Denafrips Ares II, Pontus II, Venus II, and Terminator Plus
Terminator Plus
The Terminator Plus is Denafrips’ top DA Converter. Compared to the Venus II, at more than double the price, the Terminator Plus offers a full-size, very heavy, and very sturdy casing, and a much more elaborate power supply, containing more capacitors than I can count.
Again, the devil is in the details: Matched Precision Thin Film 0.005% resistors instead of High Precision Hand-Matched 0.005% Resistors and a High-end Oven Controlled Crystals OCXO instead of a Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator TCXO. That’s all the difference that I can find from looking at the published specifications. But as I already found during my initial review, the Terminator Plus is in a category of its own. So, let’s see how it compares to the Venus II.
Oh yes, with the Terminator Plus, it seems that we are getting it all! Both the fluidity and airy flair of the Ares II, as well as the expression and impact of the Pontus II are represented in full swing, but with even further enhanced bass articulation, transient speed, and rhythmic expression, as well as even further increased linearity and transparency. Interestingly, the Terminator Plus’ timbre and tonality are more in line with the Ares II and the Venus II, leaving the Pontus II to be the odd one out in terms of its darker and super-robust sound.
Importantly, while the Terminator Plus is clearly the most precise and most revealing DAC of the quartet, it’s not more clinical but it actually has an increased boogie factor compared to the Venus II and it most definitely can stir the soul.
On the surface, it seems to be less sonorous in the bass than the Pontus II, but along with the best bass-articulation that I have heard from a DAC, the Terminator Plus adds a deeper foundation that none of the other DACs unveiled. Underneath the superficially light-footed approach, there is now a welcome sense of grounding and authority, but without ever sounding slow or heavy-handed. Likewise, while the Terminator Plus also leans to the analytical side just like the Venus II, here, it does not result in less groove or an otherwise technical or matter-of-fact sound.
As with the previous steps, I must conclude that this final step up is still well-worth the extra money. And the Terminator Plus is not only good for the money, I’d even go as far as counting it among the select group of DACs that I consider to offer the best that can be achieved even at double the DACs price. It is so extremely good that the only deciding factors could be system synergy/taste and budget, but there is simply no arguing about its performance.
Power Cables
When substituting the stock power cables for my go-to Belden 19364 cable with Oyaide C-004 IEC and Bals schuko connectors, the sonic balance shifts very noticeably and the difference can be heard with all four DACs.
The difference does not so much come down to a changed level of detail or increased transparency, but it strongly affects the tonal balance and the overall solidity and conviction of the delivery. The Ares II gains more saturation and bass fullness and becomes more balanced and linear and less lean in the process, although the DAC remains quite lean in an absolute sense. The Venus II also sounds considerably fuller and more robust with the Belden cable and while this won’t entirely shift the DAC’s character from tight and lean to full and warm, the Belden cable does nudge it more in the desired neutral direction. The same enhancements can be heard with the Pontus but this DAC arguably doesn’t really need what the neutral Belden cable has to offer and honestly already sounds fantastic with the stock cable. Of course, there are better cables but then one might best look in the direction of the type of audiophile cable that doesn’t add fullness and enhances the upper midrange and treble. The Terminator Plus, finally, sounds impressive almost no matter how you place it or connect it. Of course, its amazing transparency will certainly emphasize it when you hit the sweet spot, but you have to try your best to make it sound truly bad. What remains unchanged when comparing the stock cable to the Belden cable are the linearity, transparency, and immense resolution that is inherent in all the Denafrips DACs.
As some of the photos suggest, the DACs have also been listened to when stacked on top of one another. While this is not endorsed if you want to obtain the best from any audio component, whilst swapping the order of the DACs, I found that the differences as induced by them being stacked were actually smaller than the DACs’ inherent sonic differences.
That said, of course, I have attempted to obtain the maximum in performance from each DAC by listening to the unit individually placed on an Artesania Modular rack and on top of the CH Precision C1 DAC.
Support
As I found earlier in tests with the Aqua Diva II CD transport, the C1 DAC actually makes for a superb support. Itself coupled via Artesania Carbon arms to the Artesania Exoteryc rack’s top level, the DAC is built from massive aluminum panels and has an extra-thick stainless steel bottom plate, and as a whole, its construction is massively inert. The influence of the C1 is to add a little extra solidity to the core qualities of the Exoteryc rack which I found rarely to be out of place.
