PS Audio Directstream DAC

nc42acc

nc42acc

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
1,131
Location
The Matrix
So what other fellow forum members use the Directstream as their primary system DAC? Why did you choose it over what you were previously using and what DAC was removed for the Directstream? I am curious if the attributes I am hearing are the same as everyone else.
 
Marty - Would be very interested in your perspective on the DirectStream DAC, especially considering that you have the T&A DAC8 DSD and Kitsune to compare it to. TIA and good listening!
 
Bill that was my plan but I wanted to get a few comments on what others are hearing and see if it mirrors my impressions first. I am in the middle of a dac fest listen off so I have lots of comments to include.

audio.bill said:
Marty - Would be very interested in your perspective on the DirectStream DAC, especially considering that you have the T&A DAC8 DSD and Kitsune to compare it to. TIA and good listening!
Click to expand...
 
I added Direct Stream when I was running through the McIntosh 2500, acting as a preamp and DAC.

Direct Stream outperformed the McIntosh, in every way but there’s a catch, I was using a Mac Mini, and the cabling loom then was between Shunyata and Nordost, and little to no isolation, wall treatments and power conditioning was through a Niagara 5000 with sound powered by a MC452 (miss that amp) coming out of Focal 1038s.

Since then, the equipment, amps, server, cabling and isolation accelerated into a different league except the Direct Stream and the Memory player, although I believe this really has complimented bringing things out with resolution of the DAC - the biggest problem I have is deciding is it the recording, the DAC or something else. Mood depending, this becomes wuickly answered when I pop on specific songs I feel I know well and everything falls back sonically into place, making the decision to keep running Direct Stream a smart one. Everything is paid for and owes me nothing!

I’m running Red Cloud, and will say this is a good software platform update for the DAC, along with a track record of frequent firmware updates at no cost, with that being said, it seems to all come back to what played, and if the system is warmed up. When I let it play for a few hours or more is when the greatest sound pours out of the system.

Yes, I am dumb and stupid falling in love with 2 other DACs; MSB and Brinkmann, I know I should leave well enough alone.

Will these add a gain of 25-30% for the uptick in dollars spent over keeping what I have with the PS is the real question, and can say probably not although not 100% certain which makes me curious. Any gain less then 25% will really take some serious consideration.

So I am curious how you see things as you go through your testing.

Happy Listening 🤺


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Love mine. It replaced then then top of the line accuphase DAC which cost many multiples of the PSAudio. I enjoy the sound of the PSAudio much more (even though it all runs into an accuphase DAC). I love the free updates, but if you’re into CDs, the combo of the direct stream and the memory player via I2S is stunning to my ear.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
Hey Marty,

I was seriously considering the PS Audio unit but ultimately decided against it in favor of the T+A DAC. My reasons were that I was uncomfortable with how much conversion to the signal was going on. The original signal input into the DS (up to DSD128 only) is converted up to 20x DSD and then converted back to DSD128 before being sent to the analog conversion stage.

Also, HQPlayer, which I consider the finest playback engine available, would be almost useless to be used with PS Audio because of all the converting going on (this was relayed to me by Ted Smith in his explanation as to why HQPlayer would not work well with the DS). I now use HQPlayer to do the only converting, up-sampling to DSD512/48 clock and this signal is sent to the DACs analog converting. To me this signal path made more sense.

I have not had the opportunity to do the kind of comparisons you are talking about; I simply wanted to relate why in the end I decided against the PS Audio DS and went with the T+A. It all depends on your use. For me, HQPlayer became important which directly led to consideration of the T+A over the PS Audio.
 
Great feedback guys, thanks for taking the time to contribute. Here are the DACs I am currently comparing. PS Audio Directstream, Denafrips Terminator, Holo Audio Spring Level 3, T&A DAC8, Bryston BDA-3. All except the T&A are being served music by an Aurender N10. I am going to use Randys HQPlayer settings for the T&A. Very interesting listening to so much variety.
 
Hey Marty, I suggest trying some different filters and modulators, it is subtle, but you may like some others better. I don't have the exact names in front of me but I have found I like the poly-sinc-short-2s (or something like that) a bit better. Also for the modulator ASDM7-512 something or another (again, at work so don't have it in front of me :)). I am also sure it will depend on other factors.

But over all, HQPlayer at DSD512 to the T+A is something very special indeed (especially if you go to the 48 base clock). I also think the better in the better out, so I will always look for the best, or highest rez version of something I like. It does make CDs truly high rez sounding to me. A CD rip up-sampled to DSD512/48 (24.6Mhz) is really good.
 
I can second Randy's observation with the T+A dac at DSD512 with HQP. The DAC is truly special with that setting. It is detailed with great texture. Although, I also love the PSA DS with its software ability and huge sound stage, great transparency and detail. I have heard the PSA in my system and have 2 friends that own it. It would be a tough decision to pick between the 2. If you want to use Roon by itself, then PSA would be the way to go but if you use Roon with HQP, the T+A would be great.

The only problem I see with the T+A is that you need at minimum a top of the line Quad Core I7 and at least 8gigs of fast DDR4 ram to run DSD512 and the new I7 8 core cpu's for max settings with DSD512 with HQP.
 
I agree in that to take full advantage of HQPlayer you need a rather powerful computer. Don't forget that HQPlayer can also take advantage of Nvidia Cuda cores (Nvidia graphics card, usually used for high end gaming) to off load some of the processing. My computer, although pretty darn good, is a few years old and can't run HQPlayer at absolute maximum (I have to use the 2s filter version for example), but it still is the best I have heard. From what I read the standard version of the filters versus the 2s is very small differences. If you have a powerful enough computer then the standard versions are supposed to be ever so slightly better.

BTW- Macs can run HQPlayer, but my view (and what I have read on their website) to take maximum advantage of HQPlayer a Windows 10 PC/dedicated music server, should be used.
 
Hounddog said:
Love mine. It replaced then then top of the line accuphase DAC which cost many multiples of the PSAudio. I enjoy the sound of the PSAudio much more (even though it all runs into an accuphase DAC). I love the free updates, but if you’re into CDs, the combo of the direct stream and the memory player via I2S is stunning to my ear.
Click to expand...
I don't understand how the PS DirectStream DAC could be run into an Accuphase DAC, perhaps you meant into your Accuphase C3800 preamp? :S Very nice system btw! :audiophile:
 
Yes. I mis-typed. Running into my accuphase c3800 pre amp. To my ears, the psaudio beat the MUCH more expensive accuphase combo hands down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
nc42acc said:
Great feedback guys, thanks for taking the time to contribute. Here are the DACs I am currently comparing. PS Audio Directstream, Denafrips Terminator, Holo Audio Spring Level 3, T&A DAC8, Bryston BDA-3. All except the T&A are being served music by an Aurender N10. I am going to use Randys HQPlayer settings for the T&A. Very interesting listening to so much variety.
Click to expand...

what has been your listening experience so far ?

My DS time shares with another DAC currently. I bought the DS when it was released and the reason for selecting DS over any other DACs is modular h/w & s/w design and upgradeability and it had returned in spades.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top