PS Audio Direct Stream

It is always hard to know how much one tweak if affecting the overall sound, but in this case it was easy. These are far far superior to the BAT adaptors they replaced (and they were pretty good), and MUCH better than the old Cardas black adaptors which went for $50-$60/pair. These were $150/pr at Music Direct, are very substantial and high quality.

I cannot tell how much subtraction from what the sound would be if I had XLR terminations on the IC, but my pre is all unbalanced so I am not sure that would have changed anything.

Neal

This is a response to:

06-06-14: Sabai

Thanks for the information about this tube buffer. Can you kindly describe some details regarding the difference with and without it on the DS?

Sure, it provides that tube depth and body to the sound at a level that just wasn't there or wasn't nearly as evident... It's impact is most in the sound stage depth and the distinct separation of the instruments. It lights up the edges of the center image for a more supple yet defined center image. That tripod of sound between a deep center image and the sound from the speakers but the sound is no longer from the speakers they are now further back in the space between the middle image and the actual speaker and it has nice effect on the speaker disappearing more than it was. So I find when it deepens the center and pulls the corners back and widens them. Now as they are wider it becomes more defined because now the corners are not only more widened and back but more illuminated in the rear canopy and the darkens corners are now faintly visible and that widen and fattens the entire stage and the entire process adds another level of depth and sophistication The realism and the stage becomes fuller and more enveloping. It is not subtle really at all. Now I am sure my preamp has a lot to say about this. That is why it is hard for me to compare to those with no pre. When I remove my tube output there is a big different and when I remove my pre it is an entirely different presentation so please take this into consideration but the tube output with this DAC and a good pre with good speakers I am sure will provide to a level what I am speaking of. I hope this answers your question. Thanks

Neal, I have the cardas new black adapters that are $112.00 retail, are your adapters Black color?, the only other cardas adapter I know of is called the cardas clear adapter, and that only comes in one type of connection that I cannot use, I will take a peek at the music direct site, cheers.

Neal, after looking at their site, I do not have the adapters you have, the cardas adapters I have are $96.00 retail on the music direct site, I believe these are the new and improved adapters that are black, they have never been $50.00 to $60.00 that I know of, I will be useing them temporary, I will be modding my digital player with furetech xlr chassis out puts with Tara labs internal wireing anyway,thankyou for your reply, cheers.

Below is my response to this from 06-06-14: Wisnon:

Why not just get a properly designed tube Dac?? Adding just a random tube output stage wont compare well to a designed from ground up tube Dac like Lampi, VAD or Aesthetix.

Or just a iFi Audio iTube for even less money?

Hi Wisnon,

It's not really a random buffer because it has adjustable voltage and it is really a very well thought out special piece its just not real expensive. Really its about the music and the sound that s forcing my hand. I totally disagree that those units you named with be better than my PS Audio Direct Stream DAC with my output stage.

Steve Decker told me about this a few years ago and I have tried to remove it from my system many times and it's just a pest. A booger on the end of your finger...LOL because there is no arguing how incredibly effective it is at making decent digital pieces sound real good and great ones sound even greater. It's blatant. Trust me Vinny from Red Wine Audio is my neighbor and my bud and he offered to make me a custom, battery powered duel mono buffer but its really not about that. What happens is I buy new or a used but new to me piece and I like it as is and listen for a while and all is well and I then break down and plug in the ZSTAGE it is just better and not by a little. If I went out and bought a Lampi, VAD or Aesthetix like you mentioned I guarantee you I would listen to them and enjoy them and be happy and then I would plug the ZSTAGE to back of them and bam it will sound better. So I go through all that trouble and I still end up using it. Also, my current combo of a PSA Direct Stream DAC then 10 inch custom made solid pure silver Darwin Ascension cables made for this unit then to my old CAT Signature MKIII with Phono chalk full with cryoed, platinum Tele CCA tubes through out is going to be tough to beat. Trust me I have tried. I mean I know I can spend 10k on a pre and get improvement, well that is still a maybe the Tele'd out CAT is a beast and this DS DAC keeps getting better and better. If I was to upgrade something it probably would my speakers before anything else in my system for the most SQ bang for buck. They are Wilson Sophia 2's and they are pretty decent so well see how much better this DAC gets. If it doesn't get any better I will still be very happy as is and wouldn't want to dump just to get rid of my tube output stage... Thanks