Perfect Wave DAC Owner Unite - Page 58

If PS Audio is planning to charge full retail prices, they probably won't have much success in their new direct sales initiative.  Paul McGowan mentions in this month's newsletter that he is friends with Walter Liederman. Walter, the owner of Underwood HiFi, is an authorized PS Audio dealer who offers about a 30% discount off retail on new PS Audio components.  I can't see how PS Audio is going to compete with that.  I think Walter even undermines the used market for Perfect Wave DACs.  Why buy a used DAC when you can get a new one from Walter for a few hundred bucks more.

 

I agree.  I don't see how they will sell $4K PWT and PWDs.  There was nothing mentioned about Walter Liederman being an surviving authorized retailer, which was interesting given he mentioned him in the newsletter.

I wouldn't worry too much about PS.  They currently sell to dealers who have at least 100% mark up and who can themselves do well selling for just over half MSRP.  Truth is PS might take over resale and slash prices across the board and still make more than they do now.  Food for thought.

Question about the bridge and the eLyric software. It it possible, without a PC/Mac, to listen to web radio and streaming services ? Not those free one accessible via iTune but those for which I have an account ( Like Aupeo! And Qobuz ) and i need to use their interface to get thé full services that they offer ?

Thanks

No, currently not possible to use the bridge at all without a pc or mac. It may be possible to use a NAS with upnp software, but this would be third party rather than the elyric software. But for spotify or something like that you need a usb connection.

You can run stuff to the bridge from an DLNA server. As long as a device can act as an DLNA server, it should work. I believe some NAS's will do this. No gapless though via DLNA. Gapless is supported from the eLyric software, and not very well either. Although the latest versions may be better.

Edited by purrin - 11/4/12 at 10:52am

I have not heard of any nas that you can run things like spotify on. If that exists, it is certainly new (and cool!).

Just a heads up, bridge firmware 0.2.14b was just released. Before anyone gets too excited, I found it to sound anemic compared to 0.2.13c. Also, the instrument separation took a pretty substantial hit in 0.2.14b. I'll be sticking with 0.2.13c...

 

Masters of firmware PS Audio is not...

Reading about this whole firmware/sound crap is starting to irritate me.  Wondering if I should just stick with my old Mk1 and old firmware rather than worry about what is the FW gonna do to screw up the sound next.  I'm still running the older 2.12 FW for the Bridge.  Where can I get the 2.13c just in case?

 

I hear you... It frustrates me as well.

 

My unit was purchased new with MKII installed, so I can't comment on the comparison, but I haven't really heard of anyone being disappointed with the upgrade.

 

All the Bridge firmwares can be found here: http://updates.psaudio.com/bridge/

If you guys get sick of the bridge and all the firmware nonsense, you can hook it up by my alternate method.

Grab a Logitech Touch (while you can, they're discontinued) and use that to bring the music to your DAC. 

Install the 3rd party app that turns the USB input to an output (Enhanced digital output). 

You'll have to install their server software, but it's free and works flawlessly. 

It's a tiny downgrade from the sound of the bridge, but it's so close you probably wouldn't pick it up unless you compare them head to head.

 

Sounds interesting, but I likely wont give up the Bridge which works well with my LaCie NAS and Twonkey Server Mac.  

 

But if I did and I didn't want to plug my Macbook or iPad into the PWD (or use a CD) then I'd still be very pleased with my Audioengine D2 wireless DAC, with transmitter connected to iMac and the receiver connected to PWD via optical.  It's so much better sounding than Apple Airport Express optical to get music transmitted across the house, and the RCA outputs have a pretty high level of sound quality too (likely on par with things like DACmini and Stello DA100).  This way I just use Apple Remote app on my iPhone/iPad to control my iTunes library playback through the PWD.  And if somebody accidentally changes the iMac audio output from D2 to the internal speakers, I can use a VNC app on iPhone to control the iMac and change it back without having to go upstairs to do that.

You have an original PWD, you run 2.02 and never look for another firmware again.

I wish I could try 2.02. Unfortunately, my 'newer' PWD has some updated part that prevents the earlier firmwares from working. I'm limited to 2.2.0. Supposedly PS Audio is 'working' on a version of 2.02 that will work with the more recently manufactured units, so all users will have a choice between the two, but I'm not holding my breath. I do enjoy the sound of 2.2.0 with 2.13c bridge firmware, but I hear quite a bit of positive feedback concerning 2.02. I know Paul prefers 2.2.0, but it seems most users lean toward 2.02.