2. digital
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Just got the PS Audio Perfectwav DAC -- Amazing

For the last year my system has consisted of the Slim Devices Transporter (Transport + DAC) -> Bel Canto Ref1000 -> Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1

I listen to all my music digitally (lossless/flac). I was very happy with my original system but when the Perfectwave DAC came out I was intrigued. For quite a while I debated between the PW and keeping the transporter or modding it via Modwright.

I ended up getting the PW and though I can't compare it to a modded transporter, it blows the stock transporter out of the water. I should note that since the network bridge isnt out for the PW, I am currently streaming music via the transporter -> coaxial out (spdif) -> PW.

I have only listened for ~5 hours so far, but things I have noticed right away is much cleaner/tighter bass. The low end is so much more accurate than it was before. When comparing, the transporter sounded very muddy (even though at the time I though it was quite good). The mids and highs are tighter as well. The separation has improved quite a bit as well. I have immediately noticed that the loudness of different instruments is wider spread than listening to the same songs on the transporter.

Hope this helps! If anyone has any questions about the PW or the transporter I will try my best to answer them.
danyal711
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theaudioexperience
35 posts
 
The digital volume control is not going to make a huge negative impact on the sound. Depends on your amp and where you have the knob. But there are ways to do it right and ways to do it wrong. Ask Wadia how they get the digital volume control that has existed in their CD players for years and years to sound as good as it does. :)
trebejo
102 posts
 
Ok, the digital volume control will usually alter the 0s and 1s as they enter the DAC. So what the DAC processes and turns into sound is quite different from what is on the CD or hard drive.

It is not a small matter. It is "as bad" as it gets. Ok, maybe not as bad as blowing an output tube, but people, we have standards here! Think of the little audiophiles!

Thanks, Richard, for the tip about the Berkeley alpha dac! It's good to learn something new. I'll probably never be able to afford one, but that does not stop me from drooling a little bit after it. :) I am very curious now about just how they get this little task done, because it's a bit of a math problem that needs to be solved real-time, oh, 44,000 times per second! :0

What makes me suspicious about the PS Audio gadget is that they went on and on and on about far less relevant stuff in their gadget, but they never talked about this digital volume control problem. When someone ducks the mention of a difficult issue that has stopped those that came before him, the safe thing to assume is that they are ducking the issue and pretending it is not a problem.

I asked PS Audio about this and did not get a response. Maybe they'll address it someday.
richard_stacy
686 posts
 
trebejo...i am sure they would be willing to explain the math but my suggestion would be to listen to one! my guess is your ears will forget the formula and you will enjoy the music. they (berkeley) actually recommend bypassing any preamp so as not to degrade the signal.

i'll get out of here so you folks can continue the pwd love...
levy03
442 posts
 
Trebejo: not sure if this is what you're looking for but Paul McGowen has addressed this issue several times on the PS Audio discussion boards. just search the forum for "volume control" and you'll find quite a few explanations/discussions regarding what's really going on. seems to kinda boil down to having a 32 bit DAC onboard from what i understand (but i'm no expert)

can tell you i've been using my perfect wave pair without a pre lately and it's sounding great. good volume control too imo.

here's a couple of links

http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/index.php/viewthread/454/

http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/ps/about/viewthread/391/#2776

cheers
Lev
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i own the pwt and pwd. i assume it is broken in. i left it on for two weeks and fed a signal, changing the cd every so often. i used the coax and hdmi input to the dac.

i disagree with all of the opoinions so far about these products. it extends the treble, improves clarity, extends the bass, but it sounds analytical, and digital.

my 1990 audio note cd player sounds better as a transport and my audionote sounds better than both the dac and the transport. its not a bad products, so long as you want to be reminded that you atre listening to a pooor quality cd. of course, better quality cds sound better.

i was using a$450 ess sabre tech dac which i prefer to the ps audio.

perhaps it is nit yet broken in . does it require more than 3334 hours for break-in ?
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