I don't own the denafrips but still feel like replying--inspired by your mention of the V281 (my best & favorite amp).
After years of using various delta-sigma DACs (medium price at best, not SOTA designs), I tired of familiar digital nasties that seemed present to some degree no matter whihc powered speakers & headphone amp/headphone combinations I tried (bright/aggressive upper mids/lower trebles; sibilance in vocals; overly dry, 2D bass, etc). So starting about 4 yrs ago I got a NOS DAC (Audio GD NOS 19, since sold); then a multibit DAC (Audio GD DAC-19); then another NOS DAC (MHDT Labs Orchid). Now I use the multibit in my side-system (HP only) and the NOS in my main system (HP amps, preamp, class D amp, passive monitors, sub).
Through the years of different DACs, I've had many different amps & headphones in the 2 systems. Here's what I've concluded:
- Rather than thinking of a specific NOS or multibit DAC as an ideal (or less than ideal) match for a particular HP amp or headphone...think of it as an ideal (or less than ideal) match for any/every amp/headphone, as well as speakers. In other words, as a system match for any gear you may own in future, not just a match for a current device
- I've had as many as 8 headphone amps at a given time (currently it's 6, all different designs & power ratings). None of my amps need help to get tonality right; they sound very good to begin with. So w/NOS and multibit DACs driving them, they still sound good in the same ways as before--but absent some of those digital excesses that used to bleed through (however slightly) with d/s DACs. It's not as if my NOS & multibit DAC are transforming my ugly duckling amps into sonic swans...it's more like these amps have a little more sonic upside than before.
- Similarly, my various headphones need no help with tonality. I chose each because its voicing pleased me. But w/a NOS or multibit DAC driving them, they sound like they always did, but not dragged down in minor sonic ways I associate with delta-sigma DACs (again, a little more sonic upside).
I have a ~ 1 dozen .wav files I've used for years to audition HPs & amps. A couple cuts were borderline bright & shouty on the source CD (though not at all on source vinyl). When I used d/s DACs, I always heard the borderline brightness/shoutiness to at least some degree, though it varied (not all d/s DACs sound alike). But w/NOS and multibit DACs, I am rarely aware of the brightness/shoutiness unless I happen to be using a borrowed headphone that itself
is borderline bright. Instead what I hear is a couple dynamic, exciting examples of popular genres.