Perfect Wave DAC Owner Unite - Page 45

 

Versus the Mk1?  Yeah, it kicks some butt.

I'm thinking more in relation to a high-quality SPDIF transport like the Offramp.

I'm using my roommate's Squeezebox touch, and I prefer optical input over usb input, even with MK2. After giving back the Squeezebox Touch, I will go back to using USB input. In the near future, I hope to get a W4S music server. I want to take advantage of using the I²S input.

I guess I'm wanting to hear that the USB input is awesome :-) I do like the output of the SBT, but would hope the PWD USB to be on another level.

 

Heard the Mk2 on Saturday with a CD transport, but didn't have the chance to hear its USB. I thought it pretty good. Superb clarity and spaciality.

The USB quality on the mk2 is excellent. The Bridge is ever so slightly better, but only with the best recorded material can I tell a difference.

I'm pretty bummed. While I was changin power cables, I noticed there was a screw on the PWD'a back panel that as ready to fall out. I tried to open the case, but I don't have the stand off pins, seeing as my PWD was factory mk II'd. After a call to PS Audio, they told me to ship the PWD back so they can fix the screw issue and make sure the loose nut hasn't shorted anything out (as well as make sure nothing else is loose). Being DAC-less isn't going to be fun!

If I didnt want Darko dead before this (and I do ...), this photo pushed me over the edge:

 

 

 

I know - PWD+Luxman are just a set of numbers, right ? Specifically, my credit card numbers.   

 

I will keep banging on about this until I'm banned, but Darko's less-than-subtle sales pitch for various USB-SPDIF converters finally gets a rest in the PWD review at 6Moons - well, kinda:

 

Both know how to rock but the Metrum is nervier and glassier.

 

The solution is a JK converter, of course. But then this totally unexpected recommendation for a cheaper, all-in-one box:

 

I've recently spent many hours crate digging through tunes via a Peachtree iNova pushing ProAc Tablette Reference 8s. Its internal Sabre DAC is a far better resolver than you'd expect for a AU$2K all-in-one solution and easily the match of the PWD in terms of retrieval of surface detail. Yet it lacks the regal poise and majestic confidence of its more expensive rival. The PWD is King to the Peachtree's Countess. The latter feels a touch too gauche when contrasted by more exulted company just as one might expect given the budget differential between the two. That the iNova comes packed with amplifier and headphone possibilities makes it the clear leader when bang for buck is the primary concern.

 

Yep - its a 6Moons review and Srajan has never missed an opportunity to plug Peachtree, but Darko is usually a lot more critical of DACs that dont have something from Audiophilleo or Empirical / JK / M2Tech poking out the side.  I wouldn't put so much stock in one person's opinion if he didn't do so much freaking homework - and have access to so much gear.  Long story short, the PWD remains the only DAC that has earned  this man's  unqualified recommendation without any form of additional converter. 

 

As I said, I've banged on about this in several threads, but I'm not spending 2K+ on something called a 'Syncro-Mesh'.  

Edited by estreeter - 6/5/12 at 10:48am

Interesting.  I bought a Halide Bridge a while back and am generally satisfied with it; used it with the PWD mk1 with great success even.  Couldn't see myself shelling out $600+ for a converter though.  Lately the halide bridge (NOT PS audio) has been acting up with some of my FLAC downloads - dropping out it seems despite the FLAC files playing fine when the bridge is removed from the equation; affects my vintage parasound dac unfortunately. 

 

Easy big fella.  Use the Hotline and they'll talk you down.  

Face first.  

Installed the new board.  Not hard, but the instruction manual sucks, as do the official installation videos.  Will do some listening tonight.

 

Same here. I had to make a few phone calls directly to PS Audio. Because I didn't get it to work the first time, they told me to do something different than instructed.

My install went ok other than the confusion over the A or B cable. The instructions applied to both so I ended up calling and talking to Mark and he straightened it out.