You should try the Metrum, right now, when paired with Focal SM9, my system blows away $50k audio show systems.
It's so simple too, Metrum Pavane, Focal SM9, Neotech XLR. That's it.
Of course, I back up the whole setup with balanced power, and a reclocker (although I may not need this anymore, it was to compensate for Directstream's crappy jitter rejection, or lack of) |
It's funny when I started this thread I listed my entire system in the beginning of this thread - you can see it - it is not that old of a thread - when I was just chatting to you guys about my new fun little W4S Remedy I noticed that my system that I have listed in the beginning of this thread is now entirely different.
The only thing that hasn't changed is my IC's, my USB Cable, some tweaks and computer software.
I have done some serious box swapping and horse trading... lol - kind of scary when looking at it written down like that...lol. Well after noticing that I thought I would share a BEFORE and AFTER with you guys.
I wish I got to hear the Yale back when I had the Directstream in my system.
BEFORE: 2/10/2015
Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Monitor
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Cardas Clear Interconnect 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
PS Audio Direct Stream DSD DAC w/ Bridge DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase Vibration Cancelation/AC Condtioner
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's amps
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
BMI Shark Pure Jeweler Grade Platinum AC Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Hubbell Outlet 5362/5262 Deep Cryo Process
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
AFTER: 8/20/2015
Rethm Saadhana V3 Speakers (India) 2015 (New) Speaker
HiDiamond D8 Speaker Cables 3M (Italy) 2015 (New) Speaker cable
Furutech FT-212 Ethereal Rhodium SC Banana's (8) 2015 (New)
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1M RCA 2015 (New) Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1M RCA 2015 (New) Interconnect
Bricasti M1 USB / DSD 64/128 DAC/PRE 2015 (New) DA converter
Auralic Aries Extreme w/Duel Femto Clocks 2015 (New) Transport
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable 2015 (New)
Rethm Gaanam SET Valve Amplifier 2015 (New) Tube amp
Triode Labs 2A3S-FFX DHT SET Mclaren SLR Orange 2015 (New) Tube amp
NOS Tubes: CBS JAN 5692 Mullard GZ34/GZ32 2A3C Triodes
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output Stage ECC801S 2013
HiDiamond HDX2 Network Distributer / Conditioner 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3 AC Power Cable 2.0M (HDX2) 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3 AC Power Cable 2.0M (Saadhana Amp) 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3 AC Power Cable 2.0M (Saadhana Amp) 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3 AC Power Cable 1.5M (2A3SE-FFX Amp) 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3 AC Power Cable 1.5M (Triode Output Stage) 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3 AC Power Cable 1.0M (Auralic Aries) 2015 (New)
HiDiamond P3.5 AC Power Cable 1.0M (Bricasti M1 DAC) 2015 (New)
Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Reclocker for Cable Box 2015 (New)
MIT Terminator-3 Silver Digital S/PDIF RCA Cable 1M
DH Labs Silver Sonic D-75 Digital S/PDIF RCA Cable 1M
DH Labs Silver Sonic D-75 Digital S/PDIF RCA Cable 1M
Salamander Amplifier Stands (2) Synergy System AV Furniture Stand
PS Audio Noise Harvesters (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Audio Isolation Vibration Footers Cork & Rubber (5 Sets)
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge Protection (2)
JPLAY v5.2 Hi-End Audio Player Digital Transport.
Fidelizer Pro Version 6.1
JRiver Media Center 21 Music Software w/JRemote
Synergistic Research Labs Signature NO 2 Jumpers (Spare) Speaker cable |
Hey Ricred1,
Nice to hear from you. Super simple set up that took me all of 2 minutes tops for set up.
First, I picked up a couple reasonably priced decent digital cables to use with it.
(2) DH Labs D-75 Digital S/PDIF Cables that both are 1-Meter long. I paid $75 for both of them. Decent deal. Then
- I plug the wall wart into the wall.
- I placed the W4S between my cable box and Bricasti.
- I plug (1) DH Labs D-75 into my Cable Box RCA out to my W4S RCA in.
- I plug other (1) DH Labs D-75 from W4S RCA out to my Bricasti RCA in.
Then hit the little on button and that's on the side and it's good to go.
It also has tosi-link and BNC hook ups if needed.
This thing makes my TV sound amazing. I can't get over it. The other night I only used my TV as my source and listened music on the TV all night and loved it. Never would have even considered doing that before. Very happy with this little killer unit.
