somestranger26
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Having heard all three DACs - I would have to agree.
While the Perfectwave DirectStream is very good - especially on DSD native files - it lacks the bloom and tonality of the APL and particularly the intensely dense tonal pallette of the modded DAC60. This is due to the very well done tube output stages on both these DACs.
I'd have to concur with Darko on his ranking of the Perfectwave and Directwave (on PCM files): The Perfectwave kinda in there with the Gumby, the Directwave a notch above, but not at the top. Note the R2R PCM1704 , tubed output, La Scala MkII at the top of his list.
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/the-darko-dac-index/
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I've been researching the DirectStream quite a bit, and it's the top contender to add to my speaker system (can get new in box from Audiogon for <4k). One thing to keep in mind is that Darko's and many other reviewers' impressions of the DirectStream are based on the early firmware versions. Reviewers and users alike have been reporting significant improvements to the sound quality with each subsequent firmware update (Pikes Peak, Yale Final, and they just released a new version a few weeks ago) and it could potentially get even better in the future. Of course it will not have the tube sound, but it may compete in other categories.
If/when we get a Dante/Ravenna 2-ch interface with I2S output, I'll be the first to post my impressions of I2S vs SPDIF with the DS.
PS Audio says that the best way to connect the DirectStream Dac is via I2S. I have earlier only used USB to connect to the DirectStream Dac and was rather satisfied with that. But with the SU-1 I got the opportunity to connect to the Dac via HDMI (even though it is a cheap HDMI-cable) and I found as PS Audio said that IT sounded much better. Specially on DSD-files. But I will probably skip the StarTech in a year or so and try the the road you guys are travelling. But for the moment I am very satisfied how my system sounds.
If you do want to go down the Ethernet USB extender route, PS Audio is coming out with their "LANRover" device which may yield significant improvements over the non-audio-optimized Startech LAN. It will be interesting to see how much of the gap it can close between USB and RN3 AOIP.