fpga based dacs), and usb is the worst interface to a dac. If it was so good, why the hundreds of reclockers, cable splitting the power/data runs, femto clocks, offramp devices, on and on. The better streamers/dacs don’t even have usb, my streamer doesn’t.

Remember the special interfaces between cd/sacd players and their preamps? Look at Esoteric products, they use i2s.

99% of audio people will never try/audition i2s or Ethernet interfaces because the cheaper dacs don’t include them. So before anybody has an opinion on i2s or Ethernet, verify that they has actually used this or disqualify it right away.

My dac includes all interfaces and I have tested usb vs Ethernet vs i2s. Last place is usb, second place is Ethernet and 1st place is i2s.

For accuracy, I have an RME ADI FS 2. It has USB, Toslink, and coax inputs. Among the half dozen digital filters is NOS. And a five-band parametric equalizer if you are into that.
"I'm all about analog. low fatigue sounds. full sound with timbre, holographic,tubey,warm." To get that, I run the RME output through a tube preamp. It also helps to have appropriate speakers for that sound.

@bunkertoy going slightly in a different direction from some responses here, I’d share your BelCanto 3.7 is quite nice as-is. You might have to spend quite a bit more $ than some of the lower cost R2R dacs mentioned to beat what you have now = which is known to be smooth sounding dac with nice presentation.

Having also tried some of the lower cost R2Rs myself just for fun, and compared against my own prior dacs. designed and built around that exact same BB TI/PM1792 chipset, I enjoyed those dacs too. If you have a chance, go for a top shelf R2R true resistor ladder dacs to make it a more helpful and compelling comparison, ime. Interested to see what you end up trying, testing, comparing if you do proceed. If not, enjoy what you have now which is very nice too 

@gryphongryph As I mentioned in my earlier post, I am really interested in the Audial DAC S5b. When you get it, please let me know how you like it and what qualities it has. It is a real intriguing DAC. I'm sort of stuck until I get something sold. 

@bunkertoy I know you are getting a bunch of suggestions. Just remember to look at all of the specs on them. Some don't do DSD. Some do not oversample (if that is something you want). Some don't have many digital inputs. I am pretty much committed for my new DAC to have an i2s input so I can use the DDC to the full potential. Some DACs use i2s as their native language so it would seem to make sense to use that input if it is available.

Right now, for me, it is basically looking like either the Pontus 15th or the Audial DAC S5b although some others merit consideration such as the refurbished PS Audio Direct Stream or the Audio-gd R-7HE Mk 2 or 3. Also if a used La Scala showed up at a good price or a Holo May, I would jump at those. 

Anyhow, I still suggest you try a DDC first and possibly save yourself a bunch of money if you think your DAC is good but want to try different inputs.

All DACs sound different, how different depends on system resolution,testing methodology, and listening acumen.

the best way we have found play a 20 sec snippet of music note the volume level on a SPL meter then switch Dacs repeat and note what changes.

as per USB this OP has a superb Antipodes server, so its USB output will sound great.

What matters is the servers design.

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect NJ

From the Streamer an AES/EBU cable is used into the Weiss DAC and then XLR or RCA form the Weiss goes to the Pre or intreated AMP.  A wise man told me that AES/EBU is where the magic happens having something to do with how the DAC takes over???? Anyway hope you get to try one. They come up used.

@decooney Seems many people are saying the same about my Bel Canto 3.7. I did blow $1500 in upgrades last year. It's non-fatiguing and at times warm.

You know how this stupid hobby is... It sounds great, but maybe I can change it up. What's the deal with R2R...? everyone is talking about it. :).

@audiotroy The Antipodes is a great server/streamer. The reason I started this chat is because I'm using the Spdif output, not the USB. USB is what Antipodes suggest to use.

@bunkertoy ...You know how this stupid hobby is... It sounds great, but maybe I can change it up. What’s the deal with R2R...? everyone is talking about it. :).