Just for the heck of it I ran a $5 tosi-link of the back of my PC that has a cheap little tosi-link out sound card its a best buy HP PC. I ran that cheap cable out of a cheap sound card into this W4S and into my Bricasti. It sounded excellent. Better I think or very close to when I used my $1000 plus USB cable to my Bricasti through the very well thought of and much more expensive Audiphilleo AP2 w/Pure Power Battery pack and although they are not side by side as I traded away my AP2 I swear that cheap tosi-link direct off my cheap pc sound card out was sounding better or very close to when I used the AP2 w/PP with my expensive USB cable and the solid Black Cat Silverstar75 BNC cable.
I guess it very well could be synergy with my Bricasti and the W4S Remedy that is making it sound so great or this is a flat out an over achieving / giant killer unit.
It just sounds so good I wasn't prepared for it.
Just trying help out my fellow members with a cheap mod/tweak I have stumbled across that has worked great for me.
I think maybe because it was designed to work well with more modest equipment it is now showing it can really shine with the better stuff as well. I guess it just goes to show in digital if it can reduce jitter it will sound better. The cleaner the power the better it sounds.
I think this little unit has already earned itself the right to a better aftermarket linear power supply. It takes 9V but will work with 12V per W4S.
|
Nglazer,
Yale beta does not shine a light to Yale. |
How is it connected from your cable box to your M1? |
Calling all PS Audio DirectStream & Bricasti M1 Owners as well as our other fellow Agon comrades.
I just popped in a great little add/mod I wanted share with you guys! It is absolutely killer !!!
I use my system obviously for music but I also have it hooked up to my 60" Panny GT50 Plasma which I love in 2-channel for TV and movies and the like. I'm a 2-Channel guy even for TV.
Anyways my audio rig also powers my TV via my cable box. I listen to TV through my rig and it sounds fine but nothing special and I don't ever bother listening to video's or concerts or any of the music channels or any of that because the sound is just not good enough. It's OK not even really but that's about it.
That has all changed !!!
It only cost me $399.00 and now my cable box is pretty close to a legit Hi-Fi source. It sounds fantastic and music video and music channels are now genuine Hi-Fi.
I bough this unit and wasn't expecting an earth shattering / Game changing piece.
I mean my Bricasti is a pretty good DAC and I wasn't sure a $399 unit would make that much of a difference but it sure as heck did !!
The Wyred 4 Sound Remedy:
I hooked it between my Cable box and my Bricasti and this new combo is a down right game changer.
It is very close to sounding like Hi-Res JRvier over a PC. Not as good as a media server or transport but very good indeed.
I had to share with you guys because this is so dang good!!!
I was hoping it would make my TV watching experience better but didn't think I would be getting another legit Hi-Fi Source and even better that source happened to have video connected to it as in my TV. Whats better than that!
Best $399 I have ever spent. I shall chase it now with a better power supply and improved cables because this little bugger flat out rocks !!!
|
Thanks, Sabai. I will load this weekend. Was just getting accustomed to Yale beta.
Neal |
Coli,
Sounds like a comment on a stock. The DS DAC with Yale produces amazing sound -- if your system is up to it.
Aolmrd1241,
Well put. |
Nglazer,
Significant improvement. A no-brainer. |
"the inconvenience of downloading yet another version"
Are you kidding??? |
Looks like used Directstream price have just crashed through $3000, glad I got out before that. Horrible incorrect sounding DAC. |
How does the Yale "final" differ from the Yale beta, which I think is terrific. Before I go through the inconvenience of downloading yet another version, would like to know if there is a significant audible difference. Thank you.
Neal |
|
I was at the California Audio Show and spent some time with Brian from Bricasti. He was very helpful and I agree the Bricasti M1 sounded very nice. I plan on listening again on Sunday and also plan on listening to my M1 at my local dealer.
I then discovered, that if I wanted to, I could use the Bricasti M1 as a pre-amplifier and replace my integrated amplifier with a power amplifier. Or, I could keep the integrated amp and use the Bricasti M1 as a DAC (and not a pre-amp). Several people have already recommended I do this but I am researching (my only source is my MAC Book Pro computer).
Does anyone use their Bricasti M1 as a pre-amp into your power amplifier? How does this sound? Does it make any sense to do this? Any comments would be appreciated. |
The Yale is awesome!
