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Just got the PS Audio Perfectwav DAC -- Amazing

For the last year my system has consisted of the Slim Devices Transporter (Transport + DAC) -> Bel Canto Ref1000 -> Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1

I listen to all my music digitally (lossless/flac). I was very happy with my original system but when the Perfectwave DAC came out I was intrigued. For quite a while I debated between the PW and keeping the transporter or modding it via Modwright.

I ended up getting the PW and though I can't compare it to a modded transporter, it blows the stock transporter out of the water. I should note that since the network bridge isnt out for the PW, I am currently streaming music via the transporter -> coaxial out (spdif) -> PW.

I have only listened for ~5 hours so far, but things I have noticed right away is much cleaner/tighter bass. The low end is so much more accurate than it was before. When comparing, the transporter sounded very muddy (even though at the time I though it was quite good). The mids and highs are tighter as well. The separation has improved quite a bit as well. I have immediately noticed that the loudness of different instruments is wider spread than listening to the same songs on the transporter.

Hope this helps! If anyone has any questions about the PW or the transporter I will try my best to answer them.
danyal711

Showing 3 responses by kschiu

kschiu
73 posts
 
i think it should be a new (old!) thread if we want to discuss DAC-amp vs DAC-PRE-AMP vs DAC-passive pre-AMP.

I'm very eager to know how the MW Transporter compares to the PWD.
kschiu
73 posts
 
When comparing source direct to power amp vs source to preamp, the impedance of the poweramp is a major consideration.

Some power amps are just easier to drive then the others.
kschiu
73 posts
 
Redbook CDs are 16bit. Most of the current DACs upsamples to 24bits. So there are 8 bits for attenuation without lossing any bits when a Redbook CD or CD ripped file is played.

However, if you have a downloaded HiRes file starting at 24bit, then any attenuation via digital will lose information. i.e. you don't have the full 24bit resolution after attenuation.

This is the case for the Transporter. (read it from the slimdevice forum). I don't know how PS does it.

Let's hope that the 32bit DAC chips will become popular. Then we have 8 bits to play with when we play 24/192 files.

IMO for a DAC->amp combo (via analog volume control) to beat a DAC-pre-amp combo, it has to have superior power supply and ability to drive diffult loads in the analog section. There aren't too many DACs built that way. (may be the Theta Gen 8)

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