Bricasti M1 DAC vs PS Audio Direct Stream DAC

I agree with Ozzy.

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

Looks like used Directstream price have just crashed through $3000, glad I got out before that. Horrible incorrect sounding DAC.

"the inconvenience of downloading yet another version"

Are you kidding???

Nglazer,

Significant improvement. A no-brainer.

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.

Thanks, Sabai. I will load this weekend. Was just getting accustomed to Yale beta.

Neal

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 !!!

How is it connected from your cable box to your M1?

Nglazer,

Yale beta does not shine a light to Yale.

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.

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

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)

Fsmithjack,

It's a shame you did not wait for Yale. It was well worth the wait. In my estimation it may allow the DS DAC to rival the M1 and the Berkeley Reference.

" my system blows away $50k audio show systems"

When I see ...blows away...it gives me reason to doubt. Most rooms in show conditions are not ideal to start with so you stating that your system is better vs. $50,000 in kit seems unlikely... Go listen to some of that kit in a more real,properly set up room and then tells us the truth to your claim...

Sabai - Have you actually heard the Berkeley Reference and compared it to the DS/Yale DAC, or is that just conjecture? TIA

Bill_k,

I own the DS DAC. I have heard the Berkeley Reference DAC and the Bricasti M1 DAC in 2 different systems. I have not had the opportunity to do A/B testing with them in my own system. So, my observations have to be taken advisedly. Nevertheless, I was very impressed with the Berkeley.

Sabai,

I agree I really do wish I heard it with Yale. The thing with me was how clueless I was to the gigantic role the transport plays. Granted I love my Bricasti and am happy as can be but I heard a DS on a different with system with their own matching PSA transport and it was awesome. The rest of his system is for sure decent but much more modest than my own and I loved it. I am now fully convinced - hands down by the most important means of getting information - ie; my own ears that the source (Transport & DAC) is by far the most important part in the chain and I think the transport and DAC are equally important - which is crazy I never would have guessed that.

Moreover, I think a great transport and decent DAC will vastly outperform a great DAC and a decent transport. I don't think that makes the transport more important but it might be and I never would have thought this and only new after I got my Bricasti !!

Thanks for your response, Sabai. That's very respectable of you to so fairly qualify your DAC comparisons.

Fsmithjack,

There may be differing opinions on whether the DAC or the transport is more important. For me, it is the synergy that matters most. I have been using the PS Audio PerfectWave transport for years. I am very happy with it. I decided to go with separates after I went through the EMM CDSA SE fiasco with their flimsy, problem-ridden transport drawer that they charged customers $1500 to replace. Not a nice thing to do to customers who already paid upwards of $11,500 for the DAC.

Bill_k,

You're welcome. The ideal situation is to A/B different DACs in your own system, if possible.

Sabai

I couldn't agree with you more... Synergy is so the key... It's not always that easy to find but we all sure chase it and rightfully so. Just takes some time, effort, resources and luck as well I'm afraid but I am sure that PS Audio Duo is a killer, no brainier match up. Takes all the guess work out of it for all you PS Audio guys. I wish Bricasti made such a great matching transport like that.

I am trying to get the most out of my current transport/DAC combo myself. Each time I have improved the transport my Bricasti just keeps getting better and better.

I am kinda psyched as I just purchased an upgraded aftermarket (LPS) Linear Power Supply for my Auralic Aries Extreme. It was made / designed specifically for the Aries Femto version from a European company called SBooster. Its called the SBooster BOTW P&P ECO 15V - 16V. I also purchased the added SBooster Ultra upgrade as well which is another filter add that is on cable that attaches it to the Aries that re-cleans the power one last time before hitting the transport. I have read some real positive feedback about it on some German threads via Google translate that its a fantastic upgrade and really improves the Aries so I am looking forward to it. It should be here and the next few days.

What are you guys (PS Audio & Bricasti) Using for Transports. I am curious I like mine but want to hear about some others from you guys??

Any feed back yet on the LPS for the Aries? I am most curious to know if it changed the Aries presentation from a "tonal" perspective (IE: did the sound become fuller, or leaner, or did it stay the same. If you are happy with the change/improvements can you post a contact link, and pricing.
Cheers.....

FWIW, both the PS Audio PerfectWave Memory Player (transport) and DirectStream DAC were again listed in Class A+ of Stereophile's Recommended Components (October issue).

Just sayin'. ;->

Bill Leebens
Director of Marketing, PS Audio

The Bricasti M1 DAC was also again listed in Class A+ by Stereophile. Just sayin'. ;~)

Replaced my Bricasti M1 DAC with the Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC.

Congrats Ricred1, that's another great sounding DAC! The only reason I didn't consider it is that its USB input is limited to 96kHz and it doesn't support DSD or DXD rates.

Bill_k,

Thanks. I really love the Bricasti M1, but had an opportunity to pair the Aeris with my Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 and couldn't resist. I'm attending RMAF 2015 next week and hope to find my next speaker. I hope I have an opportunity to listen to Focal Sopras, Dynaudio C4s, Joseph Audio, and Vienna Liszts.

