I have a lot of experience with the PWD so I'd like to chime in. (disclaimer: I used to sell the product and may again at some point)
First, I have found (and well as another friend) that the PWD does not sound as good via single ended. Not sure why, but the balanced is much better, not simply louder.
The Bridge firmwear version can make quite a difference.
I had been running version 0.2.11 for quite some time, since I had heard some of the newer updates had varying sound quality. I decided to update (auto via the front panel) to the latest version, and found it did not sound good, at least in my system. Returning the 0.2.11 made things smoother, more natural and better staged. I have to post this over at the PS Forums to see what others think, and perhaps why this is so.
The PWD is best running at full volume through a top notch preamp. Running at lower than 100, I can hear a reduction in air and quality.
Running the PWD direct to my amps does produce a bit more focused bass, but dynamics and harmonic structure loose out.
This is through a very expensive tube pre with hand built balanced volume control, so in systems with a lesser preamp, I could see the PWD running direct sounder better, as a number of people have noted. The PWD output impedance is a good match from my amps, so I doubt it's a mismatch when going direct.
When the new hardware update is out I believe it's going to be very exciting. Something about analog switching supplies vs. digital in the current version - I have to read up on this)
I'd be untruthful if I didn't say that some versions of the Ipad app and Elyric were flakey at times, but once the Silent Server is released, and there is no computer in the mix, I think it will become very stable since there will be no (or few variables) unlike the present time where the server runs on a computer, where many variables exist.
Paul and company have tackled a huge task basically becoming a computer company in order the deliver this product, which now sounds excellent and supposedly will take a big leap forward in sound quality and usability.
I can even stream music to other devices with Elyric (my WDTV live will play files up to 48K) so the idea of a whole house server has come to fruition.
First, I have found (and well as another friend) that the PWD does not sound as good via single ended. Not sure why, but the balanced is much better, not simply louder.
The Bridge firmwear version can make quite a difference.
I had been running version 0.2.11 for quite some time, since I had heard some of the newer updates had varying sound quality. I decided to update (auto via the front panel) to the latest version, and found it did not sound good, at least in my system. Returning the 0.2.11 made things smoother, more natural and better staged. I have to post this over at the PS Forums to see what others think, and perhaps why this is so.
The PWD is best running at full volume through a top notch preamp. Running at lower than 100, I can hear a reduction in air and quality.
Running the PWD direct to my amps does produce a bit more focused bass, but dynamics and harmonic structure loose out.
This is through a very expensive tube pre with hand built balanced volume control, so in systems with a lesser preamp, I could see the PWD running direct sounder better, as a number of people have noted. The PWD output impedance is a good match from my amps, so I doubt it's a mismatch when going direct.
When the new hardware update is out I believe it's going to be very exciting. Something about analog switching supplies vs. digital in the current version - I have to read up on this)
I'd be untruthful if I didn't say that some versions of the Ipad app and Elyric were flakey at times, but once the Silent Server is released, and there is no computer in the mix, I think it will become very stable since there will be no (or few variables) unlike the present time where the server runs on a computer, where many variables exist.
Paul and company have tackled a huge task basically becoming a computer company in order the deliver this product, which now sounds excellent and supposedly will take a big leap forward in sound quality and usability.
I can even stream music to other devices with Elyric (my WDTV live will play files up to 48K) so the idea of a whole house server has come to fruition.