PS Audio PWT - cd transport


Category: Digital

When I first saw a picture of the PS Audio PWT transport I did not think too kindly of it, as it appeared to be formed plastic but with reading the PS Audio website info on it, it made good electronic sense to me.

Reading the disc via a ‘read till right’ program – in other words, it does not automatically implement ‘error code correction’ (ecc) programming when misreading a disc, instead it reads and rereads the disc up to 100 times (not utilizing the drive cache) before resorting to ecc. Once this data is extracted from the disc it is sent to RAM memory where it is stored for a brief period. This middle storage point separates the disc from the transport’s output, thereby allowing for rereading till right data (explained above) and eliminates timing errors (by reclocking the data from this point forward, instead of using the clocked data stream directly read from the disc). This memory buffer does not manipulate or change the disc data at all – it’s still what was on the disc, only now more accurate in content and more accurate in timing. This is the data output.

Anyway, after being explained this info by Paul McGowan and Ryan Conway, I was intrigued enough to buy one. First off, I can say that I pleasantly surprised and happy to report that the transport is not made of plastic, its either aluminum or steel, and it is heavy and well damped. But, the remote is made of plastic and is pretty cheap feeling – oh well. There is no buttons on the unit, all input is either via remote or via a touch screen on the unit. The touch screen is a nice touch (couldn’t resist;) – it allows for operation but also displays disc title and song name with album cover art (if the unit is connected to your internet).

But enough with the side show stuff – what does it sound like? House keeping first - I have about 348 hours on it now, it sets ontop of Symposium Rollerblocks,, I’m using a Grover Huffman Sc AES/EBU digital line to my custom Audio Note DAC, and I’m using an Grover Huffman Sx power cable. The rest of my system consists of Atma-Sphere MP-3 pre and MA-1 amps and Quad 988 esl’s. This consists of the base line and comparisions are made against a Accustic Arts Drive 1 mk1 transport.

Now then;

Most obvious is a total lack of digititis – no etching, no “over emphasized” sharp edges, no glare. Instead, you get a VERY organic sound, but mind you, it’s not bloated, softened, or rounded – the best description is ‘natural’. Significantly more liquid than the Accustic Arts.

A dramatic increase in soundstage and dimensionality. Instruments are spread out with plenty of air and space around them. Open air, breath. Whole stage depth presented. Much more extension in my sound stage width, now uncannily extends beyond the sidewalls.

Articulate and detailed, but again no etch or glare. Fast. Slam. Tight. Rhythmic. We have moved beyond toe-tappin’ and have entered the butt shakin’ realm. Very lively. No fatigue.

All is well extended in both directions, bottom to top. Nothing is bloated or sharp. – sonically very clear and focused. Micro and macro detail is really expressed nicely. But, the noise floor is bit higher than the Accustic Arts – not a totally “black” background. Lastly, on very busy passages, I detect a bit of grain – only on pieces very busy with treble (concurrent multi cymbals, highhat, triangles, +).

Putting it all together - Horns, bongos, vibes are holographic / 3 dimensional. Brass horns are “brassy” but not bright or shrill, instead mellow and sexy. Cymbals are crisp and have realistic brassy lingering overtones. Toms and snare are stout. Strings are beautiful and radiate mellow woodtones. While bass is deep and distinguishingly tonefull. Woodwinds are richfully hollow and resonate, Voices are lively, relaxed, and human. Again, my notes continuously go back to “organic” and “natural”. Very ‘smile on your face’!!!

Overall, I find myself really amazed. The PS Audio is literally 1/3rd the price of my Accustic Arts but is truly much more musical. Personally, I think it’s power supply could be cleaner but this does not distract from the organic sounds elicited – actually reminds me of good analogue. The PS Audio is without a doubt a giant-killer for its price-point and I feel I can recommend it without hesitance.

I am wonderfully happy with how well it has synergized and complimented my custom Audio Note DAC. Lastly, I should note, the PS Audio has read every disc I have placed in it without a single stoppage -- can't say that with Phillip's drive based transports.
128x128grateful
Toolbox, did you buy the PWT new, refurbished, or used?
 If you are planning to change the drive, you will likely void the warranty. My PWT is a refurbished unit and the transport was loud and often would not eject. I had the transport/drive replaced under warranty, and it is clearly an upgraded device. It is faster, better quality (but still plastic) and quieter. The only sound I hear is a low-level "whine" when the drive is reading the disk.
I purchased a refurb PWT from TMR a few months ago and want to take a look inside. How do I get the top off?