When comparing a good delta sigma dac to an equivalent quality R2R resistor-ladder dac, some people tend to focus on these topics. Sharing a few of my own notes, and I learned not all R2R dacs are created equal. There are other members here on Agon who’ve tried far more dacs than I have, and they will likely chime in more. Sharing some of my prior Industry notes and comments collected fwiw:

The preference for R2R (Resistor-to-Resistor) DACs over Delta-Sigma DACs often comes down to sound quality and personal preference. There are a few reasons why some people favor R2R DACs:

Sound Signature: Many audiophiles feel that R2R DACs produce a more natural and musical sound. They often describe Delta-Sigma DACs as sounding a bit more clinical or sterile in comparison.

Linearity: R2R DACs are known for their high linearity, which means they can reproduce audio signals with less distortion.

Simplicity: R2R DACs have a simpler design compared to Delta-Sigma DACs, which use complex algorithms and filtering. This simplicity can translate to a more straightforward and transparent sound.

Resolution: Some listeners believe that R2R DACs offer better resolution and detail, especially in the midrange frequencies.

@freediver @tkrtrb125 You're both misunderstanding the effect of noise (EMI or RFI) on a digital component. You won't hear noise as audible static or hash. Instead, it affects how music is reproduced. Noise makes digital music sound more edgy and less smooth. Some people perceive this as not sounding as smooth as analog reproduction via a turntable or R2R tape deck. Others "hear" noise only when they listen to the same recording with noise filtered out.

I'm all about analog. low fatigue sounds. full sound with timbre, holographic,tubey,warm.

@bunkertoy The Pontus II is great at conveying timbre and sounding warm. Is it better than your Bel Canto? The only way to tell is to have it in your system and try it out. Perhaps get a used Pontus II so you can resell it if it's not an improvement. One suggestion for the Pontus II is that it sounded best to me with a Supra LoRad power cable at about US $91. I've tried 11 power cables on the Pontus ranging from $15 to $1400 and the LoRad is the one that sounded best to my ears.

The Denafrips Pontus II DAC is not hype nor a promotion. It is most likely one of the best selling DACs for at least 3 years, with hundreds and hundreds of positive reviews. I've had mine for 3 years, and it has held it's own as I've upgraded the rest of my system a couple of times (new amps, preamps, speakers, cables, power input, CD tranpsorts, etc.

The Pontus II is one of those special products that hit a grand slam upon release and remains one of the most musical, enjoyable, listenable, and fun DACs I've heard....at an amazing price of $2,000 for the 15th for the current release.....I think I paid $1,450 for mine when I bought it.

It is not the most detailed, the quickest, and is of course not perfect. I will replace mine next year, and move the Pontus II to a second system.....as my system now is good enough for a better DAC. Yes I2S does make a difference, it's the best way to drive the Pontus II (and I'd suspect any DAC that supports it)

An anecdote about how much I like the sound of the Pontus II. I decided to listen to much more expensive DACs over the past two years, because I was curious to figure out what spending a LOT more money in a DAC could get me.

Note as context for my impressions: I listen to a lot of acoustic and vocal music (jazz, classical) so an organic tonal quality is important to me. Detail and resolution is important as well, but secondary to tonal quality and a sound that conveys air and space well.

I listened to the dCS Bartok APEX, dCS Puccini Apex, and the Linn Organik DAC in their Klimax DSM. Of these three network music players that I heard, the only one that I would want to replace the Pontus II regardless of price was the Linn.

1. dCS Bartok APEX, $14.5k: Not only did this not clearly sound better than the Pontus, my impression is that I liked the Pontus for the music I prefer.
2. dCS Puccini APEX, $32k: Really good from an "objective" standpoint on your typical audiophile measures, but didn’t seem to engage me. The tonal quality of the sound also seemed a bit synthetic.
3. Linn Organik DAC in the Linn Klimax DSM: $40k (but Organik DAC is also available in the Selekt DSM unit starting around $20k): Definitely better in all ways than my Pro-ject streamer/ Pontus II DAC, but the improvement in resolution (and tonal quality to a lesser degree) is only a marginal gain.

