Perfect Wave DAC Owner Unite

[ALRAINBOW]

It's why I sold the bridge. I would stop jriver And it would keep playing. It really did drive me crazy. But there seems to be people that still swear it's fine. I seared too for but in a different way.
Al

 

[jc9394]

For me it is working perfectly, works perfect with my iPad 4 ruining latest iOS. However I can't get it working on my iPhone and iPad rMini, maybe it is the cellular data causing it?

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

It's why I sold the bridge. I would stop jriver And it would keep playing. It really did drive me crazy. But there seems to be people that still swear it's fine. I seared too for but in a different way.
Al

 
Well, I got JRiver Media Center 19 running, and added my iTunes Music folder to the Library.  I was initially trying to activate MC19 with my recovered .mjr file for MC18, and used up 6 of my 12 .mjr downloads in two minutes because I couldn't get Jriver to activate. Then I figured out that the license I had didn't match the version I was trying to activate, so I installed MC18 instead, but it was too old and lacked features. Then I upgraded to MC19 for half price and I still have 10 downloads left in 12 months (don't ask).
 
I was able to figure out how to add the Perfectwave DAC as a renderer without the user manual by buying the iPhone app and running it, which then told me where to find the settings in the Mac Media Center software (tools > options).  MC19 looks like it was made for PC not Mac, and it's not very intuitive to dive through the menus either, but I managed to figure the basics out until I can RTFM.
 
I do think it was a mistake for them to default to "transcoding on" in the iPhone remote app at 128kbps, and I had to turn it off to listen to lossless with the PWD. If your listening via the local network, then why try to transcode and safe bandwidth?
 
It's interesting that I can get the iPhone app to let me simultaneously play one song via the PWD Bridge, and another song via the built-in speakers on the iMac - truly two zones. In doing that I noticed that if I switched from controlling one to the other, when I hit pause the other one would keep playing until I went back to that one and hit pause again (must pause once for each zone).
 
Anyway, I got the Remote app working and I can play any music from my iTunes library on my iMac through the PWD, iPhone or iMac as the renderer.  Previously to listen to my iTunes library via the Bridge I would use Twonky Server on the iMac to share music with the PWD while being controlled via eLyric.  I won't need to run Twonky server too if I'm running the Jriver server for my iTunes library. But I liked that Twonky hides in the top menu bar and my wife doesn't touch it - she accidentally brought forward the hidden Media Center app and closed it by accident.
 
I still need to know, can Jriver remote control access other DLNA or uPNP servers and feed the music to the Bridge when the MC19 app is not running on the Mac, like eLyric can? I also often used the LaCie NAS & eLyric for when the iMac is not turned on.  It's supposed to be on all the time when I'm at home, but sometimes It might be off by accident or we forget to turn it on when we get back home.
 
I may investigate the "related apps" listed in the iTunes store to see if there is anything that can do that.  eLyric 2.0.9 still works for me, but I have to avoid the "update all" button on my iPhone or I'll lose it and have to go back to my hard drive for the old version. The current version 2.1.1 in the App store crashes upon being launched.  BASTIDS

 

[ALRAINBOW]

The CPU must be running for the PC version to run. Unlike the other IPAD apps I have But since I amusing the USB I really have no choice. I also have a surface pro to use but it really is the same issue as the it's USB.

Al

 

[NZtechfreak]

Seems I may soon have one of these. Silver 240v version with network bridge (that was included in the excellent price, so not too fussed if there are issues with the bridge that make it less than ideal). Picked it up new for about a third the price or sells for here (in other words roughly the 'normal' US price ~$2500, only a slight premium for it being the 240v version).

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I like the software interface in the Jriver remote, and it's been working well to control my Bridge, so everything is great as long as nobody turns off the iMac.  I still have to hang onto eLyric remote app rev 2.0.9 in order to control the Bridge with music residing on my NAS.  I've saved multiple copies of 2.0.9 so that I won't ever lose the old version that doesn't quit upon launch.  
 
I have an unused iPhone 5 here (as a backup) that I might wipe clean and install only eLyric 2..1.1 without any email or iCloud settings, in order to see if a bare bones iPhone can run 2.1.1 - then I'll add settings software one at a time until I find out why it crashes on my 5s, iPad Air, and iPad mini retina.
 
PlugPlayer for Mac still is buggy and doesn't control the Bridge from my Macbook reliably (autocorrect changed it to pogoplug???).  The sound of the PWD Mk2 is worth the hassle, but I paid $2200 for a used Mk2 three years ago, then $799 for a Bridge right away, and then $899 for a Mk2 upgrade last fall.  That's a lot of $$ for something that requires third party software to control the Bridge playback correctly.

 

[Jd007]

new psaudio dsd dac announced today? anywhere with more info? http://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PS-Audio-DirectStream.pdf

 

[Solude]

Full stop when I saw the price

 

[Audio Addict]

  Full stop when I saw the price

 
Very disappointed as well.  $6K means the upgrade will be at least $2K but could easily be more. 

 

[ALRAINBOW]

The upgrade is 3 k. And I ordered it immediately. This DAC we own is now if upgraded becomes a game changer .

Al

 

[Audio Addict]

The upgrade is 3 k. And I ordered it immediately. This DAC we own is now if upgraded becomes a game changer .

Al

 
I almost put $3K as the price given the retail price change is $2K, I wasn't sure.  When they went from the MKI to the MKII the retail price changed $1K and the upgrade price was $1K.  The bridge has been the least valuable upgrade added at $800.  Maybe can trade the bridge in for lower upgrade price, probably not.
 
http://www.psaudio.com/forum/#/discussion/6526/directstream-pricing-trade-ups-and-options/p1
 
I will see if anyone has it at the upcoming Axpona at the end of April.

 

[Saraugie]

I'm not going to start in about the price. What I don't like is reading that the Sabre ESS DAC chip is the best in the world and we have in the not so 'Perfect' Wave a Wolfson.
 
I guess that's the audio world though. What's the so called best or perfect today, ain't so for very long. My AK120 is a year old? maybe less, and I've got the new AK240 on the way.
 
3Gs to upgrade......wow. Sorry my one and only moan.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I bought my PWD Mk1 in Aug 2009 used for about $2K.  Then spent $800 for a Bridge right away.  Then I spent $800 for the Mk2 upgrade in 2012, but listened to it for another year as a Mk1 before installing the upgrade last October.  
 
I do think it improved with each upgrade, but I'm not spending $3K to upgrade a 5 year old DAC that already sounds this good. I only have about $3,600 invested total in the PWD Mk2 with Bridge, but taking it to $7,600 might be a little nuts for something that depreciates.
 
The Bridge definitely sounded better than the S/PDIF and USB input of the Mk1, UNLESS I was using Amarra music player to feed the optical or USB from my Macbook.  But now with the Mk2 upgrade having the digital lens the Bridge is less important.

 

[jc9394]

As much as I like the PWD, I don't think it will worth over $5k.

If they include a remote or device that can perfectly control the Bridge and NAS, I may consider it. Recently I install eLyric on my daughter's iPod Touch 4th gen (last model before the new connector) both eLyric and Twonkey work perfectly.

 

[CEE TEE]

Might be nice if I could upgrade for $2K and then make another DAC out of the Mk. II boards.

Will wait a good while for impressions and try to hear one first before making any moves!