EPISODE · Aug 29, 2025 · 17 MIN
Best DACs under $10,000 Series: Denafrips Terminator 15th Review
from The Absolute Sound Podcast · host Nextscreen, LLC
Denafrips is a manufacturer of audio electronics, primarily known for its series of advanced ladder DACs. In this test I cover the Terminator 15th DAC which is positioned as Denafrips flagship, but at a price of $6099 is affordable compared to some of the other flagship DACs I’ve been covering. Let’s see how it performs. This video's sponsor: https://www.javahifi.com/home 00:00 Denafrips Terminator 15th 01:34 The Absolute Sound 02:34 Specs 03:18 Overview 4:50 What's the issue? 07:57 Sound Quality 13:34 Subjective Coda 14:41 Design 16:17 Summary The Seven Major Problems of Audio Believability: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-six-major-problems-of-audio-believability/ Methodology First Principles: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/ The Physics of Describing Music Reproduction: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-physics-of-describing-music-reproduction/ Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com Tom's reference system: Aurender N20 Streamer/Server Roon Nucleus server Mac Mini (M2) server Wiim Pro server/DAC Bluesound Node server/DAC Topping D70 Pro DAC dCS Lina DAC/Master clock Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module MSB Premier DAC J Sikora Initial Max turntable Technics SL-1210G turntable Kuzma 4Point 9” arm J Sikora KV12 tone arm DS Audio 003 cartridge Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge Hana Umami Blue cartridge Hegel V10 phono preamp Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps MBL N51 integrated amp Audio Research 160S power amp Magico A5 speakers Perlisten S7t speakers Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables Shunyata Omega digital cables Shunyata Venom power cables and director Audioquest Niagara 3000 power conditioner (for analog) Audioquest Niagra 7000 power conditioning Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers Rediacoustic bass traps PSI Audio AVAA active traps Salamander racks Solidsteel Turntable rack What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound
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Denafrips is a manufacturer of audio electronics, primarily known for its series of advanced ladder DACs. In this test I cover the Terminator 15th DAC which is positioned as Denafrips flagship, but at a price of $6099 is affordable compared to some of the other flagship DACs I’ve been covering. Let’s see how it performs. This video's sponsor: https://www.javahifi.com/home00:00 Denafrips Terminator 15th01:34 The Absolute Sound02:34 Specs03:18 Overview4:50 What's the issue?07:57 Sound Quality13:34 Subjective Coda14:41 Design16:17 SummaryThe Seven Major Problems of Audio Believability: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-six-major-problems-of-audio-believability/Methodology First Principles: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/The Physics of Describing Music Reproduction: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-physics-of-describing-music-reproduction/Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesoundSubstack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.comTom's reference system:Aurender N20 Streamer/ServerRoon Nucleus serverMac Mini (M2) serverWiim Pro server/DACBluesound Node server/DACTopping D70 Pro DACdCS Lina DAC/Master clockBerkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input moduleMSB Premier DACJ Sikora Initial Max turntableTechnics SL-1210G turntableKuzma 4Point 9” armJ Sikora KV12 tone armDS Audio 003 cartridgeBenz Gullwing SLR cartridgeHana Umami Blue cartridgeHegel V10 phono preampMusical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preampDS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizerPS Audio BHK 600 mono power ampsMBL N51 integrated ampAudio Research 160S power ampMagico A5 speakersPerlisten S7t speakersWireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cablesShunyata Omega digital cablesShunyata Venom power cables and directorAudioquest Niagara 3000 power conditioner (for analog)Audioquest Niagra 7000 power conditioningRediacoustic diffusers and absorbersRediacoustic bass trapsPSI Audio AVAA active trapsSalamander racksSolidsteel Turntable rackWhat Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound
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Best DACs under $10,000 Series: Denafrips Terminator 15th Review
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