PS Audio Perfectwave dac.
Affordable alternativ to the PS Audio DirectStream DAC
I have borrowed a DirectStream DAC from my dealer very nice of him because he knows that I can't afford it (:
I have to say it is everything I have ever wanted from a streamer/dac. Music just pouring out of my speakers, real sweet music.
Voices just sounds so real, everything is in place, there are details but not in your face. I just love it. This is like music should sound.
I am using it with a PrimaLuna HP integrated. Very nice combo.
The DirectStream DAC junior is discontinuing and I can't get my hands on a used one.
If you have heard the DirectStream DAC and know of another dac sounding as musical -- let me know
I have to say it is everything I have ever wanted from a streamer/dac. Music just pouring out of my speakers, real sweet music.
Voices just sounds so real, everything is in place, there are details but not in your face. I just love it. This is like music should sound.
I am using it with a PrimaLuna HP integrated. Very nice combo.
The DirectStream DAC junior is discontinuing and I can't get my hands on a used one.
If you have heard the DirectStream DAC and know of another dac sounding as musical -- let me know
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- 85 posts total
I have owned several high end DACs - the Luxman DA-06, the PS Audio Direct Stream with Bridge II, and currently the Esoteric D-07. I have been using a bluesound as a streamer for several years and have found it much better than the bridge ii in terms of reliability - it just never stops playing. My bridge ii used to stop playing all the time with high resolution files. Yes, the DS is a very good sounding product, but frankly the Luxman was richer sounding (not what I expected to find at all given all the reviews of the DS) and the Esoteric kills them both in terms of sound quality AND build quality. The Esoteric is an older DAC which is available for about $1500 used and simply makes the PS Audio look like a child’s toy. So, for $2k (including a decent coax cable) you can get an amazing DAC. The Esoteric allows you to upsample into DSD, and I have found that makes it sound more analog, but you can also convert without upsampling or into 2x or 4x PCM which sounds a bit more detailed. Your choice - it just depends on the music. Anyway, just my two cents but it could save you about $2k over a new DS with bridge (they sell for $4k brand new - nobody pays retail for PS). |
I have the PS audio Direct Stream DAC for the money nothing comes close. And the software updates are free. Do what the others have suggested when the new Jr comes out the price of the old one will bottom out. Thay have just stopped production on the Direct Stream CD unit. I am waiting for the new one to be come out so I can buy the older model at a deep discount Also PS Audio has some of the best CS it’s world class. |
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9e6fa-ps-audio-directstream-dac-da-converters here is one on sale here on AG for $3900. i have one of these; it is the cornerstone of my system. with the frequent os upgrades it is like having a new component every year os so. i would buy another one if building a new system |
- 85 posts total