Placement on top of the MDF shelf that sits on top of the Artesania Aire rack’s outer frame via Neoprene discs (a non-Artesania-standard method), the DACs sound tighter and more direct, but I found that this balance is not ideal for any of the Denafrips models.
When placed directly on top of an Artesania Aire floor platform’s Carbon Arms which bypass the DAC’s own feet, the DACs become a little bit more relaxed, the imaging becomes deeper, and they gain a more organic flow.
Placement on the Artesania Modular Rack (made from Panzerholz and Krion), finally, yields a tonally different sound, fuller, darker, more solid, and arguably more characterful, if also less linear, precise, and transparent than on the Exoteryc rack.
While the choice between the two different Artesania racks is a matter of taste, for the sake of a direct comparison with the Aqua Formula xHD, which sits in the Exoteryc rack, I decided that all the DACs needed to be treated equally. This meant that they were ultimately judged directly on the Artesania Aire floor platform.
Christiaan,
I very much appreciate your review methods and style as well as the content. I am not currently in market for another DAC, but this review, for me, paints the best picture of system interplay for Denafrips I have read. Well done!
Thanks Will!
Hi Christiaan, great review of the Denafrips lot. I end up buying the Pontus II and I am truly happy with it. It delivers a more “real” sound than my previous Chord Qutest. Amazing job :once again 🙂
Thanks for the feedback Vasco!
Older Terminator II? That must be a mistake as this one has just been released. Also, I2S is the best input for TII and Terminator Plus
I meant “original Terminator”. Now corrected. Yes, I2S is technically best, please see my separate Terminator Plus review for a report on this interface.
Thank you Christiaan for clarifying. Any chance to review the Terminator II anytime soon? That would be nice to compare it against the Venus II and the Terminator Plus
I think chances are slim, but in any event, there are no plans for this.
Epic review, bravo! I have Pontus II and i like it a lot. Based on your review i think that i would prefer it over the more expensive models even if they are technically better. I tried Ares II in the past and wasn’t that impressed to be honest but Pontus II is not going anywhere. I combine it with Iris DDC.
I just purchased the AresII about a month ago. I use it with a Schiit Jot2 amp, and my Audeze LCD-2C headphones, and I absolutely love it! Tho I know it’s good, this was a great article to explain how the other DACS compare. Invaluable! Great job!
Can you compare the Terminator Plus to the latest Aqua La Scala? I’m interested in bypassing the internal DAC in my Trinnov. I’m running a pair of subs which will still use the analogue outs on the Trinnov and am crossing my Quads over at 50 Hz so the external DAC would be working from 50 Hz up.
Hi Ken, While I don’t have the Scala available for a direct comparison, I remember how it compares to the Formula xHD. Do note that while there are large differences between external DACs, comparing one to a built-in DAC can be tricky. Also, I wonder if you’d be lowering the coherence if the subs receive their signal from a different DAC than the main speakers.
That said, the La Scala with its tube output stage sounds fuller, richer, sweeter, and slightly more sonorous than the Formula. However, the latter sounds significantly more linear, refined, detailed, and transparent. The Termninator Plus goes even further in that same direction. In a nutshell, for the highest precision, the Terminator Plus is your best bet, but it won’t offer any of the rich tube-goodness that the La Scala does.
Thank you for this. I owned the Ares and did not gel with its tonal character in my system (indeed to lean and a bit sharp at times). Several dealers confirmed that the Pontus has the same character, why I had decided to move in from Denafrips. Maybe I should yet give the Pontus a try 🤔
If accuracy and transparency (and not smoothness or forgiving warmth) are what you are after, then I would definitely give the Pontus a try. It shares the general Denafrips house sound but is fuller-sounding nonetheless.
Thanks Christian! I think I would like to try something in the more smooth/forgiving camp tbh 😊 Am considering the Spring DAC, but not sure it’s the way to go either. Would like something that is a big step up from the Ares II/Rega DAC that I have been using. Full lower mids welcome 🤗
Thanks Christiaan. I’ll have to run the Trinnov room correction again with the external DAC. Latency could also be a problem but the Trinnov is so capable I’m confident it can make it work.