I am also searching for a DAC/Streamer. I have been looking at the HiFi Rose the model 150 and the model 250A. My equipment is a McIntosh MA 462 power amplifier and a C55 Preamplifier. My C55 has a built in DAC. How good is the DAC in my Preamplifier compared to the HIfi Rose or other DACs? I am open to recommendations, viewpoints, and critical evaluations.

@marquis4099 what streamer / server do you have paired with the McIntosh DAC in your pre?  I haven’t heard the DAC in your Pre but have read posts by others who own Mac gear and have very positive thing to say about the DAC.  I’d get the HiFi Rose 130b which is a streamer only but an outstanding streamer.  Buy it from a dealer with a return / trail period.  If you feel like you want to upgrade the DAC and streamer you can exchange for one of HiFi Roses DAC / Streaming combos.  If you get the 130 you’ll be set up to upgrade your DAC down the road.  Have fun, good luck.

@bunkertoy you’ve got an awesome streamer / server!  I confused your set up with someone else’s in this thread who piggybacked off your initial question.  Have fun with the DAC search!  You have a great system that will highlight the differences. 

@calvinandhobbes @vthokie83 It seems like the performance of the Pontas ii can't be denied.

 I can get a used one at a reasonable price. Do a comparison and see where I'm at. Cheap experiment that might yield new results.

I'd suggest anyone with I2S capable dac to procure a ddc or I2S capable streamer with OXCO clock, slave/sync this clock to dac. You will get greater resolution/transparency and possibly even more important a much more analog like presentation vs any present input being used. Greater resolution/transparency due to I2S being the native signal path within dacs, dac no longer has to convert other schemes to I2S, also doesn't have to extract data from clock. More analog like presentation due to superior OXCO clocking. Over the many years I've been streaming have tried various clocking schemes, this via usb,with more precise clocking heard direct correlation to a less digital presentation, the long known effects of jitter became manifest. Move on to I2S via Denafrips Gaia with it's OXCO clock, immediately and easily heard presentation that flows much like my pretty nice vinyl setup, far superior to clocking improvements via usb.

Bottom line, for this decades long, somewhat jaded audiophile, the conversion to I2S rates in the very top tier of upgrades, very meaningful.

SNS

For me (I use the Denafrips Iris DDC with a TXCO temperature controlled crystal oscillator), the combo of the DDC and the use of I2S from it to the Pontus II was definitely a 1 + 1 = 3 situation. The Supra 2.1 HDMI cable is terrific for the $60 it costs, but the Audioquest Vodka 48 8k/10k is extraordinary.....and I am NOT an Audioquest fan; but that particular cable is the best I2S cable I've ever tried

The refurbished PS Audio Direct stream MkI for $1599 is a screaming deal. I got one via TMR and also an Airlens. Very happy with the combo.

If it's any help, I posted my review of the Denafrips Pontus Gen 15 here (under the Digital heading) on 11/13. I'm aware that this DAC presents differently from its predecessor, the Pontus 12th (based on what I've read, having never actually heard one). However, taken on its own terms, I'm really pleased with the Gen 15. Of course, it's all about personal preference, that is, whether this particular presentation appeals to your own taste. It certainly appeals to mine!

We have compared many DAC’s costing upwards of $10K with the DAC below.

You might consider this one although it is above your budget.

The Limited Edition Signature Series Plus.

Lots of positive reviews on the website.

It is a modified PS Audio Directstream Mk1 DAC. See photo below:

Consider a Lampizator Amber 3, 4 or 5. The 5 has the latest upgrades. However, all 3 are exceptional in the under 5K category. The Weiss 501 is also another option to strongly consider. Consider purchasing a used DAC to move up a tier or two and save money. I would also follow the manufacturer’s recommendation regarding the best cable to use. Some manufacturers recommend a high quality USB cable. 

Mojo audio demo sale

I'd look at Weiss

Border Patrol. No hype, just great music. 