Much deeper with a natural sounding soundstage. Now the frequency response at the extremes is so natural. |
Sabai
I have not heard the Yale yet. I'm sure its great as everyone seems to love it. I would def like to hear it sometime soon. |
Fsmithjack,
Did you ever get to hear the DS DAC with the latest firmware? |
Fsmithjack- great stuff! Appreciated. The M1 evolved quite a bit on the hardware side too from the time it was first introduced. Wasn't it? I wonder if they are done looking at possible hardware enhancements. Those filters have a lot of R&D into them I bet.
- Josh |
The Bricasti is a totally different animal...
I think the way the PSA Directstream is set up for all these changes via downloaded software updates is very cool and it is brilliant from a consumer marketing standpoint.
Once things get a bit stale or something else comes out or just for the heck of it they can just come up with a catchy name and offer up a new update via the their resident mad scientist. Ted gets his Field-‐Programmable Gate Array code writing hat on and bamm everything changes. Very cool...
Bircasti takes a very different approach. Being grounded in pro audio they have a different take on it. A lot of their approach to their M1 DAC came from their development of their world beating recording studio M7 Reverb Unit. It is universally accepted as the worlds very best reverb. With designing the reverb they did a ton of digital phase filter work with passband slopes, stopbands, passband ripple, stopband attenuation, delay and all the other fun stuff that allows the worlds best recording studios to use their M7 Reverb in a recording studio room the size of 12x15 and make it authentically sound like it was from a gigantic 16th century auditorium.
All that work was then focused on a consumer based DAC product built around 14 outstanding proprietary Linear Phase and Minimum Phase Digital Filer technology. They farmed some of this great filter design out to their former co-worker buds from Levinson and Lexicon down in CT.
The M1 features a robust menu of 14 different propriety Linear Phase and Minimum Phase Filers. These are killer and allow you customize the sound to your specific individual system. They had earlier on just offered the Linear Phase filters which were great but when they released their Minimum Phase Filers as an update it was a total game changer. They are awesome and really give the owner of a highly resolving system great versatility to custom tailor the sound.
For myself at first it was nice but when I finally settled on my filter preference and that seemed to be that. I was happy. Well then I changed out a lot of other equipment in my system. When doing so all of a sudden these other filters sounded very different and it was great.
I have recently gone through an exorbitant amount of system changes in my system that is not the norm for me. I have new speakers, new speaker cables, a new amp, new digital cables and a new transport so the changes I have made have been substantial.
With each change each filer offered something different. Having this DAC has been a god send. In a very resolving system these are not subtle differences either. They really change and tailor the sound. The stage moves, the runs higher, the bottom tightens, etc etc. Great stuff really. The more I have gotten used to the DAC and my new equipment the more I have come to appreciate this DACs genuine versatility.
They are both great DACs and both approach things quite different and I enjoyed them both but as far as digital goes you will need to prey this Bricasti out of my dead hands. It is amazing! I am glad to hear the PS Audio guys have a great new update that has improved their DACs as well... |
Any hopes we can get some comparisons between the Bricasti and Yale (final)? Have Bricasti hardware (or software) updates completed or are they expected to refine from time to time?
- Josh |
Since I'm auditioning amps right now, I put Pikes back in because I was more familiar with the sound. That lasted about 10 seconds. Yale is back up, now.
Over the past couple of weeks, every time I put Yale beta in, I went back to Pikes. It just wasn't engaging for me.
The difference between Pikes and Yale final, for me, is it brings in a huge level of detail, but not in a sharp or fatiguing way. To go from Yale to Pikes to Yale again can be an education. Try it when you have a few moments... I'd be interested in other peoples' findings. |
Yale final is killer. It takes the DS to the next level. Much more natural sound...micro and macro dynamics are the best yet. Inner detailing is beyond reproach.Smoother treble but still lots of detail. The best thing is Ted Smith still has lots of magic left in his bag. |
That Yale sounds awesome!!
I liked the Pikes Peak but its seems I'm in the minority on that ones though. Maybe because I was running it in an all tube system?
What about the Yale do you guys think makes it a lot better than Pikes Peak? I'm kinda curious? Thanks |
... And it was good. Much better than the Yale beta. |
From the sounds of it, Yale Final should be quite good. Downloading now for a listen later. |
The official Yale non-beta OS is to be released around noon today. |
Sorry to interrupt all the stomping on the PSA DSD, but I recently loaded the Yale beta software and this is the Goldilocks upgrade: everything now is just right. Pikes peak was awful -- to the point of un-listenable! 1.2.1 was good but not great. The Yale version does nothing wrong, so Hippocrates' concerns are assuaged. It is eminently natural and easy to listen to, especially on vocals and acoustic music. eerily realistic. So I for one am a happy listener.