On the PS Audio Directstream, the Yale Final upgrade is the Jam! I have never heard digital sound so natural and realistic, and I have been doing digital since 1986 when I bought the first 16 bit CD player -- the redoubtable Magnavox CDB 650wit Favorite Song programmability -- at The Wiz!

Thanks, Sabai.

Neal

I have to chime in, I've listened to a LOT of digital, bought and sold dacs and CDPs but have always been a vinyl guy and listen to about 90-95% analog that is until I heard the Briscasti M1. It's so neutral, detailed, musical, expansive all rolled up in a beautiful package. Yes analog still rules but I now can listen to digital for hours and actually enjoy the music and forget about the equipment. My search has ended.

(Dealer disclaimer)

Nglazer,

You're very welcome. I am glad to hear you are happy with Yale.

Has there been no response at all from Hegel?

Sorry, my earlier post was posted to this thread in error.

I really like the Yale Final. I also have 2 Regens attached to it and they are powered by a linear power supply.

I have never had a chance to listen to the Bricasti M1.

But, PS Audio offers such fantastic upgrades and at no charge, it would be hard for me to part with the PS Direct Stream unless I could hear the Bricasti M1 and the PS side by side.
And then, it would have to greatly exceed the PS Direct Stream. Because of the probability that another upcoming future PS Audio Direct Stream firmware upgrade would far exceed it.

Ozzy, how are you connecting your 2 Amber Regens (just one to the other?). And can you give a link to the LPS you are using (if it isn't the stock power supply). Thanks.

So I bought a bricasti M1. It replaces my wadia 581. First I tried the wadia 781 GNSC and the S7i. Both very good players but not wat I was looking for. My dealer advised me to try the bricasti. My wadia 581 doesn't have digital out so I tried it with a 30 year old rotel cd player. This combination outperformed the wadia 518 in almost every way! All the positive things that are already said in this topic so I won't repeat that. Only thing I missed was soundstage depht and width. My dealer told me to be patient and let the M1 furher burn in 24/7. Yesterday it had 150 hours burn in time and I listened that evening. Unbelievable. The soundstage opend up and I heard a depth I've never heard from wadia regardless the model. And then I know there is more to come because the burn in needs aprox 400 hours. I was looking for a better cd drive and searching for it I found a review of a ripper/streamer and the reviewer claimed that it outperformed every drive he knew including wadia, mark levinson etc. The manufacture is a Dutchman with a small business. I called him and I am going to listen tonight. The ripper/streamer has a dedicated psu. So far with the rotel as cd drive I am very happy but the reviewer stated that the ripper/ streamer was very analoge sounding and thats wat I am looking for! I know this reviewer and he has tested and owned a lot of high end stuf. I'll keep you informed....

Here' s the link to the review:http://www.hifi-advice.com/AAZ-ReferenceFlow-review-1.html

I am purchasing an M1 next week and would like to thank all who have contributed to this thread. I made sure I did my due diligence in the paper reviews I studied and the personal interviews of MSB, PSA, and Bricasti reps at RMAF.
I am very excited to finally put a stellar piece into my system which should really help elevate my sound to the same level of the remaining gear.
Thanks to all of you for your personal experiences and exchanges to those who were also helpfully informative via messaging.

For Bricasti M1 DAC owners only: If you connect your Bricasti M1 DAC to a pre-amplifier (any pre-amp), you need to turn the M1 volume control to ZERO since this allows the full signal to be sent to your pre-amplifier. If you reduce the volume on the M1, you cause more bit reduction meaning you lose sound quality. If you connect the M1 DAC to a power amplifier (this is what I am doing), you FIRST must measure your M1 volume settings. You measure the number where the sound is the loudest you listen to (mine was -15 to -20db) and the softest you listen to (mine was -35 to -40 depending on the recording). I discussed these settings with Bricasti and they said the goal is to have the M1 CLOSE to 0db front panel attenuation on the most dynamic recordings, this is mostly found in symphonic recordings and DSD ones.

You have two options. Option #1 is to move the internal PCB jumpers, they are right next to the XLR connectors, 3 pins so just move it over to the other 2 pins. This adjustment activates the two screws on the back of the M1 DAC for manual adjustments. If you WANT to change the level though, you will need a 1k-0dbfs tone and an AC voltmeter to read the voltage otherwise you cannot level match them. In most cases there is too much analog gain in systems and to get the M1 direct optimized this has to be adjusted, once done it really provides the BEST analog signal path and yields the most transparent sound with perfect level control with no side effects from added cables or resistor ladders in the level controls of the hi end preamp, all of which have an effect on the sound. This will get the digital attenuation at the minimum amount needed and the result is the best of both. Please be careful since some older M1 DAC's do NOT have internal jumpers (please call Bricasti to review).

