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Just got the PS Audio Perfectwav DAC -- Amazing

For the last year my system has consisted of the Slim Devices Transporter (Transport + DAC) -> Bel Canto Ref1000 -> Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1

I listen to all my music digitally (lossless/flac). I was very happy with my original system but when the Perfectwave DAC came out I was intrigued. For quite a while I debated between the PW and keeping the transporter or modding it via Modwright.

I ended up getting the PW and though I can't compare it to a modded transporter, it blows the stock transporter out of the water. I should note that since the network bridge isnt out for the PW, I am currently streaming music via the transporter -> coaxial out (spdif) -> PW.

I have only listened for ~5 hours so far, but things I have noticed right away is much cleaner/tighter bass. The low end is so much more accurate than it was before. When comparing, the transporter sounded very muddy (even though at the time I though it was quite good). The mids and highs are tighter as well. The separation has improved quite a bit as well. I have immediately noticed that the loudness of different instruments is wider spread than listening to the same songs on the transporter.

Hope this helps! If anyone has any questions about the PW or the transporter I will try my best to answer them.
danyal711
2chnlben
595 posts
 
Trebejo

No need for the immature rhetoric…homework aside, the PWD is simply in another league compared to what you offered as a “better alternative.” The type of conjecture that you offer happens all of the time at this, and other sites – in that a someone make a generalization or even an attempted rationalization about a given product based on everything (except) hands-on experience and primary knowledge of said product. I’d say that is a bit impetuous…
What’s an MP3 anyway!
richard_stacy
686 posts
 
trebejo...i am not familiar with the pwd volume control however there are methods of digital volume control that do not degrade the signal. i know the berkeley alpha dac's does not and i believe there are others. figured i would jump in and complicate things...
theaudioexperience's avatar
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theaudioexperience
35 posts
 
The digital volume control is not going to make a huge negative impact on the sound. Depends on your amp and where you have the knob. But there are ways to do it right and ways to do it wrong. Ask Wadia how they get the digital volume control that has existed in their CD players for years and years to sound as good as it does. :)
trebejo
102 posts
 
Ok, the digital volume control will usually alter the 0s and 1s as they enter the DAC. So what the DAC processes and turns into sound is quite different from what is on the CD or hard drive.

It is not a small matter. It is "as bad" as it gets. Ok, maybe not as bad as blowing an output tube, but people, we have standards here! Think of the little audiophiles!

Thanks, Richard, for the tip about the Berkeley alpha dac! It's good to learn something new. I'll probably never be able to afford one, but that does not stop me from drooling a little bit after it. :) I am very curious now about just how they get this little task done, because it's a bit of a math problem that needs to be solved real-time, oh, 44,000 times per second! :0

What makes me suspicious about the PS Audio gadget is that they went on and on and on about far less relevant stuff in their gadget, but they never talked about this digital volume control problem. When someone ducks the mention of a difficult issue that has stopped those that came before him, the safe thing to assume is that they are ducking the issue and pretending it is not a problem.

I asked PS Audio about this and did not get a response. Maybe they'll address it someday.
richard_stacy
686 posts
 
trebejo...i am sure they would be willing to explain the math but my suggestion would be to listen to one! my guess is your ears will forget the formula and you will enjoy the music. they (berkeley) actually recommend bypassing any preamp so as not to degrade the signal.

i'll get out of here so you folks can continue the pwd love...
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