Neal |
I hadn't known of any other posts on CA so that's interesting?
Not sure this is the same person but I can say first hand from my experience that I have owned the DirectStream and I was fortunate or unfortunate (depending on perspective..lol) to have heard it in my system when I was on a system - speaker-go-round and heard it with a half dozen different pairs of good speakers.
Combined with the different speakers was also different cables, in different rooms, with different amps and preamps. All sounded different as the speaker has an awful lot of impact on the sound of a system but with all the different combo's (not all were the best synergy matches either) the Directstream was always fantastic and that wasn't even with a first rate transport but with a computer as the source which I now know is not an ideal source. You guys taught me that here on this thread.
Its just too good a piece to not be defective and perform like that. I also considered there could be some ax grinding going here as well but I always like to give the benefit of doubt but it wasn't adding up either way... |
Well put, Rhanson739. Hopefully, this thread won't suffer from trolling any longer.
-Josh |
I don't often post such things, but 'dis guy... 'dis guy caused me to write today. I've also posted much the same on Computer Audiophile.
Disclaimer: I own and enjoy a PS Audio Directstream (Pike's), and have for some time.
I don't know if anyone has noticed, but there's a cat on Computer Audiophile who has been wailing the same tune for quite a while, username is "ilok". Hmmm, "Coli" == "ilok"?
In a fit of anti-evangelistic fervor, Coli/ilok has been trashing the DS as well as PS Audio as a company, which I think is categorically unfair, both to PSA and to anyone who might be considering purchasing the DS.
Look, Colick, we've all made mistakes when building systems. It's part of the hobby. Many people have made far more expensive mistakes, some of which involve sparks and smoke. (Don't ask me how I know this.) As has been mentioned on CA, the DS may have been defective. The DS may have been dropped from on high. Who knows? But, at any time did you contact PS Audio to see if their support personnel might have actually been of help? I've always found PS Audio to be highly responsive to any questions or issues.
Evidently, you chose instead to replace most/all of your surrounding system before giving up on the DS without ever contacting PSA. Odd approach, actually. It probably wound up costing far more to replace your system than to return the DS.
This seems like a classic case of projection. The responsibility which you cannot accept for yourself gets projected outward on to something or someone other, in this case PS Audio. Clearly, it's not their fault, and to suggest that they were dishonest (stated by "ilok" in CA) based on your one experience is a rather sad reflection of your state of mind.
I think that most people can see through your statements, seeing them for what they are. Time to grow up and move on, admit your mistakes, rather than bad-mouthing others. |
I highly doubt that you are alone in your views, Fsmithjack. Something is way, way off with Coli's audition. Hopefully, we can get this thread back on track. -Josh |
Coli,
With respect... I can see how you or anyone can like something better than something else regardless of what other people think but this is much too good of a DAC and certainly has a universal level competence that is far above your experience with the product.
It is just too well engineered and too robust a product to match the results you have had.
I am inclined to think you had a defective unit with reverse polarity on one of the inputs or outputs or some kind ground issue or something that made it perform much below its well documented abilities???
Even if you had the worst match with cables or other equipment it should at worst still be decent.
It's to bad because to mention any Emotiva digital product as performing better than a Directstream is really telling.
You had to have had a defective unit.
Emotiva has some decent amps with pretty good build quality and especially at their impressive price points.
Myself in that budget I would prefer an old beat up but good working Krell, ARC, CJ, Threashhold or something but some people like the warranty and don't want to deal with CAP replacement so I get it. Their digital is another story. None of it could even come even remotely close to a non-defective / proper working Directstream so I am sure it must have been defective?
Myself , I would tend to think even a defective Direststream if it could spit out any signal I would take that over Emotiva digital! You should have sent that Directstream back to Colorado. It would have been worth it... |
Coli,
Did you have a chance to listen to the newest Yale firmware upgrade? |
I found that on the Directstream, I listened mainly to piano/vocal over and over.
Now I realized why, complex music sounded like crap on the Directstream so I ended up avoiding them over time.
I have categorized playlists containing all the songs I liked in the past 10 years give and take a few years, so during DAC comparisons I played the different songs, and it became very obvious that the past 5 months with the DS was a HUGE mistake. |
My collection is basically all digital lossless (flac, wav, tak, ape, blah blah), majority is CD quality instrumentals, vocal, ethnic, and lots of original soundtracks (OSTs on a good DAC is heavenly).
