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PS Audio PerfectWave DAC Upgrade

Paul McGowan has leaked some information about a major upgrade the perfectwave DAC that will be coming out within the next few weeks. Pricing as of yet unknown, but current units will be field (DIY) upgradable.

Apparently, major changes were made to the digital processing board, involving changes in the powersupplies, and replacement of CMOS switching for the gates and clocking with analog switches.

Second, new jitter reducing circuitry called NativeX was implemented.

There are more as of yet unannounced new features.

Apparently, SQ on all inputs will benefit, including the bridge. Exciting stuff.
edorr
2chnlben
595 posts
 
MrTennis:

Based on what I have read of your posts/threads, I truly believe that you would be thrilled with the improvement the MKII upgrade provides compared to the MKI version. Bass control may indeed be improved - as suggested by Mcondon, but what I notice most is the increased sense of air and the openness of the overall sound stage (a better definition of the combined total - i.e.: a more spacious, more involving overall presentation offering better tonal balance and timbre).

The MKII is clearly better than the MKI, but it is not a night and day difference for most people. Since you can discern clear differences between digital cables, the MKII upgrade will be a very noticeable improvement for you. It's smoother if anything. Definitely not more clinical.
edorr OP
714 posts
 
Mrtennis, for some the funds of the upgrade may be better applied towards a state of the art tennis racket. For the rest of us the upgrade is a no brainier. We are enjoying our upgrade every day, some of the best bang for the buck ever in high end audio. Cheers!
podeschi
303 posts
 
well worth the $$ on every front -- easy to hear, easy to justify
mcondon
235 posts
 
Mrtennis: I am very sensitive about anything that sounds overly analytical or fatiguing...so I am in the same camp as you. I think the MK2 is a significant improvement over the MK1, so long as you install firmware version 2.0.2 in the MK2. The MK2 DAC using 2.0.2 firmware is more musically involving than the MK1 with better defined bass and better soundstage. In no way is the MK2 worse sounding, fatiguing, or overly analytical. The improvement is very obvious with the PW Transport in my system, although not quite "mind blowing", just substantially better. Mind you, I still think the SQ from the Perfect Wave Transport far exceeds the SQ from other inputs and from the Bridge. The Bridge has not lived up to the hype yet, which may explain why so many PW DACs are for sale.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi mcondon:

are you suggesting that the only benefits from the 2.02 board are bass definition and an improvement in staging??

i use either i2s or coax as my input from the pwt to the pwd.
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