[xenithon]

Hi all. I have a semi-urgent request for impressions on the Perpetual Technologies P-3A with the Monolithic Power Supply (excl. the P-1A). I am searching for a DAC at the moment and may be able to get this at a decent price (and already in the country so no need to import). My other option is an X-Dac V3 which will be a little more expensive though still just within budget (excl. X-PSU). Both retailed for around $1000 ($999 for X-Dac V3, $699 for P-3A, $349 for Monolithic Power Supply)

Anyone ever try the P-3A with Monolithic PSU and compare it to other DACs
?

Cheers,
X

 

[tbonner1]

I have not heard it with the Monolithic. I did hear one stock when it was first released with the P1-A and was impressed but preferred the Bel Canto Dac at the time.

 

[clarke68]

I have a P-3A and love it...it leans more to the "fast & punchy" side, rather then the "warm & lush" side, so (like everything else) whether it will work for you depends on your system/ears/taste/etc.

I use it with the stock power supply. I had one of the aftermarket power supplies in here for a month or two, can't remember if it was the Monolithic or not, and really couldn't hear any difference. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, tho, if you can get it and still be within your budget, all the better.

 

[audioengr]

I have a lot of experience with the P-3A. With the right mods, it can be extremely good. The Monolithic is an okay supply, and definitely better than the stock one, but it still is a bit wooley in the bass IMO. My own more expensive supply is not wooley. Some customers just buy the supply and not the mods (which I do not do anymore), because they tell me the supply makes such a big difference.

The one BIG advantage of the P-3A is the I2S input. You can drive this with any number of I2S sources, including the USB Off-Ramp I2S, Freeway I2S, the Pace-Car with a Squeezebox, Olive or Sonos. I2S is superior to S/PDIF, resulting in lower jitter. It also bypasses the upsampling chip in there so what you send it from the computer is what you get output. The upsampler is not a great one, even clocked with a Superclock.

Steve N.