PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC without the transport

Of course, anyone familiar with the intricacies of network computing could see the stability issues with the bridge architecture coming from a mile's distance - so many variables not controlled by PS audio.

I suggested to PS audio last summer they should release an asynchronous USB to I2S (using the PS audio I2S interface) converter before the bridge. This would be easy to build, sound as good as the bridge, and give PWD users either a temporary or permanent option to the bridge. It would also open up the big market of computer audio users committed to their PC/Mac based systems to the PWD.

They decided against it because of (commendable but not pragmatic) commitment to a network based architecture.

Does anyone know whether the firmware updates affect how the Perfect Wave DAC sounds when playing CDs on the PWT. I read over on Head-fi that the newer firmware sounds better than the older firmware, but they seem to be using the Bridge exclusively, not the PWT. I am wondering whether to go through the hassle of updating the firmware if i only use the PWT.

Discussions about various firmware releases affecting the sonics are all about updates to the bridge firmware and not the DAC's. The PWD firmware updates have addressed several issues unrelated to sound quality, but some of the issues addressed include better support of burned media formats, decreasing the audible 'pop' when selecting different options on the PWD, and setting the default volume level to 50 at power up instead of 0. It's really pretty easy to update the PWD's firmware. Just copy the files to an SD card (2GB max), install the SD card in the DAC, then power up the DAC and the firmware is updated as the system boots. Remember to remove the card from the DAC so it won't attempt to reload the firmware every time you power up the DAC.