PS Audio Direct Stream

Guys, I have had my DS for about a week and a half. Those of you worried about returning it after 30 days because of not enough burn in time? You don't have to worry about that at all. Trust me its just not something that will come up from the first time you hear it in your own system. A pure non factor IMHO...

For me I could care less about what is said about a system in a room with all kinds of other people all squished in with an unfamiliar, complementing system and in a non treated, strange room. If we know anything we know this is less than ideal. Sure, when no other info is available then it is better than nothing but not what a decision can be based on. Al least not on this unit IMO.

When you get this DAC and plug it into your system, in your special - dear room, with your hard sought after, trial and error based years of rewarding work finding just the very right speaker cables, with beautifully matching and complimenting expensive interconnects, power cables for each and every component that purposely compliment and play off one an another, with your creamy and detailed preamp that you can't live without and most importantly your painstaking chosen and beloved speakers you will then know instantly the very first second the switch is flipped and it is turned on that it is a keeper and a special a piece.

All the marketing and hype and all that? Who cares that's the business side of things. If I was worried about the business side of things would I really be spending $60k on a stereo system. I don't think so but maybe I am wrong. This DAC was bam, right upside the head. It was for me anyways. I was like, nice.... that is what I was hoping for... Actually it may even be a little better than I had hoped for as I am already getting JADED as I tempered my expectations quite a bit. Which by the way is not a bad idea in this love/hate hobby of ours. I listened the first second, minute I turned it on. No I was not scared to do that. Why, I paid for it with my money that I worked for. Was it better 3-4 hours later? It was... Was it better after running all night and day after work the next day? It was. How about after 30 - 40 hours was it quite a bit better still? Ya I would say it was... What can I tell you? Right out of the box it wasn't laid back at all. It was thin and not real sure footed but it was still special. No idea where that laid back sound has come from. Really, this DAC? We all hear/see/like/perceive things differently so I am not to judge but I just don't hear it and I have listened for hours and hours and hours to all kinds of music. As you all know the rest of ones system has a little to say about things such as laid backness (not a word but you get the point)? Wouldn't you guys agree that the old little things like pre/amp/cables/speakers sort of can have some impact on the SQ character of a single piece in a system.

Ok, I am not going to get into describing all the HI's -Mid's- Lows, Imaging ,Transparency, PRAT, coherence etc, etc. for the reasons the rest of ones system may have on it but I will tell you what I think of this DAC? This DAC is flat out amazing and it is changing quite a bit in front of my eyes/ears. Developing, growing, extending, tightening and actually physically evolving and not in a really subtle way either. No way this DAC would be sent back after 30 days. I wouldn't have sent mine back after 30 seconds. Lets talk about the MKII that I owned before it and liked very much. I really did and I genuinely thought it was a very nice sounding DAC that I was quite happy with. Like all of us I always want better but I liked the MKII DAC quite a bit.

Is it better than the MKII? Yes it is. Is it way better than the MKII. Yes it is. Is it Absolutely in a total other league and utterly and blatantly - ridiculously better than the MKII. Yes it is IMO. I liked the MKII but to put in simple coffee drinker terms. The MKII is sweet n low and the DS is pure sugar. Not a fair comparison really. If someone really wants to return one of these then they should just stick with Vinyl because no DAC will work for them. Is this DAC better than the top flight, true hi-end vinyl rigs? No,of course not. They cost 5 times as much and I am talking about DACs here not analogue. DACs are DACs... Moreover, is It is better than the $20k - $30k DACS? I doubt it why would it be? I never heard any of those in my system so I am just guessing here but wouldn't expect it to be better than those. In this hobby not always but many times long doe by you long SQ... As far as this $6k DAC goes it is a special one and a no-brainer keeper.

With respect IMO this like many components are at their best used with other complimenting, synergistic matching components if one has high resolution speakers. Bottom line is I don't think this DAC or any DAC out there at any price point and at any point of breaking is going to make a hi-end premium preamp obsolete and even not really preferred.