The Trinnov sure is a fantastic piece of gear but it’s hard to forecast how the combination with another DAC will work. That said, I’m pretty confident that the Terminator Plus will outperform the built-in DAC in quite a few important areas. Ultimately, I’m afraid it remains a matter of just trying it out.
Hi Christiaan,
really compliments for your style, the precision in the descriptions (above all, as far as I’m concerned, in the highlighting of the different sonic nuances), really appreciated by us fans and for this reason even more fun to read.
Reading your personal comments about the Terminator brought me back to a very similarly priced product that you tested: the APL DSD.AR.
The curiosity to read your comment about the pros and cons of the Terminator compared to the DSD-AR (at least indirectly but with the same references) is killing me!
Please let me know what’s your opinion about these two dacs and whether you consider them overall more or less competitive !
Kind regards
Stefano
Hi Stefano, thanks for the compliment! Regarding the APL DSD, as I don’t have it at hand for a direct comparison, I can’t make any hard claims but one thing that I’m sure of is that the APL is sweeter, fuller, and more relaxed, less tight, but with more flow. I recall it as being quite precise, detailed, articulate, and transparent but I think if I were to now put it up against the Terminator Plus, then the latter will outperform it in these areas, and probably by quite a margin. Are they competitive? Well, I’d say yes if we consider the overall sound quality. But I would say no if one is looking for a particular sound since these two DACs really sound quite different.
Hey Christian I’m a bit late seeing this review but as usual fantastic job! A really thorough comprehensive comparison of a very popular line of Dacs. This should prove invaluable information for lots of folks looking for a new Dac. I am not in the market and still enjoyed the heck out of reading the review.
Cheers,
Jon
Thanks Jon!
I really was reading these notes seriously until the audiofoolery vomitted out. I can point out specifics, but it is too far gone to bother with.
Amazing review, as always Hifi-Advice.
I´m going to try one of this amazing Dacs. I have only a question because i hate warm sound:
Are this Dacs with Neutral tone?.
Big Hug!
Hi Francis, Denafrips DACs are amongst the most neutral DACs that I have heard. Only the Pontus DAC could perhaps be said to have a dash of warmth, but mostly, I see this as more full-bodied and tonally fuller than for instance the Venus, I don’t see it as warmth. I am currently reviewing two Denafrips preamps and these too are very very neutral, with no warmth.
Christiaan,
You say the Pontus II “sounds more spacious and the soundstage has more depth”. I’m a huge fan of soundstage… you could say holographic soundstage. Its why I’m on my 4h set of Martin Logans. I LOVE soundstage, lol. How would you rate the Pontus on this sound feature? How much deeper, larger a soundstage does it create say compared to your usual implementation of a delta sigma design?
Thank you! -Marc
By “usual”, I mean, “average”, aka…similar price range.
Sorry Marc, I can’t really answer that question.
Guessing that means you haven’t reviewed the average to make the comparison. How about just in terms of what you’ve seen out there compared to the Pontus in terms of overall soundstage performance? Does it perform well in this area against the DACs you’ve used? What brand would you say does it best, is it a huge margin?
Soundstage depth is as much a function of the source as the DAC, as well as depending greatly on the interface (USB/etc). All things being equal, the Pontus has great soundstage depth and I don’t recall other DACs in its price range beating it in this regard.
Thanks Christiaan! Pontus it is. Now have to figure out pre.
Literally burst out laughing when I read your comments about stacking components.
How exactly would stacking components with no moving parts have any effect on sound quality?
Good evening Christiaan, one quick question please:
Audio GD R8 or Denafrips Pontus II? if you had to choose, what would it be? I know it’s not simple, I have R8 (2020). Thank you in advance..
Both are very capable DACs, and honestly, I wouldn’t know which to choose without listening to the R8 again and having it side by side with the Pontus. I think maybe the Pontus is airier and more refined and the R8 is perhaps earthier and less analytical. But I’m pulling this comparison out of my hat and I might be wrong. In any case, it’ll mostly be a matter of taste.
