Denafrips Terminator 2 bs. ?

I own a Terminator 2 Plus. I listened to a Venus II prior and the T+ offered a small but important set of improvements. I have not listened to a 12th gen or a Gustard X26, so hard to say how it would compare. It did beat a number of SMSL and similar ESS pro based DACs in smoothness and presentation. The Denafrips do depth and air very well. If those are important qualities to you, then you will not be disappointed.

I have the following 3 DACS on rotation in my system via the USB output from a Lumin P1 (which has a killer internal DAC btw so I guess that makes 4 DACs actually):

Gustard R26 w/ external LHY OCK-2 clock

Weiss DAC204 w/ Ferrum Hypsos LPS

Lampizator Baltic V4 

Sold my Terminator II as it didn't hold up in terms of dynamics and resolution against the other DACS in my system, but its tonality and soundstaging was at least on par if not better than the Gustard and Weiss. I suspect the newest generation of the Plus would be on par across all parameters with the DACs I have but its price doesn’t make it a good value proposition.

IME the Baltic V4 is the best DAC at 10K or under I have had in my system so far, and by some margin. I think it is $7K new right now, but for pure price/quality ratio the Weiss /w LPS for $4K all in would be my choice as a recommendation especially if you like a big, bold resolving sound.

audioman58,

You’re post is unreadable.

I’m not sure what that means unreadable? There have been many comments and input given…. 

I've had a Terminator Plus for a few years now and was very pleased with it.  But I got the itch to try something else and demoed a DCS Bartok Apex.  I was surprised to hear quite a bit more detail, deeper soundstage, and much more pronounced bass (in a good way).  The DCS is a different price point so in that respect they are not compatible but I have to admit the DCS is quite different/better.