Lately, I've been getting a ton of hi-res recording at 96khz mostly, mora.jp, some 48khz and a little 192khz. I've also tried DSD iso at several gig a piece, eg: Suara DSD on the Directstream, didn't sound good either.
Right now I'm testing the Emotiva XMC-1, this thing sounded so good that I'm not sure if I should keep it and go multichannel again or stick with the Metrum when it get's back... |
Hi Ricred1 - I can't comment on "smooth jazz" as I'm not a fan. There are quite a number of jazz CDs/SACDs originally recorded on analog tape in the 50s to 70s which have superb sound quality. In any event, this discussion would be way off topic here. I just wanted to get an idea of what source material Coli favored. Regards, Josh |
Jh901,
Can you tell where I can get the best mastering work for current "smooth jazz", if it's even possible. I usually just purchase from Amazon. |
Coli- meantime, would you mind sharing an idea of what your music collection is like from both a content perspective (jazz, rock etc) and a quality perspective? As to quality, how serious has your effort been to acquire the best mastering work for a given title? Cheers, Josh |
Aolmrd1241: to add more details, with the Directstream, hi-res and CD quality recording sounded pretty much the same, heck even AAC and lossless sounded pretty much the same. Flat and thin.
On the DAC2, hi-res sounded "better" than cd quality. The most obvious is the increased resolution of complex splash sound.
With that said, I am not recommending the DAC2, it is just a point of comparison. The DAC2 also has a hint on thinness to it, just nowhere near the thinness of the Directstream.
The R2R NOS Metrum DAC on the other hand, even in it's broken state, sounded natural, and wonderful, and unlike anything I've ever heard before. I should have it back in a few weeks time, then I can comment more. |
Aolmrd1241: pretty much everything sounded bad on the Directstream at low volume. If you want to hear thin/flat sound, the DS is the goto DAC.
The other DACs on the otherhand sounded good with most recordings, except a few. Eg: ceui
My brief time with a broken Metrum DAC, on the other hand, made even crap songs sound good. |
Hello Coli,
It just goes to show how system synergy and individual preference come into play. Everyone likes and hears things different. I keep reading how the Yale upgrade has been fantastic. Glad you are enjoying your BM DAC2. I have heard a modded DAC1 a ways back and liked it a lot but it was driving by tubes which seemed to be a good match for that DAC. |
Coli...So which is it? Are you blaming the DS for the poor quality of sound or is it the recordings used in your evaluations? Two wrongs don't make a right... |
Alright, I've been listening to the DAC2 for awhile now. This thing destroys the Directstream at 1/3rd the price.
For the first time, a hi-res track actually sounded better than the CD version.
I also have a hi-res track that sounded worse than the cd track on the DS, on the DAC2, still sounded worse. Whoever made that needs to be fired. |
Hey Ricred1
No I don't regret it at all. I actually appreciate my investment in my Bricasti M1 even more now as it keeps improving as I improve the equipment around it.
Speaking of improving the equipment around my Bricasti M1 I have gone on a system re-fit and improved the transport that I listed above but I also upgraded my Speakers, Amps and Speaker Cables.
For speakers I went with a 103db high efficiency pair that is a unique design the Rethm Saadhana V3 Speakers (2015). It blends a single, full range driver design that connects direct to the amplifier via speaker cable (which I also upgraded) because there is no crossover just a direct connection. This makes them image like nothing I have ever heard and they sound so natural and resolving yet relaxed and can be driven by just a couple high quality, clean watts. This crossoverless single driver has its bass augmented by built in bass modules. These modules are in the bottom of the speakers and are made up of 3x 6.5 inch high efficiency paper drivers and are driven by their own built in 205 Watt FET amps per speakers.
Before these speakers I traded my Ascendo's and a bunch of other gear I had and got a great deal and bought a new pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri Evoltion's. I did not like these that much even though they have great write ups. I traded the Sonus Fabers for these Rethm Saadhana V3 Speakers and I couldn't be any happier. They are MUCH better than the Sonus Faber Guarneri Evoltion IMO.
