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Bricasti M1 DAC vs PS Audio Direct Stream DAC

I own a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC that I like a lot but heard my friends system with the Bricasti M1 and I am strongly thinking of changing my DAC and would love your feedback from other members that have heard either or both. I know they are both great but really thinking of changing my Dac from PS Audio Direct Stream to the Bricasti M1 DAC. I use a HP Desk top computer as source with Jplay and JRiver Media 19 and the outstanding Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable. The rest of my system is below. I listen to Classic Rock, jazz, vocal, some modern music and the usual audiophile stuff.

Thanks

My system for reference.

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Monitor
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Cardas Clear Interconnect 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
PS Audio Direct Stream DSD DAC w/ Bridge DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase Vibration Cancelation/AC Condtioner
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's amps
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
BMI Shark Pure Jeweler Grade Platinum AC Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Hubbell Outlet 5362/5262 Deep Cryo Process
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
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ricred1
1,990 posts
 
I've been playing the M1 for 4 straight days and I'm really enjoying my system. I don't know how the DSD compares to the M1 in an system that utilizes a preamp. In my case I use my DAC as a preamp/DAC and there is a very significant difference between the DSD and M1. Is the difference the DAC, a better implementation of the preamp, or both? What's better with the M1?...bass, dynamics, after 30 hours the soundstage, smoothness and tonality. Many believe the preamp is the heart of a system and just maybe that's why I hear such a difference between the two. If you have a preamp, maybe the differences are diminished.
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
It def will be diminished if you have a lesser preamp that drags it down.

The deal with DACs is that it all matters. Not just DAC chip or how it is implemented but the power supplies, the critical output stage, the filers, volume control (if it has one), quality of the the case, the vibration control, the entire package. A great way to tell the strength of a DAC is how it sounds by itself. It takes more possible synergy problems out of the equation when evaluating it.

Like you in my system I thought the DSD sounds much better with a Pre and with the M1 I prefer without a pre or at least it is good enough to chose the different flavors verse of with or without vs a obvious sound quality jump. That right there kind of says it all. Are there certain DACs that have great synergy matches with certain pre's? I am sure there are but chances are if a DAC sound good enough without a pre that advancement in the output stage matters and it will carry over to the performance with a pre with the caveat of synergy concerns aside...

All this said I agree with your point that prob a big part of the reason the Bricasti has such superior sound quality is because of it's dual mono design; with duel completely isolated channels, each with its own dedicated linear power supplies

because of its outstanding duel mono output stage.
worldcat
160 posts
 
IF you are looking for an amp and love the M1 why don't you buy the Bricasti amps. I believe it would be a much bigger upgrade with their amps than the the dac. From what i heard i thought they where amazing!
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
I would love to if I had $30,000.00 to spend on amps. I bet they sound incredible but def over my head. Maybe a used pair down the road in a few years would be killer... Thanks for the input though :)
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
Guys, my Bricasti is still get better and better. Man its impressive.

UPGRADE: I added a SOtM SMS-100.

I goes between your DAC and your computer (PC or MAC).

Rather than hooking your USB cable to the computer then to your DAC you hook this between them. One end goes to your DAC on the end your internet router via Ethernet cable. It take all the computer power line noise/crap out of the signal path and its and awesome upgrade.

Huge upgrade and it is only $435.00.

I owned a few weeks back and didn't like it because with JRiver MediaCenter 19 there was not way to use the EQ and DSP options. EQ / DSP are 100% mandatory when using JRiver on computer as source so so I sold it.

I found out the newest version JRiver MediaCenter 20 now lets you use the EQ/DSP feature when using the SOtM SMS-100.

The EQ and DSP features are mandatory when using a computer so if you are not using those reach out to me because you have no idea how much you are missing. Well JRiver MediaCenter 20 has it all. It allows the use via the DLNA and it works outstanding and is a huge upgrade.

For you Bricasti owners or DirestStream owners that use a computer / USB as a source this is a must add and its cheap!

DirectStream owners this sounds much better than the wireless Bridge also. With the DirectStream I owned the bridge used it but when I bought a really good USB cable I liked the USB better, quite a bit better than the Bridge and this is much better than both so wanted to share.

Thanks
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