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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
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xfsmithjack
sundaram78
5 posts
 
Hi All,

I love this forum and this thread. So much information and and the unfortumate downside is it made me so confused on which DAC to buy... I am looking for a used DAC at a price range between $3000-5000..  I am new to this and just started building my system. Below is my setp

Goldenear Triton 1speakers
Line magnetic 219ia 845 SET amp
Bell Canto C5i - it's an integrated amp with built in DAC and i am using it as a DAC only... so this the dac in my system now...


I am fully satisfied with my speakers and LM 219 amp.. same components Sandy Gross (founder of Golden ear) uses in his system...

With this setup, my system sounds awesome... without going into lot of typical words, I will quote what my wife said about the music from the system ..."pleasent to listen, clean and not conjusted"


Now, I thought adding a better DAC might take this setup to next level and probably my last purchase for next few years..

I am thinking something from below list of great DAC's


PS audio DS DAC
Biscarti M1
Bel Canto DAC 3.5 vb ii


If anyone have a similar system as mine, please share your thoughts...

Thank you all.

ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,525 posts
 

The PS Audio Direct Stream Dac just released another free firmware update called "Torrey's". This upgrade is remarkable and has changed the sound quality for the better.  I don't know how it compares to the Briscati  however, but it is very good.

As a matter of fact, PS has upgraded the firmware several times and appears that it will continue. Again, the upgrades are free and user installed.

hgeifman
2,268 posts
 
I sent my Bricasti M1 DAC back to the factory for the M1 SE upgrade.  My M1 SE is expected back on Thursday, June 9th.   As per their web site, the Bricasti M1 SE upgrade includes:

"The Special Edition M1 builds on the success of the Classic M1 and adds some of the improvements offered in the new flagship Limited Edition Gold M1. Presented in the classic anodized black and aluminum finish, the M1 Special Edition incorporates Stillpoints feet that are engineered and optimized exclusively for the design. The added stability improves isolation from vibration which translates to a more transparent sonic presentation. Point-to-point wiring, a labor intensive process, improves signal flow by eliminating various connectors which can degrade a signals performance. Finally, the next generation power improvements have been incorporated in this edition to further improve filtering of unwanted noise and power ripple.

Product Highlights:
Newly engineered feet with Stillpoints for improved isolation.
Point-to-point wiring.
power capacitor improvements.
DSD, DSD64 and DSD128 playback.
Features the latest generation asynchronous USB interface.
Dedicated dual mono design.
Highly acclaimed, proprietary filter technology.
Extremely low jitter @ 6 picoseconds.
Supports sample rates of up to 352.8kHz and 24 bits.
Minimum and linear phase filters".

I visited the Bricasti room at 2016 THE Show and asked them how they did the upgrade.  Brian showed me on an opened M1 what wires were removed, what connections were changed, what power capacitor improvements were made, etc.  He also mentioned their newly engineered software V1.32 which improves even further the M1 clocking designed specifically with the SE mind.  I spoke to two people who had their units upgraded and they both said the change was absolutely stunning and the $1,000 upgrade was highly recommended.  I will post my comments when I get my M1 SE installed.


lula
213 posts
 
Is the M1 SE upgrade worthwhile for strictly physical Redbook playback? I do not do DSD, USB, files, etc. I had my Bricasti upgraded last year for Redbook only. I use a 30.6 Levinson transport.

hgeifman
2,268 posts
 
Lula, As I noted above, the newly engineered feet with Stillpoints for improved isolation (and added stability), the new point-to-point wiring, the elimination of various connectors, the next generation power improvements and the power capacitor improvements should improve the your Redbook playback.  Since you already had your Bricasti M1 updated to the SE version, what is your listening experience?   My M1 SE is expected to arrive on Thursday.  

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