With regard to the comment about unsatisfactory sound from the PS Audio PWD, I had a similar concern when I first got the PWT/PWD combo about a year ago. The digital volume control became the focus of my concern when I learned that this type of control must discard information in order to lower volume which explained the increasingly flater sound as I turned the volume down. I immediately bought a Pass Labs X 0.2 three piece chasis preamp. This made a phenomenal difference in the quality of the sound emanating from my Martin Logan Vantage speakers. This was the real thing for me; now, the PWT/PWD combo and the X 0.2 are keepers. |
With regard to comment about unsatisfactory sound from the PS Audio PWD, I had a similar concern when I first got the PWT/PWD combo about a year ago. The digital volume control became the focus of my concern when I learned that this type of control must discard information in order to lower volume which explained the increasingly flater sound as I turned the volume down. I immediately bought a Pass Labs X 0.2 three piece chasis preamp. This made a phenomenal difference in the quality of the sound emanating from my Martin Logan Vantage speakers. This was the real thing for me; now, the PWT/PWD combo and the X 0.2 are keepers. |
Mrtennis-
I've had it for about 5 months. I feel it took it about 2 months to mostly break in. I listen to it in Native mode with filter 1. I run it single ended into a Pass X-1 pre amp.
If you are not using the HDMI you are not letting the DAC do its IS2 thing(until the bridge is released), which is where this unit shines IMHO. Running it native (with no up-sampling or down-sampling) is also important. YMMV |
I'm still breaking-in my PWT. But after 200 hours - WOW - I'm floored. When I bought it, I got it for a second system, I certainly did not consider it an equal to the Accustic Arts Drive 1 in the main system -- well, the Accustic Arts is up for sell. This transport is a giant killer! |
hi srwooten: how many houurs did you put on the pwd (???&pwt) before critical listening ? perhaps i have misjudged these components. maybe i need more break-in time. i own ps audio's silver hdmi cable, but i prefere coax.
thanks |
I love my PWD. I feel it totaly trumped the SACD sound (and redbook CD sound) of my MF Tri Vista SACD player. |
2chnlben,
Thank you for correcting my error.
Joe |
Dweller
Krell CAST, Perfect wave, and Magicos. hasn't everybody?
Just buy a lottery ticket instead... the odds are better there, I'm sure. |
O.K., anyone heard the PS Audio with a Krell pure CAST system through Magico speakers?
I think I'm getting buzzed... |
SACD of Carmina Burana so I'm not sure why you believe the PerfectWave system is incable of playing SACDs. The PWT in fact will not support SACD. The disc that you played must be a hybrid - in which case you are hearing only the CD layer of said disk. The Perfect Wave combo will however reproduce truly exceptional results with standard Redbook discs. |
I agree with Lev, the PWT/PWD combo is quite good -- in my system it replaced the EMM Labs CDSA SE player. Based on my dealer's recomendation, I am using the Harmonic Technology I2S copper cable to connect the two boxes. I am not sure it is even on the Harmonic Tech web-site yet but compared to the PS Audio silver cable it is much more natural sounding in my system. Using the Jena Labs power cables also enhances the music produced by the combo. |
i think you can eliminate #1 as an option MrTennis. seems you have plenty of run time on your pair judging from one of your previous posts.
if you prefer the sound of your cd2 then it's gotta be #2 or #3...or a combo of both?.
i'm amazed that you use the words "analytical" and "fatiguing". my experience has been the exact opposite. one of the first things that jumped out at me was the smooth and non fatiguing sound.
just goes to show ya....different strokes for different folks. we're all looking for the same end result....sound that makes us happy. what that sound is and how to get it is where we all differ ;-).
cheers
Lev |
i own the pwt and pwt. i prefer coax over ps audio's silver hdmi cable. my stereo system is on the soft side and my room is over damped. yet the ps audio combo sounds analytical. i have selected power cords and interconnects , in order to soften the sound. i can only think of several possibilities for my divergence from the previous posters:
1) insufficient break-in time
2)significant difference s in preference
3)significant differences in perception
my audionote cd2 from 1990 sounds better than the ps audio com,bo and my ess sabre dac/audionote cd2 combo is also preferred.
i find that the ps audio combo while very extended from top to bottom is fatiguing unless you use the best cds. |
been an owner of the pair since august. while the PWD/PWT are nice piece's by themselves, when paired together using a high grade I2S cable, they are out of this world imho.
i've never heard anything like it in the digital realm. whether it's hi res dvd or standard redbook.....the sound is incredible.
took my pair over to a friends house about 2 months ago to test differet hookups and compare against his esoteric front end (2 years old). a week later he had his own perfect wave set-up. nuff said.
give the PWD/PWT a listen and see for yourself. don't forget to use a high grade grade hdmi line like psa's I2S-12 silver line (this really makes a significant difference!)
the best digi i've ever heard and then some.
cheers
Lev |
I read it can play Hybrid SACD. I thought I read it could not play standard SACD's. |
I own the PerfectWave Dac and Transport combo which I purchased here on A'gon. My family and I were blown away by the quality of these components. My first test was to play a SACD of Carmina Burana so I'm not sure why you believe the PerfectWave system is incable of playing SACDs.
One caveat to you is that I am fairly recent audiophile so I do not have the experience in testing audio components as many people here. However, I can tell you I love my PerfectWave system and highly recommend it with this caveat in mind.
Joe |
I have a friend that has them...and he says it's fantastic sounding in his system. He has an outstanding stereo system, but he lives in another state so I haven't heard it myself.
I've read a few posts somewhere on the web, by people that heard them, and weren't impressed at all?...not sure what to think about this?
My friend did say it's the best he has heard from digital.
Dave |
..a friend of mine has the pair and was playing one of the 'reference recording' HR-X discs..rachmoninoff's 'symphonic dances' last week and it was amazing... |
