PS Audio Direct Stream

Hgeifman,

You state "I suppose I should forget about the technical stuff in the DirectStream DAC and just judge the DirectStream by how it sounds."

And then you state "I am still very happy with my Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC and see no reason to think about replacing it."

So what's the point of all this?

I've had the DS now for 4 months or so, lot of hours on it, been thru the first and second firmwares, and I think the sound is show stoppingly amazing. I love the improvement on Redbook cd's, and SACD iso kills. The DS startded out good, but with TONS of burn-in it REALLY sings IMO.

I must report the new DS firmware update 1.2.1 is so good it's like a new DAC upgrade but for free.

I heard that DSD playback is much improved...had to be as the only way was UP!

Just placed the DSD in my uncles systems and cold out of the box it literally destroyed his EAR Dac4 which has about 4 weeks of run-in. I am impressed and I am not easily impressed with dacs. This thing should really open up with 500 to 1000 hours on it but for cold out of the box it is absolutely better than most dacs I have heard. This unit is obvious a benefactor of the latest firmware.