I can tell you with my system with my DACs I have secret weapon that I tried back when I owned my Ayre QB-9 that I now find I can't live w/out and I have tried to get rid of and can't. It just makes any digital SS piece DAC/CDP sound so so so much better. Every time I try get it out of my system and do an A/B comparison it's just too good and I can't remove it and it is not expensive, only about $500.00. I use a Cathode follower after my DAC/CDP that sort of turns my DS into a hybrid Tube DAC. Basically it is like installing a Tube output Stage onto your SS DAC that has a variable Gain trim pot to control volt gain (1v to 5v gain) to tailor to your piece perfectly. Many modders out there will add this exact type tube output stage mod and hardwire it into the CDP directly and set the preferred voltage gain and it is a gigantic upgrade. It can make a mid-fi CDP player sound great. Modders have been using this same type of tube output stage for years. Well what I use is the same thing but it is in its own box which keeps noise floor down, can just be unhooked, has its own tube, power supply, power cord and 1v to 5v gain adjustments. You can turn the volts all the way up to 5v and turn your preamp down to build pressure and change the depth of the center image or adjust bass, etc, etc. I just can't live without it and sorry for long post but if you add one of these to your DS you will see why out of the box for me it sound so great to my ears. This Tube output stage makes a big impact and it is cheap.
I was told to try it back when I was running an Ayre QB-9 and I was blown away by the gigantic SQ increase and been stuck with it ever since. It is made by Decware and called with ZSTAGE. There is also a non gain changing version but the one with gain is way better as I own both. In my system I use i put it about 3/4 up or 3.5v of gain and it hooks in right after my DS DAC between my DAC and my CAT SL-1 Signature MK III preamp. Just thought you guys may like the mod idea that wonders for me. Thanks

This is a response to:

06-06-14: Sabai

Thanks for the information about this tube buffer. Can you kindly describe some details regarding the difference with and without it on the DS?

Sure, it provides that tube depth and body to the sound at a level that just wasn't there or wasn't nearly as evident... It's impact is most in the sound stage depth and the distinct separation of the instruments. It lights up the edges of the center image for a more supple yet defined center image. That tripod of sound between a deep center image and the sound from the speakers but the sound is no longer from the speakers they are now further back in the space between the middle image and the actual speaker and it has nice effect on the speaker disappearing more than it was. So I find when it deepens the center and pulls the corners back and widens them. Now as they are wider it becomes more defined because now the corners are not only more widened and back but more illuminated in the rear canopy and the darkens corners are now faintly visible and that widen and fattens the entire stage and the entire process adds another level of depth and sophistication The realism and the stage becomes fuller and more enveloping. It is not subtle really at all. Now I am sure my preamp has a lot to say about this. That is why it is hard for me to compare to those with no pre. When I remove my tube output there is a big different and when I remove my pre it is an entirely different presentation so please take this into consideration but the tube output with this DAC and a good pre with good speakers I am sure will provide to a level what I am speaking of. I hope this answers your question. Thanks

Below is my response to this from 06-06-14: Wisnon:

Why not just get a properly designed tube Dac?? Adding just a random tube output stage wont compare well to a designed from ground up tube Dac like Lampi, VAD or Aesthetix.

Or just a iFi Audio iTube for even less money?

Hi Wisnon,

It's not really a random buffer because it has adjustable voltage and it is really a very well thought out special piece its just not real expensive. Really its about the music and the sound that s forcing my hand. I totally disagree that those units you named with be better than my PS Audio Direct Stream DAC with my output stage.

Steve Decker told me about this a few years ago and I have tried to remove it from my system many times and it's just a pest. A booger on the end of your finger...LOL because there is no arguing how incredibly effective it is at making decent digital pieces sound real good and great ones sound even greater. It's blatant. Trust me Vinny from Red Wine Audio is my neighbor and my bud and he offered to make me a custom, battery powered duel mono buffer but its really not about that. What happens is I buy new or a used but new to me piece and I like it as is and listen for a while and all is well and I then break down and plug in the ZSTAGE it is just better and not by a little. If I went out and bought a Lampi, VAD or Aesthetix like you mentioned I guarantee you I would listen to them and enjoy them and be happy and then I would plug the ZSTAGE to back of them and bam it will sound better. So I go through all that trouble and I still end up using it. Also, my current combo of a PSA Direct Stream DAC then 10 inch custom made solid pure silver Darwin Ascension cables made for this unit then to my old CAT Signature MKIII with Phono chalk full with cryoed, platinum Tele CCA tubes through out is going to be tough to beat. Trust me I have tried. I mean I know I can spend 10k on a pre and get improvement, well that is still a maybe the Tele'd out CAT is a beast and this DS DAC keeps getting better and better. If I was to upgrade something it probably would my speakers before anything else in my system for the most SQ bang for buck. They are Wilson Sophia 2's and they are pretty decent so well see how much better this DAC gets. If it doesn't get any better I will still be very happy as is and wouldn't want to dump just to get rid of my tube output stage... Thanks

Ur Welcome ... For what it's worth this DAC has not stopped getting better. I'm waiting for the ceiling. My system is pretty dang revealing and I guess it could be my Wilson's speakers still breaking in as well but in my system it has not leveled off yet. For the guys using and/or complaining that are rolling w/o a pre. Really, for real at this level w/o a pre? You should buy a serious pre first, To each their own and all that but the pre? No pre? It's just not how it is supposed to be regardless what the OEM's spew out. The pre is where it's at. It's the blood and guts and would never ever consider optional but that's just mo. Anyways there is a progression and pre's in hobby are not really optional. There just not and especially at this level. I couldn't imagine this hobby w/o a pre.