PS Audio PW vs. Bryston BDA-1 vs. Wyred 4 Sound

i'll third the ps audio gear. have not heard the BDA-1 but have no doubts it's a fine DAC. have owned the pwt/pwd since release and compared it to several other digi front ends (2 that where much more expensive). nothing has sounded better imho. every comparison i've done has resulted in the owner of the other source buying or wanting to buy the pw duo. i'll spare you all the accolades but until i hear something better....the pw combo is IT for me.

Really looking forward to hearing about the comparisons of the three DACs listed in this thread. I ended up purchasing the Wyred 4 Sound DAC 1 due to it's price. I have the new Magnepan 1.7s with a Bada tube hybrid preamp and separate 300w 4ohm Bada amplifier.

The sound is incredible through the system. Very detailed and very realistic sound. For the first time in my experience, Magnepans are sounding great with rock music. It could be the new 1.7s but I do feel it is the combination of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC 1 with the new Maggies. I don't get the same feeling from my previous Pacific Sound modified DAC which is very good, but not up to the standards of the Wyred 4 Sound.

I can't tell you if one is better than the others (I have not heard the other two) but I will tell you the Wyred 4 Sound DAC should be listened to if you are considering purchasing either of the other two.

just a comment about the digital interface between the ps audio pwt and pwd.

i own the pair and have compared the hdmi (top-of-the line), coax and fiber optic.

for my taste the hdmi was producing a spectrally unbalanced sound. there was too much treble in comparison to midrange and bass. i preferred the coax, as it seemed to generate a balanced frequency response.

i have found just the opposite regarding the hdmi hook-up for the pwd. the hdmi was sonically better in almost every regard to the tos or coax in my system. i found this to be true even when a cheap hdmi was used and even more obvious when i switched to a hi-grade hdmi line. no comparison to my ears.....night vs day.

different strokes....different folks.