The 2nd option (this is what I am doing) is to keep the M1 DAC the same (no changes) and adjust the power amplifier so that it accepts a higher incoming signal meaning you can move the M1 DAC volume control closer to zero. After conversations with Bricasti, Hypex and the James, the builder of my Hypex NC400 bridged mono amps, he is going to remove R141 from my Hypex NCore NC400 bridged mono blocks, thus lowering gain by 14 dB, requiring 14 dB higher M1 volume setting for same playback level. NC400's 14 dB allows 7 dB greater bit resolution than the M1's 7 dB. This is more complicated than I expected but everyone thinks it will work fine. As I understand it, you have to balance the M1 DAC to the power amplifier in order to achieve your M1 volume settings CLOSE to 0db. If it does not work, additional changes can still be made to the Hypec amplifier and/or the M1 DAC. In summary, for normal operation, the Bricatsi M1 DAC has a digital attenuator so minimizing the amount of attenuation is ideal, therefore setting analog gains is critical for best performance. I think I got everything. cheers, Howard

And some people think downloading/uploading a sd card for firmware updates on the DS is a hassle.....

I tried several usb cables. Chord silver plus, audioquest diamond and king rex y art & Upower powersupply. Chord is nice. Better than a standard usb cable. Audioquest is very good but in my system a bit to analytical/clinical. You get a lot of details but too much for me. The king rex is a usb cable that makes a match made in heaven for me. It has plenty detail but also a strong fundament and u believable depth and width. Yes, it is expansive but cheaper than the audioquest. Also lesser recordings sound much better. With the audioquest they sound shrill but just right with the king rex. I am very happy I tried these cables before buying. The king rex stays!

Musicmann1

I wanted to get back to you on your question about the after market Linear Power Supply I bought for my Auralic Aries Extreme w/ duel femto clocks that I use to feed my Bricasti M1 DAC.

The SBooster BOTW P&P ECO Linear Power Supply with the Optional SBooster Ultra Filer is an Amazing ad to my Auralic Aries Extreme Transport. Man it took probably close to 400 hours or so for it to break in so that was a pain in the neck and I wasn't sure what was up for a while but it settled down and opened up finally and was well worth the wait. Highly Recommended...

Transport - Guys I keep hearing over and over how a good dedicated disc spinner transport is better than the Network based transports. Can anyone recommend a really good CD transport for my Bricasti that is not crazy money? Would love to know what you guys think and are using? Thanks

I run the PS Audio PerfectWave Transport into my Bricasti M1 DAC and find the combination to easily outperform my PC which has been optimized as a dedicated server feeding the M1 via USB. I recommend using the AES/EBU digital connection between the transport and DAC. The PWT also allows you to play back high resolution PCM files which have been recorded to DVD-R media (up to 24/192), and again the sonic quality is a definite step up from my PC server. Highly recommended and you can usually pick them up at a very good discounted price from dealers who purchased them in a package deal with the DS DAC.

I should also mention that several dealers have compared the PWT to other much more expensive competition and the PWT was found to play in the same league. It's a great value and at its best when combined with a high end DAC like the Bricasti.

FSmithJack,

I have tasted the audio elixir of the gods.

PC server with win12 AudioOptimizer in core mode, using JRiver to upconvert PCM/DSD to DSD256 feeding properly setup Bughead Emperor as the playback engine....WOW.

Reel to reel quality. Spinners begone! Bughead is magic.

I've owned the PS Audio DirectStream DAC now for over a year and have the latest version of the firmware installed (Yale Final). I absolutely love the unit, especially the fact that the software updates improve the performance of the unit, not just modify the features.

The dealer who sold me the unit has been harping on me upgrading to the Bricasti, but instead, I spent my money on other upgrades.

Aolmrd1241,

I have upgraded the firmware on my DirectStream DAC twice, since I purchased the unit new about a year ago.

The easiest way to do the upgrade is to purchase the SD card directly from PS Audio (I'm not sure it takes the new HDSD or HDXC cards).

To upgrade all you need to do is power the unit completely down (turn the power switch in the back of the unit "off"), insert the SD card into the slot, and when you power the unit back "on", it takes just a little while (less than a minute or so) and it does the update.

I've never found that any of the PS Audio updates mess with my settings, they've all gone smoothly, without any adverse side effects.

Ejr1953,thanks for the reply. It was a tongue in cheek dig after reading Hgeifman's post...

Wisnon,

What is this you wrote?? It sounds awesome - can you explain a bit more for someone that would like to try or know more but isn't sure what it is :) - I am fixing to play around with those pesky black disc's a bit as I am picking a used matching - killer phono / cart combo (still no t-table yet though..lol). I know I got it backwards me think...

Would love to know more of what your post was about below :)



wisnon11-24-2015 5:12amFSmithJack,

I have tasted the audio elixir of the gods.

PC server with win12 AudioOptimizer in core mode, using JRiver to upconvert PCM/DSD to DSD256 feeding properly setup Bughead Emperor as the playback engine....WOW.

Reel to reel quality. Spinners begone! Bughead is magic.