I also have a 3.5 Watt amp being built right now: a
Triode Labs 2A3S-FFX Custom build with these options:
- Upgraded Hashimoto trannies
- Mundorf Silver in Oil Coupling Caps for 2A3
- Mundorf EVO Oil Coupling Caps for Input Stage
- Mundorf MLytic Power Supply E Cap
- Furutech Rhodium IEC
- Cardas Rhodium RCA
- Cardas Copper Binding Posts 0-4-8-16
- Audio Consulting Silver Input Wires
- NOS Premium tubes
I chose to upgrade my speaker cables also because with no crossover they are the only thing that connects the amp to the voice coil in the speaker. This direct connection seem to make quality speaker cable important. I went with:
HiDiamond D8 3m Speaker cables w/Furutech Rhodium Plated Locking Banana FT-212(R).
Can't wait to get this amp im my system. I wanted to list my recent changes to speak to your question if I regretted my Bricasti purchase and what it has done is make all my other improvements better. What good speakers and good amps need is the best source you can give them. I know there are better than the Bricasti but for the money and with a solid transport it performs at a very high level. Especially now that I am surrounding it with performance comparable equipment.
The duel Femto clocks are built into the Auralic Aries and I think the Aries and your Bryston are both transports and not sure if they could work together. I can say the Tidal streaming that the Aries offers is amazing. Its basically the NETFIX for audiophiles except rather than movies it has hi-res loss-less audio files. Great stuff...
|
I don't know to be honest, I'm trying to lower the DAC cost myself because I might want to go multichannel again. I definitely am not going to buy 2 $4000 DACs.
I had this song, with PLII and surround speakers, there was this moving sfx mixed in that was amazing! Could never reproduce it with just 2 channel.
I might try some high end processors and see if they are good enough now that the rest of my system are freaking amazing now... |
Coli- I don't know. Is it really the case that R-2R is the only way? For example, the COS Engineering D1 is a newcomer and compares straight up to the Pavane in the 6moons review. How could that be!?
So we're in a situation where there are some PCM only R-2R, PCM only delta sigma, some DSD only, some DSD only with PCM converted on the fly. There are FPGA chips (both proprietary and off the shelf), various filtering implementations, power supply designs, and unique analog stage approaches. Oh, and then there are the various USB inputs and even a few integrated (or stand-alone) disc spinners. Finally, there are certainly some twists I failed to mention. Whew.
Isn't it more likely that the best overall engineering will rise to the top irrespective of design approach?
Regards, Josh |
Fsmithjack,
Will the Femto clock work with the Bryston BDP-2? Knowing what you know now, do you regret spending so much money on the DAC? |
I'm not sure if Mutec got their USB version out yet, I'm using the MC-3+ Smart Clock with AES in to optical out. $700 off ebay I think. I haven't really compared it with anything else since it works 100% for me already :)
There's an interesting option of syncing to a 10M clock, but I don't think I'll try that, too expensive. |
07-20-15: Coli
Thanks for the response. Yes I agree the DirectStream or any DAC will yield much better results with an improved - cleaner incoming signal. I found the same with the Bricasti that every little change upgrade before it or after shows nicely.
If you could find a nice and clean used Bricasti I couldn't recommend it any higher to you as a former Directstream owner I love mine.
I never heard of the Mutec before but that seems pretty awesome. Have you tried any others that you could compare it to?
I am really really enjoying my new addition of the Auralic Aries w/ duel Femto clocks and their linear power supply in concert with the Audiophilleo AP2 reclocker with Pure Power battery pack but that Mutec looks cool and was wondering how it would compare to my solution or others out there??
My solution was a total game changer for me and I bet an even much less expensive DAC would sound much - much better. The combo is about $2500 which considering how much it improved the sound and what a comparable server would cost its a great option. It vastly improved a $9,000 DAC so me it was a great buy indeed.
How much is the Mutec?
Thanks |
I have not tried firmware before Pike Peak, but after 5 months, Pike Peak sounded VERY wrong....
What I did noticed was that if there was any input jitter, it would effect the sound of the Directstream. Pretty funny considering that PA Audio advertise the DS as having no jitter!
I ended up buying a Mutec reclocker/convert that solved input jitter once and for all. I was using Jplay before that which also helped but to a lesser degree.
Yale beta sounded a lot better than Pike Peak, there's actually bass coming out now! Sigh.
Yale beta still sounded wrong/incorrect.
On the other hand, Benchmark DAC2 at least sounds correct., so yes, the DAC2 is infinitely better than the Directstream already. Sigh again. Oh, with the DAC2, my speaker sounded like subwoofers on certain programs!
Right now, I really want Metrum to send me a working Pavane, the one I got/sending back is damaged in shipping, only 1 channel working, but I can already tell it was special... |
