89%
Denafrips TERMINATOR 15TH R-2R DAC
Technical Highlights
- Proprietary R2R + DSD Architecture
- True balanced 26BIT R2R + 6BIT DSD (32 steps FIR Filters)
- Matched Precision Thin Film 0.005% R-2R Network Arrays
- Encapsulated Flagship Ultra Low Noise Power Supply
- High Purity Gold+Silver+Copper Alloy AC Transformers
- High-end Oven Controlled Crystals OCXO
- Adaptive FIFO Buffer Reclocking
- Direct Digital Signal Processing FPGA
- DSD1024, PCM1536 Supports On USB & I²S Input
- Proprietary USB Audio Solution via STM32F446 Advanced AMR Based MCU
- Licensed Thesycon USB Driver For Windows Platform
- Driverless On Mac & Linux
- Dual AES/EBU Input Supports
- Sharp/Slow Filters Option
- I²S Pinout Configuration
- I²S DSD Channel Swap Configuration
DSD
- DSD64 (DoP) on Coax/AES/Opt Input
- DSD1024* On USB & I²S Input Only
PCM
- 24bits / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192KHz On All Input
- 1536kHz* On USB & I²S Input
Sampling Mode: Non-Oversampling NOSOversampling OS
Digital Input
- Coax via RCA
- TOSLink x 1
- AES/EBU x 2
- USB2.0 Type B
- I²S via HDMI LVDS
- I²S via RJ45 LVDS
- I²S via RJ45 LVCMOS
Analog Output
- RCA at 2.0Vrms, 625 Ω
- XLR at 4.0Vrms, 1250 Ω
Clock Output BNC 75Ω
- 44.1KHz, 48KHz
- 22.5774Mhz, 24.576Mhz
- 45.1548MHz, 49.152Mhz
Frequency Response: 20-80KHz (+1/-3dB)
THD: <0.0015%(A)
S/N Ratio: >127dB(A)
Dynamic Range: >132dB
Stereo Crosstalk:<-120dB
AC Power Requirement: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz (Worldwide Voltage)
Power Consumption: ≤20W
Dimension: 430W x 380D x 125H mm (Includes Footers)
Package Dim: 610 x 570 x 275 mm
Package Content: DAC only. No power cord & remote control.
Weight: 19.0 Kg
Color: Silver / Black
Warranty: 12 Months
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Professional Reviews 89/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Connectivity
89/100
Value for Money
88/100
Dense, analogue-like tone meets striking resolution in the Denafrips TERMINATOR 15TH R-2R DAC, which 6 Moons found gained extra openness, layering, and three-dimensional space without losing its organic core. Audiophile Style also praised its detail, texture, and treble refinement, especially with NOS/OS and HQPlayer upsampling.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Combines a rich, organic tonal balance with greater openness, layering, and 3D soundstaging.
Retrieves fine detail and texture with unusually realistic cymbals, bass, and leading edges.
NOS/OS switching and external DSP can unlock noticeably higher performance and treble clarity.
&
Cons
Its best results may require careful setup, external DSP, and a strong surrounding system to fully realize its potential.
High-rate playback and advanced DSP can be complex to configure, especially when pushing USB/I2S and HQPlayer-based chains.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Reviewers describe a dense, organic, highly musical character that can also scale up to a more expansive and refined presentation when used carefully. The Terminator is praised for sounding natural and engaging rather than etched or mechanical, with one reviewer calling its core sound natively dense and analogue-like.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
91/100
The Terminator is repeatedly described in musical terms: dense, organic, and 'analogue' in character, with improved openness and a more three-dimensional presentation after the upgrade. Reviewers also note that sibilants no longer distracted and that production values across the line felt higher, suggesting a refined and easy-to-live-with tonal balance.
Resolution and Detail
92/100
Detail retrieval is a clear strength. One review says it was 'amazed' by the detail, delicacy, and texture in cymbals and bass, while another notes clearly higher resolution, greater openness, and improved layering and sorting that build out spaciousness and dimensionality.
Digital Performance
88/100
The Terminator handles digital processing with confidence, and the DSP board's PCM 1536 kHz and DSD1024 support is highlighted as part of its capability. Reviewers point to audible benefits from NOS/OS selection and upsampling, and the presentation is described as less distracting in the treble with no evident complaints about glare or harshness.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The reviews point to serious hardware attention, including the new DSP board, the Terminator upgrade, and the substantial weight and chassis size of the unit. That said, the commentary is still focused more on performance changes than on deep construction detail, so the build story is strong but not exhaustively documented.
Features Connectivity
89/100
This is a very well-equipped DAC: USB, coax, optical, dual AES/EBU, I2S over HDMI and RJ45, balanced XLR and RCA outputs, selectable NOS/OS modes, and support for very high PCM and DSD rates. The absence of a remote and included power cord is a minor convenience drawback, but overall the connectivity is extensive.
Value for Money
88/100
At roughly $6,000 to $6,800, the Terminator is expensive, but the reviews frame it as a serious high-end component that rewards careful setup and matching with excellent musical results. None of the reviews call it cheap, but the praise suggests the price is defensible for buyers shopping in this class.
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Denafrips TERMINATOR 15TH R-2R DAC
- Audeos — online and in-store — Żywiec, Województwo śląskie (website)
- Audio essence — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- Audio Extreme — in-store — Kowloon, China (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- Headphone Zone — online and in-store — Laxmi Industrial Estate, Maharashtra, India (website)
- Lyric Audio — online and in-store — Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain (website)
- Magic Sound — online and in-store — Italy (website)
- Mister Hifi — online and in-store — Raamsdonksveer, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands (website)
- Musicraft — in-store — Derby, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 4 more verified dealers