In any serious comparison that rises above the noisiness of anecdotes filled with subjective claims about sound signatures, I highly recommend going to Audio Science Review and checking out the leader board. The upper quartile of DACs are sonically neutral and effectively indistinguishable from one another.

The various discussions there by seasoned engineers, DIY experimenters, and even leading audio equipment vendors (Dan Clark is discussing his new headphones right now!) are eye-opening regarding some of the topics that are quite jumbled/confused here on Audiogon, like I2S versus USB 3.0, the effectiveness of cables, oversampling, and so on.

Such a great resource for aspiring audio equipment fans and the cognoscenti alike!

Best of luck on your search!

Maybe starting 8yrs ago, there have been great sonic strides in digital DACs.  
 

Notable DACs:

• 2.3 Doge 7 MkII tube DAC              
• 2.6 Ferrum Wandla - HR competes w 10k DACs   +1.2 HYPSOS power supply 
• 2.7 LAiV Harmony DAC
• 3.0 Musician Aquarius - sounds like a $5k DAC
• 4.3 Denafrips Terminator  [BNC in,  XLR out](But USB in best per AudioBacon)                                                                                      
• 4.0 Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC
• 4.5 Wired4Sound DAC-2v2SE                    
• 5.0 Audio-GD R7HE MK2                              
• 5.6 Kitsune Hifi May-KTE.                           
• 6.6 Lampizator Baltic 4 (punches way above price point- beats KTE)
• 6.8 Bel Canto Ex1 DAC (Transparent)                    
• 7.1 T+A DAC200
• 7.3 Lampizator Golden Atlantic TRP,          
• 8.0 ACCUPHASE DP-570 CD/SACD PLAYER                                     
• 8.0 Legacy Wavelet II processor +$200 custom speaker 

Ferrum Wandla and Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC seems like sonic bargains at their price points.  The T+A DAC200 is also a solid Sonic choice.

But, if you want to swing for the Sonic fences, then maybe 11k MBL C41 Network Player (streamer+DAC) whose Sonic’s competes with top DACs.  TAS Exec Editor JV called it a “bargain” whose Sonic’s are somewhat comparable to the ~68k Kalista DreamPlay.  This review just came out in TAS Dec 2024 issue.  “superb near tape sound..”.  

USB is noisy.  It’s not noise you hear thru your speakers at high volumes.  It’s background grunge that masks blackness as well as adding to the digital harshness and loss of PRaT.

My Innuos Statement and Lampizator GG3 both have USB and I have a FTA Sinope USB cable but I prefer the streamers Ethernet output and S/PDIF input on my DAC.  I don’t believe more modestly priced USB outputs or inputs will sound any better.

I have an Antipodes S20/S60 DDC, I bought them used and it is much better than the Denafrips Iris I had before.  I feel the DDC does a good job of cleaning up a lot of the noise USB adds.

I was very certain from reading and watching videos that I wanted an R2R DAC. I happened to pick up a Weiss DAC204 and it is truly excellent. I’m not using a linear power supply yet. Has a much more involving sound than my old Auralic Altair. I am more of a vinyl guy but wanted to get into DACs. This DAC has a very natural sound. My integrated (Sugden IA4) gets along with the Weiss perfectly. 

I have the Weiss DAC204 as well, got it open box for $2700, very pure and expansive sound, works as a DDC as well.

Curious about the new Denafrips Venus 15th that seems like a rebadged Terminator 12th-1 for pre-order at $3700, anyone on this thread going for it?

OP, I'm in the same bit of quandary you are.  My SMSL SU-9n and Modi Multibit are the weak links in my two systems, but in the absence of something to compare with, they still sound great.  The two systems are either highly vintage tube ending in Altec 604 or hybrid tube/ss ending in Magnepans.  A friend with fine gear (Hegel 390 and Dynaudio speakers) just bought the Holo Cyan 2 and said it clearly bests the resident DAC in the Hegel, and he can compare live with a switch.  Other contenders in my list include Benchmark DAC3 and Chord Qutest.  Another friend went with the Denafrips Venus, and while I could hear improvement, the step change with his system wasn't enough to drop $3K+.  With the possibility of import tariffs looming in the near future, I'm feeling a bit more motivated.  If you're in the US, that may also be a factor for you.  Buying with a return option, even with a restock fee, is a bonus.  Good luck with your search!

