PS Audio PerfectWave DAC Upgrade

Ben, that's where the good stuff is hidden imho...Native X!. it adds smoother detail and an almost "warmer sound". the improvements in space and the accuracy of that space using native-x are incredible. not so much adding space...rather defining the space and where the sound comes from. if you like a live sound...native x is a leap towards that end imho. am still on the honeymoon with the mk2 and glued to my rig, listening until the wee hours of the morning and getting up tired everyday. just can't get enough.

are you still having trouble hearing differences with the upgrade?

cheers

Levy:

I absolutely love the sound of my system. I am getting a marvelous sound-stage with lots of air around individual instruments. I am not getting any sense of fatigue, even after long listening sessions. As I have reported on the PSA forum, I believe that I can hear subtle differences between the MKI and MKII versions - especially in the areas of "space" and imaging.

The only thing is, I just don't hear an immediately recognizable difference when I do an A/B comparison between Native and NativeX. It doesn't jump out at me. If there is a difference, it is the kind of difference that I will need to discern over time. My point in asking the question is because I keep reading the reports from others that they hear this very noticeable difference between the two...?? When I read these comments, I can't help but wonder if there is something wrong with my MKII board. Maybe it's just me...!!!

Lev

The native setting is already a great improvement from the MKi in the ways you stated previously.

I would classify the native x difference as a step up in sophistication.
I know that sounds like a "broad" term but I really notice the difference after a week on X and then shift back to native.
I would compare it to different times of the day that provide different power qualities.

As far as the other "gentleman" who asked for a shootout with the BerkleyII, we just did it on the weekend and my friend is taking it back. Does that answer your question.
Not that the Berkley was not great. It was just different and we both preferred the PWD for extended listening.
Just sounds "less produced"

I hope to try the new WY4S dac in a few weeks

My upgrade kit arrived a couple of weeks ago. The upgrade process was no problem. My DAC is an early one, and there were a few details that didn't match the video or booklet, but it didn't create any problems. The DAC upgrade in my view is a subtle improvement, but worth the money to an audiophile looking for improvements in an affordable form. I would say there is an improvement in clarity of detail, most of all.

Coincidentally, I've been fortunate to be a Beta tester for Steve Nugent's Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 5 USB converter. This version, which I suspect will be available shortly, will deliver I2S to the PW DAC. It has a few technical issues he is ironing out, but holy cow what a leap forward. I've used the Off-Ramps since version 1 because of the their superiority with USB and currently use version 4 with upgraded clocks. Until now, the output to the PW DAC has been spdif or aes/ebu, which is pretty remarkable anyway. But via I2S it is stunning. The sound is more dynamic, voices are better delineated, everything is more vibrant. And the bass is better. That's what surprised me most. Bass seems to be tighter, crisper. I also have a bridge and felt that the Off-Ramp 5 via I2S bested the bridge in sheer dynamics and transient attack. With the Off Ramp 5 via I2S and the upgraded PW DAC, this is the best I've ever heard from my system.

Funny, two years ago, before the bridge was released I was sceptical about the chances of succes of the bridge project and started inquiring with both Steve Nugent and Rick Cullen if they could build me a custom USB -> I2S interface using the PS Audio I2S interface - they were both very interested. I also asked PS audio if they would build this converter but they were so focused on the bridge architecture they declined (although they had already started doing work on this project but then ditched it). In any event, then the bridge was released and I dropped the USB -> I2S converter idea. Glad it to hear it came to fruition after all....