PS Audio PerfectWave DAC Upgrade

hi mcondon:

i appreciate the distinction between the two versions of the mark 2 upgrade.

the question is will i prefer the 2.02 upgrade to not upgrading at all ??

i know that question cannot be answered definitively, but i notice significant changes accruing from varying digital cable.

the cost of the upgrade may be better allocated to another area in the stereo system.

MrTennis:

Based on what I have read of your posts/threads, I truly believe that you would be thrilled with the improvement the MKII upgrade provides compared to the MKI version. Bass control may indeed be improved - as suggested by Mcondon, but what I notice most is the increased sense of air and the openness of the overall sound stage (a better definition of the combined total - i.e.: a more spacious, more involving overall presentation offering better tonal balance and timbre).

The MKII is clearly better than the MKI, but it is not a night and day difference for most people. Since you can discern clear differences between digital cables, the MKII upgrade will be a very noticeable improvement for you. It's smoother if anything. Definitely not more clinical.

Mrtennis, for some the funds of the upgrade may be better applied towards a state of the art tennis racket. For the rest of us the upgrade is a no brainier. We are enjoying our upgrade every day, some of the best bang for the buck ever in high end audio. Cheers!

well worth the $$ on every front -- easy to hear, easy to justify

Mrtennis: I am very sensitive about anything that sounds overly analytical or fatiguing...so I am in the same camp as you. I think the MK2 is a significant improvement over the MK1, so long as you install firmware version 2.0.2 in the MK2. The MK2 DAC using 2.0.2 firmware is more musically involving than the MK1 with better defined bass and better soundstage. In no way is the MK2 worse sounding, fatiguing, or overly analytical. The improvement is very obvious with the PW Transport in my system, although not quite "mind blowing", just substantially better. Mind you, I still think the SQ from the Perfect Wave Transport far exceeds the SQ from other inputs and from the Bridge. The Bridge has not lived up to the hype yet, which may explain why so many PW DACs are for sale.