Very nice review . Thank you. it helps a lot. Could you please tell me how many % of the terminator do we get with the Pontus in your opinion ¿
Many say for instance that you get 70-80% of chord Hugo tt2 with the qutest , is that the case with the terminator and pontus¿ thank you
Sorry, I feel it is impossible to put this into a percentage. For me, Terminator has part of Pontus and part of Venus, yet is better than both.
Good morning Christiaan
I love your Website and all of your knowledge!
You are the Pro of the Pro’s 😉
I’ve got a little question about my audio setup:
Denafrips Hades
Denafrips Thallo
Matrix X-Sabre Pro
Boenicke W5
What do you think about the DAC Matrix X-Sabre Pro vs one of the line «Denafrips», maybe a Venus II or Terminator II?
Do you think an upgrade to the Denafrips is a big thing or just a little «nuance»?
It would be more than great to hear from you.
I wish you a beautiful day.
Best regards from Zurich
Aldo Wipfli
Hi Aldo, thank you for the kind words:-) I’ve reviewed the Matrix X-Sabre pro on this site (do have a look) and I feel that with the exception of the Enyo and Ares, the Denafrips DACs outperform it. It’s more than nuances but depending on what you are looking for it may also not be a major difference. For instance, the Matrix is plenty explicit and direct and you’re not going to find that the Denafrips DACs open previously closed curtains or something to that effect. But you will find that there can be much more refinement and retina-like resolution, fluidity, air, and transparency. Certainly the Terminator is a beast of a DAC, one of the best I heard, with competition only in the 10K+ range.
Hi, I often read your reviews, and like the way you test, but I really have my reservations about denafrips.
I’ve had a Pontus II and found it to be a dead sounding dac, artificial (lying on top) highs, rather thin in the lows and too present in its screamy mids, compared to the many other dacs I’ve owned. In addition, the USB port is unusable due to all kinds of sync problems, the DAC will distort every few hours (kind of pink noise effect). The overall sound image of the Pontus II is smooth, lack of dynamics, but especially the lack of real presence of the instruments / voices, there is a kind of misty tinge to the music. The only thing you can learn from Denafrips is marketing, which is fantastic, how do you create myth with followers without a serious product. Unscrew one of these and see, cheap plastic junk, I really wonder if they send testers the same thing that the consumer gets?
I feel confident in saying whomever wrote this has mental issues. You really think the material a shelf is made out affects the tonality of a component? Dear god this is a mental health crisis
This is a model review. Detailed, intelligent comparisons on otherwise the same equipment.
A Pontus II 12th-1 is in transit for delivery this week.
Thanks for the kind words!
Good review!
I am looking at used gear.
Denafrips Pontus Ii or 12th (NOT 15th)
OR Wadia di322?
Hi Brandon, I’ve not heard the Wadia di322. It should be noted that its design is no longer “classic” Wadia, and it will likely sound very different from the older Wadias. As can be read in the review, I regard the Pontus very highly. I’ve yet to hear a Denafrips DAC that does not sound good. Even the entry-level models are surprisingly good given their price bracket. With that in mind, I would opt for a Denafrips over a Wadia.
Thanks for this nice review. How would you see a LAB12 vs a La Scala? Or some other idea with valves?
Please see the Aqua La Scala review for more info. I have not heard the LAB12.
Excellent review and helped me decide on acquiring a Pontus ii
Hello . I have B & W 706 s2 speakers which I find sometimes bright . Someone recommended R2R DAC to me to reduce the brightness . Which of the denafrips DAC would you suggest ?
If the aim is to reduce brightness, Denafrips may not be the ideal brand for you. All their DACs sound super-accurate and neutral, not smooth, warm, forgiving, or dark. I’m not sure why you were recommended R2R DACs to reduce brightness, as in my experience so far, all such DACs are crisp an clear sounding. DACs using Classic Philips converters such as TDA1541/TDA1543 and a few others, might be more fit for that task. In any case, from the Denafrips lineup, I would recommend the Pontus as it has the most robust, full-blooded, and least bright sound.
Anyone know what happened between the Denefrips and Vinshine (their dealer and customer service)? Fallout from cultural and/or business differences?
I have no more information than what was published by Vinshine, but it looks to me that Denafrips is simply looking to increase their margins by going factory-direct.