Bricasti M1 DAC vs PS Audio Direct Stream DAC

Fsmith - The Off-Ramp 5 should work fine with your USB cable, and it will likely improve on the USB interface in the Bricasti to boot. OR5 can be upgraded later to Off-Ramp 6 or Interchange Ethernet interface. Both big upgrades.

If you want Off-Ramp to sound the very best, it needs the Dynamo power supply option and my BNC-BNC coax cable option with RCA adapters. This cable is a true giant-killer at $250.00. These can be added later if you only want to get your feet wet. 30-day money-back, less shipping.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Hi Jon2020,

Not that easy. My dealer is in TX and I'm in MA. I called Fidelis in NH where I bought the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable and they also sell Bricasti and they are checking their Bricasti against their Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable. It will not work not on mine no matter what I do. Doubt it is the cable because it works with other DAC's and doubt it is the DAC because it works with other cables. No good reason for this to be the case at all but it is. Brian at Bricasti offered to have me bring the DAC and cable to his shop to check out as we are both from MA. My next day off isn't until next Wednesday. Been waiting a week and a half for this DAC already so add that on and it sucks. I traded my DirectStream DAC and its matching power vibration control base which I am sure helped its performance which the Bricasti doesn't have the benefit of using either and cash for the Bricasti so I was never able to side by side but I know the sound of my DirestStream VERY well. I never used the $3.99 cable in my DirectStream because there was never a need. Both DAC's use the same German made driver so it makes no sense at all. I can tell you that the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable was a gigantic and honestly I mean gigantic upgrade over a Audioquest Diamond USB cable that I thought was great when I had it. I actually tried the Tellurium Q Graphite USB cable first that was a huge improvement and when they got the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable in and I tried it I was blown away such an improvement and that was over a already very good AQ cable. Over a $3.99 cable it just isn't fair we all now at this level how important cables are. Unfortunately they can make or break a system with one cable as I have just witnessed first hand. I am positive the DirectStream would sound terrible in relation with the $3.99 cable also but can't say for sure but my guts says yes. Now for the Bricasti after running it with the cable all night and this morning it sounds much better. Not sure if it was cable or DAC breaking in or what but it is much better. No where near the DS with TQ cable or even close but mush better than when first hooked up. I also have a opti-cable out of my computer but that isn't any better and actually prefer the crappy $3.99 usb cable. I can say that the Bricasti has shown this very special Naim like PRAT trying to shine through that is new to these ears and not something the DS had. I can tell this is a special DAC and just wish I could hear it. Who know if Fidelis has a Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable that works with their DAC maybe its my cable. That is what I am crossing my fingers for. Also, even with this crappy cable there is an immeiacy also that is shinning through that the DS lacked also. I can feel some PRAT and immediacy that seem to have this great potneital but everything else is way way below the DS - TQ combo. I will update you guys and please any and all feedback is welcome please.

steve I am interested can you email me here on the forum so i can get some more info please. i would like an option that I can add to as I go like you mentioned please. the sooner the better I have no patience... lol. Thanks

"" Does the DirectStream sound better with that cable?"

This seems like a critical comparison.""

I wish I tried it but I didn't and I can tell you at this level a $3.99 usb cable can suffocate a system like it is doing to the Bricasti. I am sure it would also do that to the DirectStream but to what level?? I would love to know what the Bricasti sounds like with the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable because then I would know for sure what DAC is better becasue everything but break-in and the vibration base would be the same. I thought the Bricasti would be a definite step up and I still sure hope so but I am Not sure that is going to be case yet????

UPDATE: Hey guys thanks for all of the feedback, ideas and advice. For starters tonight after work I took the hour and a half each way treck up to Fidelis in NH where I bought my Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable.

They are the US Distributor for Tellurium Q and Harbeth and they are an overall amazing HI-FI Dealer. Super great guys. I got there a half hour after they closed and they stayed late as I called on route because the traffic was awful on RT 3 north and it caused me to run late. They not only replaced my Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable with a Brand new one but also gave me a Tellurium Q Black to try as well just in case the design for some reason of the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable wouldn't work with the Bricasti to be safe. They are also good friends with Brian from Bricasti and they wanted to help me solve the problem. Brian had told me if the new cable didn't work he would like to see the DAC and the cable to try and solve the problem. Both parties were responsive and willing to do anything they could to assist. Outstanding service on both parts. I can tell you the service from both organizations is truly first class.

OK so I got home and plugged in the new Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable and bam it worked perfect. Its so odd because it worked perfect with my DirectStram and still works with Ayre QB-9 but regardless the new one works perfect and I couldn't be happier. I am stoked!

So now I have a brand new cable to break in and they really do need to break in and a brand new DAC to break in as well so its with understanding this that my first thoughts are about this new equipment.

First things first. Really good, high quality USB cables really do matter. Especially when plugging right from computer to the DAC. Maybe if I had an Off Ramp or other top quality component in between the difference would not be so extreme but it is. Also maybe if I never heard a great USB cable I wouldn't miss it so much but that could probably said for any top notch cable verse a $3.99 cable except with exceptions of maybe HDMI for TV to a certain extent. I am sure a $3.99 interconnect vs a Valhalla would offer similar results. The addition of the new none broken in Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB cable was nothing short of extraordinary. I can tell neither is broken in and I am going to enjoy their evolving and ripening. I am going to save my critical comparison of the two DACs after I can give them a chance to settle in a bit but this DAC is nothing like what I heard last night. NOTHING !!! What I can say it that it is more precise musical tool for sure. It does play on another level that is evident. You get a good feel between the $5500 DAC vs a $9000 DAC. There is a lot more there but it needs to settle down before I can really get into it. What I can say about the DirectStream is that DACis better than the sum of its parts. It is a very special DAC and this DAC seems to have true - great promise for sure but it def needs to settle down and break in a bit but it sounds pretty good right now. These are two very different DACS that's for sure. They have very different perspectives for sure but I like this Bricasti and it was nice to hear what it has to offer that really just wan't possible with a $3.99 usb cable...