PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC upgrade to DSD?

If you're otherwise happy with the speakers, I would consider upgrading the crossovers in your Thiels.  Better capacitors on my speakers (Duelund CAST Tinned Copper on Coincident PREs) eliminated some light smearing and brightness/sibilance in the highs.  There are some threads on Agon documenting the process for Thiel speakers, and I think Jim Thiel's son will actually help you with the process if you contact him (it either happened in the Thiel owners thread, or those folks will know how to contact him).

I'm clearly getting a different experience than others, but I've upgraded my PWD MKII to a DSD twice and both times ended up going back.  I don't know what it is about the DSD that doesn't work for me, but that's been my experience.

cal3713 - talk about striking a chord!  The first response I got when I posted on the Thiel Users thread was an enthusiastic "upgrade your crossovers!"  Tom Thiel (Jim's brother), Beetlemania, a couple other happy modders are fine tuning the design(s) and one day this upgrade might be available through a tbd company or Coherent Source, the post OEM repair/parts/service provider for Thiel.  If I a) had a second pair of speakers and b) knew how to solder, I would be in with two feet bc the trial runs are showing excellent results.

The Thiel thread is one of my favorites - excellent history, design, and anecdotal info re all things Thiel, mostly provided by Tom Thiel himself; lots of good user tips (best amp pairings, how do I fix...., relative virtues of the different models, etc), and although some might perceive small bits of smuggery about the users' preferred speakers, there is NONE of the trolling that sometimes enters into online hifi discussions.  And I have come to trust the listening, interpreting, and writing skills of many of the contributors. Highly recommended and one of the reasons I want to stick with the Thiels!     

All that being said, bummer about the PWD vs DSD - you are the first I have heard having this experience.  What changes for the worse?  

Whoops, should have just gone with "relative" rather than guessing son!  Glad you posted the correction. As for the dsd, obviously many people love it, maybe most. For me, it just doesn't sound natural. Don't know if it's my speakers or what, but I don't hear what everyone else does... and I tried twice.

And I wouldn't be too scared of soldering. Since you won't be putting heat directly on a driver, I doubt you could do anything to hurt your speakers. The worst case scenario is that you over cook a new crossover part, and those odds are low. You don't happen to be in Colorado do you? Happy to help upgrade if you are...

I wish, sadly no, and thanks a bunch for the offer.  You've moved me closer to trying this, some day.

One last suggestion... If you've got the space, you may also consider using screw connections throughout the crossover.  It eliminates soldering and let's you easily swap out capacitors to try different types. That's what Nelson pass uses on his home speakers... see photo #5: https://jeffsplace.positive-feedback.com/jeff-checking-in-pass-labs-xa25-amplifier-and-the-duelund-a...