@kairosman  The New Venus 15th is a Terminator II it looks like to me. I just received a Terminator 15th yesterday which is really a Terminator + 12th + some FPGA adjustments. It's cooking in my system now, will listen in a few days.

I have owned a Denifrips Terminator Plus 12th R2R DAC, a dCS Bartok Apex ring DAC and finally decided on the modified Directstream MK1 as it sounded the best to us. These were evaluated for almost a year in our system.

@bunkertoy

I'm with some of the others on this topic. I've been down the "Dac of the month" club and have heard a lot of them in my setup. Depending on your system house sound you gotta match what is needed or not needed for that matter. I'll give my 3 opinions below of the different styles or flavors of Dac's I went through and then you can get an idea of what may work with your sound and what you are looking to-get out of it.

1. I'll start with R2R Dacs- I've tried many, from the Holo Spring 3 KTE, Terminator Plus, Aries II, Pontus etc etc - All sounded very similar and some slight differences as well, but you could tell they had the same signature to them. I found them all to be very organic, in depth, warmish sound or maybe just a tad rolled at the top or maybe they are slow at the top I would say. Now onto setup, first off, I have a huge room 36x18 and lots of warm feel with tube equipment with Andra II speakers & Nautilus 801. If you prefer and much warmer feel, smaller cozy venue and not the big grand concert hall with lots of air around the room then R2R is your thing. Now if your system is already big and bright with lots of echo and hard surfaces that needs a little taming, again R2R might be what you’re looking for.

2. This is the category that I tested the most, chip based dacs delta sigma mainly ESS Sabre but had a couple of others. These matter the most with implementation and the analog output section. These dacs all had a similar house sound as well but also with some small differences as well. The proper ESS Sabre dac with a proper analog section will absolutely blow your mind but not many manufactures get it right I feel like. I've heard a few choice higher end ESS dacs get it right for sure. When they don't get it right, it can run you out of the room with a headache for sure. Now, there are what we call bright, open, big sounding chips such as ESS Sabre, warm fuzzy cool to touch chips such as Wolfson, AKM, Burr Brown. I had best luck with ESS Sabre such as LKS-DA004/005, Gustard bits, T&A Dac 8 with T&A Dac 8 and D005 being the best in this range of delta sigma. A quick note about AKM chips, to my ears this chip sounds as if ESS and R2R dacs had a baby together and out came the AKM sound. Again, just what I heard in my setup/room/ears.

3. Now this is where I think the future is, Streaming Dacs. I know I'll probably get chastised for this one...LOL I feel like the best all-around sound that could be slightly tailboard was this category and the most flexible. Once I left the USB dac scene I never looked back. You can get a wonderful sounding streaming dac with a chip or FPGA and with software upgrades or firmware changes you can slightly change the sound and get some fun cool software to play with such as Lumin, Cary, Aurender or Roon etc. I would without a doubt tell you to start here and leave the USB behind or even i2S behind. You can get some badass Ethernet cables for wayyyy cheaper than USB/i2s stuff and yeah if your system is good enough you can hear difference in these cables as well, but that's another topic. I would suggest these dacs to try or add to your short list not in any order. You should consider these based on good sound, options, and build quality with support. Lumin, Cary DMS line, Aurender, PS Audio DS MK1. I feel that this is the future of Dacs and USB/i2s will get left behind for some of us but not all.

