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Bricasti M1 DAC vs PS Audio Direct Stream DAC

I own a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC that I like a lot but heard my friends system with the Bricasti M1 and I am strongly thinking of changing my DAC and would love your feedback from other members that have heard either or both. I know they are both great but really thinking of changing my Dac from PS Audio Direct Stream to the Bricasti M1 DAC. I use a HP Desk top computer as source with Jplay and JRiver Media 19 and the outstanding Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable. The rest of my system is below. I listen to Classic Rock, jazz, vocal, some modern music and the usual audiophile stuff.

Thanks

My system for reference.

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Monitor
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Cardas Clear Interconnect 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
PS Audio Direct Stream DSD DAC w/ Bridge DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase Vibration Cancelation/AC Condtioner
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's amps
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
BMI Shark Pure Jeweler Grade Platinum AC Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Hubbell Outlet 5362/5262 Deep Cryo Process
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
fsmithjack
fsmithjack's avatar
fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
I mean its nice to think of what can be. Heck I am a fan of that for sure. Always have been. I have no doubt this will be a nice sounding DAC in its price range but lets be honest there are some really good DAC's already in that price range that sound great and those Theta alums will have their hands full with those DAC's for SURE never mind mentioning the MSB Analog DAC that's crazy.

Whoever said that is just name dropping. Why not it works. We are talking about it. A few years ago I paid $1,100 for a used Ayre QB-9 24/96 and Schitt has never built anything that sounds even close to that DAC so they need to settle down and show us something outside of the budget segment first.

They have proven they can get real nice sound for real cheap money but that next step is a lot tougher so we'll see and then we can talk about the next step and then the one after that and then maybe the MSB Analog DAC? Gotta love their name though "Schitt". Cool...
wisnon
700 posts
 
Many good Dacs out there and I tend to prefer the boutique guys.

The Big 7 is the best of Lampi that I have heard, but I mostly heard the 3 and 4. The 5 and 6 I have only heard briefly. His PS design is superb. Lampi DSD is also unique on the marketÂ…and sounds outrageously good. Next wek I will get to hear the Golden Gate Lampi in a killer high end system for an entire day, and can report back on my feelings then.

The Lampis dont sell in the regular commercial model, so the markup is not so high. Its a hybrid semi-direct model.

As fo all those Dacs I heard, well some at home, some at shows, some at Pals homes and some at the HQs of the companies themselves, as I have been fortunate to get invited to personal demos.

All of the high end stuff sounds good, but price/performance relationship has to come into play.

The ones that spak to me of high value per price would be the Dartzeel LHC-208, the Lampizator Big7, and to a somewhat lesser extent the DStream. Now be mindful that the DStream had the original firmware.

I was not a great fan of the Hugo, as I prefer the Qute EX with LPSU.

Never heard Empirical Dac, but I am inclined to think its very good, as Steve is boutique and knows his stuff.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Rice - certainly not. I never have claimed zero jitter, only low jitter. I'm an engineer, not a salesman or marketeer. As for Hynes technology, its simply the best regulator for both digital and analog. I licensed the technology, so I design my own versions.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
keithtexas
352 posts
 
Steve, I have read many of your posts.

No offense, but although you may be an engineer first, you are also a salesman and marketeer.

I recognize and appreciate both your engineering insight(s) and your marketing opinions.
fsmithjack's avatar
fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
I am not sure the thin use of "salesman" is real accurate on balance. Salesman is more of a stereotype than anything else and it's semantically challenged as life just isn't black and white nor is audio. There is a lot of gray. He takes the time to contribute to our forum and adds value, feedback and educates us on things he knows a lot more than we do as I can speak to first hand. He take a grass roots approach to talking about his products and that is a classy form of selling but certainly not being a salesman which carries a negative connotation. It's always in proper context and is relevant perspective to the conversation. His value added input is appreciated from this forum member.
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