Chris
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Chris,

Since taking the top off of a Perfectwave PWT or DAC is 90% of the job of changing fuses in these units, just google "ps audio perfectwave fuse". One of the first sites you’ll see demonstrates (with writing and pictures) how to remove the top and change fuses in the Perfectwave Transport and/or Perfectwave DAC.

Toolbox
Hey Lowrider,

How you do'in with you PWT?  Hope things are running very well for you.  I had a devil of a time incorpoating the PWD into my system.  What started out as "a little weak on the bottom and somewhat shrill in the upper ranges" turned into,"weak on the bottom and distorted on top".  Took me all this time to get it back to satifactory sounding.
Nowadays, CD production tends to push the strength and volume of vocals very hard, a little into the "red" zone.  Especially, when three or more voices are singing a chorus.  Pushing a chorus of vocalists into the red zone will add a little extra buzz and excitement to the song - sounding like a larger, more robust chorus.  
Unfortunately, my PWD was interpreting the little bit of buzz/distortion as an additional voice.  So instead of getting John, Paul, & George plus a little buzz on top, what I got was John, Paul, George, and Ringo, on a day when Ringo had a terrible cold - but still insisted on singing.  I had an addition vocalist that crackled on the recordings that I could point to.  "There he is".
This was especially noticeable on groups with male singers and notably on remastered recordings. I love the midranges of mastered recordings but not distortion.  I actually stopped listening to music unless I had a new piece of equipment to try out to see if it could help tame the beast.
Power cords, interconects, speaker wires, speaker replacement, different EQ curves, etc, etc, were all incorporated.  It all helped a little and then I got in some upgraded fuses this week.  Along with the rest of the new equipment, the fuses finally put the sound back on the right track.  It's still not perfect, but it's close enough that yesterday, I was able to enjoy listening again.  I put two Padis fuses in the PWD and one SR black fuse in the PWT.  The Padis fuses help remove a little of the distortion without taking away the midrange or the treble.  The black fuse really helped with the distortion, but SR fuses tend to throw a veil over the midrange and treble and this fuse is no exeption.  I can learn to live with it though. It's awfully close to being where I want it to be.
Did you get your difficulties figured out?  I see you're looking for a NOS DAC.

Have a good one.

Tim
@toolbox, that's very interesting about your distortion issue. Was everything fine before you added the PWD? Are you running the latest firmware version?
I have found the PS Audio forum to be of great help troubleshooting problems, also some very nice dudes there.

I'm using the PWT with the Nuwave DSD DAC via I2S, which sounds very nice, but I experience distortion on loud peaks. It's not due to jitter since a string quartet can sound relaxed and realistic, but a symphonic crescendo or loud R&R peaks will sound distorted.
I was assured that the transport would not cause this, so I'm replacing the DAC.

The service by PSA was very fast and was treated with real professionalism. The new transport works nicely.

Very interesting.  We have a very similar problem.  I just call PSA this afternoon & they are, indeed very helpful.  They are helping to set me up eith the latest & greatest software upgrades.
Yeah, the problem really started when I got the PWD. Lots of distortion at higher volume levels, when the tracks get busy.  Give me a single voice and everything is all good.  Add more voices and distortion enters the picture.  Turn up the volume a bit more and the distortion makes me worry about my Magnepan speakers blowing out the tweeters.
The interesting thing is the PWD has an output volume level control.  PSA says to set it at max - 100% to get the best quality sound, but when I do that, that  is when I get the most distortion.  If I turn down the PWD to 75% and my Bryston preamp up higher, I get much less distortion.

interesting

Tim
I'm starting to wonder if the PWT & PWD extract so much, sharp detail that the little flaws in the CDs are now glaringly in the spotlight at almost the same level as the music.
If I hook my old equipment back up, (Sony 9000es dvd player, TEAC 501 dac with a W4S Reclocker) and listen close, I can hear the distortion in the vocals, but at a very much reduced level.  I almost have to be listening for the distortion.  
With the PWT and PWD the distortion is at an "In your face" level.  I have replaced, bypassed, substituted and otherwise isolated every piece of equipment and/or length of wire in my system - and I'm on my forth go-round with all this.  I'm ready to start pulling hair.
I'm starting to wonder if the PSA equipment is so detailed it magnified the flaws in many of my favorite CDs  (especially the remasters) and now that I know those flaws are there, I can't unhear them and go back to where I was before the PSA equipment.

Rats! 
Hey Lowrider,
How is your PWT sounding now?  Are you very happy, or is it still sounding too harsh?  Did you ever try different fuses?

I’m been making improvements to mine and it’s starting to pay off.  I still have some more improvements on the way.

Tim