2. digital
  3. 184565-104197

Comparing Directstream 1 and 2

I have one more week left in my 30 day trial of the PS Audio Directstream 2. I’ve had some personal (medical) issues which have limited my listening. Also, even though I know better than to rely on reviewers’ opinions, I’m a little put off by the unusually negative review in Stereophile. My wife, who has better ears than me, has offered a couple of hours to compare my current Directstream 1 with the Directstream 2. Here’s my question: What order is most effective for the comparison? is it better to begin listening to my current 1 and then listen to the new 2 or vice versa? Going back and forth takes me a while —there are 5 or 6 cables to move—and my wife will get impatient so I won’t be able to do very many comparisons -maybe 2- with about 10 minutes in between for set up. I also would appreciate any other suggestions for this momentous comparison-what to listen to (we mainly prefer classical and soft vocal options), how long to listen before switching, and anything else that might help. Thanks,

brownsf
mahler123
3,041 posts
 

Use recordings that you are familiar with. If you have a Firebird Suite/Petrouchka/ Rite of Spring coupling in your collection that should cover transients, sound staging, bass…the usual audiophile stuff.

Can you enlist a 3rd person who can make choices as to which Order you are listening? You shouldn’t know in advance what order you are listening to as that will alter your perceptions. Your wife should also be blinded as to the order

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

IMO, if the new DS DAC does not wow you when swapping in the old one, if you are really struggling to hear a difference, it’s not worth it. You should have already a good baseline with the old one. Put the new one, listen. Does it wow you? Put back the old one, listen again. Is the sound degraded? If the answer is “no”, or “I am not sure”, then it’s not worth it. There is nothing scientific with this simple approach, but that’s what I would do, personally 

Post removed 
deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
707 posts
 

@steakster is correct, it takes more then 10 minutes of listening, switch them for a full day of listening or even 3-4 days and then switch back. I also agree that you should at least raise some doubt as to which one you are listening to if you can't get a complete blind-fold test.

But do let us know what you hear/find. 

More to discover