Denafrips Terminator R2R Multibit, ultimate pcm redbook converter??

Guy, great story. Unlike you, I just when right to the top and bought the Terminator blindly.  I read a bunch of reviews on the Ares which got me thinking but the hardware design is what sold me. No wires and the use of high end components.  If this DAC was made in Europe or in the US.  The labor cost alone would probably have doubled the price.  

The performance is excellent.  No digital glare, it was like a veil was lifted.  The speed, dynamics is excellent.  Instrument separation is very good, very musical and natural.  I agree with you, I'm also happy I found Denafrips.  I plan to keep this one for a very long time.  

There's also a Facebook group:
denafrips audiophile owners .
its for members and the curious with questions about Denafrips.
The distributor,Alvin Chee is also in the group. Very nice guy. Ill answer any questions you may have or help with troubleshoot.
Guy 

Thank you for the strong support, much appreciated. 

Rgds,
Alvin

Recent review from Srajan over at 6Moons:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/denafrips/2.html

On discrete R2R: "R2R DACs aren't novel technology but the very first D/A conversion approach. Strictly speaking, using discrete R2R is no technological innovation but regression. It's the D/A integrated chip which is the embodiment of technological progress. From an audio perspective, it's simply not true that technical advances must automatically produce better sound. Sound is a simple yet complex matter. Sound is simple because it uses the most basic electronic knowledge. It is complicated because it also involves endless knowledge from outside the field of electronics where electronics suddenly become the most basic requirement. A good designer must also understand music cultivation, the recording processing, replay in a room dealing with specific acoustics and more. Good sound is about all of these intangibles. To reproduce high-quality music is not an easy task. To design good equipment, you must first know whether the sound is right or wrong; and then why it so. Playback must get as close to the recording as possible. So the designer must be able to recognize sonic differences and their poor aspects and possess the technical know-how to overcome them by electronic means.

Well I recently purchased the Denafrips Pontus and so far very impressed with it. I was going to go up the Gustard chain but already had a Gustard X12 with ES9018 chip. It wasn't bad for $535 CDN but this Denafrips kills the Gustard - but it should at 4X the price. And it even surpasses my Goldmund Mimesis 10c+ (old but good) in Redbook. I have no issues using J. River and running DSDx2. I am interested to see how much more performance I would get by moving up to the Venus or Terminator but only for curiosity sake. Otherwise a great price and glad I avoided problems heard about overheating on products like L.K.S MH-DA004. I disagree with an early comment about cheap build qualify. The aluminum panels are expertly engraved and are rabbeted together like fine furniture. Only anomalies are the small LEDs and typo 'Reserval' instead of 'Reversal'.