PS Audio Direct Stream

Mattnshilp,

You stated "Emm labs has been doing what the DS claims since the beginning." My DS DAC just arrived. I used to own the EMM CDSA SE. The latter is a joke -- and a very expensive one -- compared to the DS DAC.

You also stated “I want to see if the DS can truly compete with bigger guns, as Paul M from PS Audio claims .” IMO, the correct question is whether the so-called big guns can now compete with PS Audio.

Ozzy,

You stated “The Meitner and Emm are pretty pricey units. I hope the Direct Stream can compete.” I understand EMM has some improved DACs on the market to replace the CDSA SE that I used to own. I hope so for their sake.

You also stated “The original hype from PS Audio was that, "it is a game changer"! I was under the impression that as soon as it was turned on the improved sound quality would be unmistakable.” This is in fact the case (in my system) with the 1.2.1 firmware released in September -- not with earlier firmware versions, IMO.

Lancelock,

You stated “I must report the new DS firmware update 1.2.1 is so good it's like a new DAC upgrade but for free.” I agree completely.

Sabai,
This new firmware must really quite special, as you were very fond of the NAD M51 DAC.

Charles1dad,

To tell you the truth, right out of the box, with the old firmware in the DS DAC, I could easily have lived with the NAD M51. But with the new firmware in the DS DAC the NAD M51 gets thrown out of the ballpark.

A retailer out our way has a Direct-Stream on their reference system. I have heard one on another system and thought it pretty good - so good there is a GTG in the works to compare it to my favorite DAC called a Killer.

I don't know why but on the retailers system it never grabbed me and a number of other knowledgeable listeners. Some loved it but others - not so impressed.

Well yesterday went down to hear it again. This time much better - what changed - evidently the person that runs the place, who I know very well, built his own music server powered by a linear supply. For some reason that did the trick - before it was sort of tinny, unatural with forced detail. Now it sounds much more real and natural. Still on the detail side of things though rather than musicality.

Anyway thought I would pass it on - other may like to experiment with linear supplies on the source they are using.

Thanks
Bill

Bhobba, Do you know if the retailer installed the latest firmware?
If not, you did not hear it at its finest.