At your price range, do yourself a favor and consider a streaming dac, maybe the PS Audio DS MK1 with bridge II is the start since it has like 10-12 different firmware's and each sound is a little different. with lots of input options and can be modded a little bit. Maybe even a Lumin D2, D3, T2 all sound fantastic but limited inputs. I currently have the Cary DMS-600 which sounds like some of these others mentioned all had a baby together...LOL I do plan however to go back to a Lumin but that is only because of the synergy with my setup and what I prefer in sound to my ears. Sorry for the long-winded post but this is only my .2 cents.

YMWV

From my experience the biggest difference that separates less expensive dacs and oreamps (<$2k) from more expensive dacs is the quality of the power supplies. A inexpensive way to hear that is to buy a VeraFi Audio Snubway and perhaps a Mainstream, and if you don’t have a quality power conditioner then get the Ace Power Package before agonizing over other dacs

HTH

can you trust the reviews?

sort of

@sqitis Thanks for extensive description. I still think a separate streamer/Server is best for noise. I'm hoping to go up the food chain with Antipodes. Once again I really enjoy the Squeezelite eco-system. I'm currently searching out a Antipodes CX to be my server.

@rikkipuu On USB being noisey... I wonder then why all the high-end Streamers/Servers have only USB outputs. I've spoken to Antipodes and they indicate I will get better sound using the USB output or the Spdif output. I purchased a Bel Canto Ref Link to take the USB signal and convert it to Spdif. I like that it matches my current Bel Canto 3.7.

@tweak1 I agree about separate power supplies. my upgrade on my Bel Canto was a l linear Power supply.

Picking a new DAC will not be a spur of the moment decision. So many opinions & choices.

The more money I save, the better results I'll get from my DAC. DACs seem to take a jump moving into the strong brands, such as: T+A, Weiss, DCS, Lampizator etc...

In a similar spot to you...wanting to make a significant jump.  Aqua and T+A are my current front runners.  I'll be curious to hear what you end up getting an how you end up liking it.

Buy a Topping D10s. It can intake USB and output Toslink or Coax. That way you can add a USB input to your Bel Canto for under $100. Problem solved. 

I believe Antipodes claim they found the secret sauce to make USB work however their gear is for me not inexpensive.  I think USB was a safe bet to allow for DSD and it is cheap.  The crazy number and variety of USB “decanters are testament to its flaws.

i use the Ethernet output of my Statement convert it to fiber, send it thru a Sonore Signature Rendu SE and then send it to the Antipodes S20.  It’s so much more musical than direct USB from the Statement to Goldengate even though it has the new JL Audio USB input.

You’ve sorted through two pages of posts that push to one core assessment of the “best” DAC ….. it depends entirely on your bespoke system .

So what makes a good DAC choice when you are assessing options blindly without personal auditions and just reading the confusing reviews….. or distilling down all these confusing and oft conflicting posts ?

Then think about the following DAC design and DAC build factors. .

Too many believe that the magic silver bullet to a good converter lies in just choosing a “high-end” flavor -of-the-month converter chip. Sure …. Top end chip is a first good step and many have it as their first marketing post, (with some competing OEM brand overlap / commonalities …) but it’s nowhere near the key core differentiation factors.

Rather, we know that the essence of the musicality also resides in the line signal processing stages, the power supplies (transformers, filtering, regulation, and preferably linear… ), the digital signal processing before conversion, the quality of the key components: clocks, transistors, capacitors, op amps, etc.

Build Quality matters and yes .,, it’s gonna intuitively cost ya more.Buying cheap here is a significant compromise.

PS.,,, Ensure you like the digital interface / app in a streamer section if it’s included in the DAC, Some of the OEM software choices are dodgy, and/or have crappy support , or worse. And some are truly excellent point and click delights.

+1 @akg_ca 

@fthompson251 lol if the Venus is even just a Terminator II the previous generation Venus and Terminator owners are gonna feel butt hurt. Not a good look for Denafrips long term IMO, now every prospective customer is looking at crappy resale value.

There are some reviewers who compare multiple dacs against each other. 
 

the reality is all DACs sound different and there is good and bad in each of the technology approaches. Avoid reviewers that seem to think a particular approach is better than others.