Jump to content

PS Audio PerfectWave DAC


The Monkey

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 176
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

I ordered one of these DACses and will post impressions, pics, and random musings here.

Look forward to your impressions. I only heard this dac when it was across from Headamp at CJ09. It sounded good to me but this is coming from a guy who can't hear the difference between my DEQ2496 and the BelCanto DAC3. Recently I've just been listening to the DEQ because I'm too lazy to surn the BC on and set it to the right input etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sir Monkey, you're on the list for the P1u loaner program, are you not? I'd be very interested to hear how the two sound together. Especially with the JH13s (he said calmly as his bank account attempted to take its own life.)

I've been interested in the PWD since I started reading about the Bridge music server add-on thingie. If they ever work out all the gremlins, that sounds like it could be a very sweet setup. On the PSAudio forums, their main guy (Paul, is it?) said that Apple Lossless files sounded significantly worse than WAV files in his test unit. I'd hope that is just a software/decoding issue that they can fix without too much insanity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some tips for the new adopters. When you turn the unit on and the Initializing screen comes up touch the screen for a couple of seconds and the options screen will appear. On this you can adjust some things like the auto dimming feature and a few other behind the scenes things.

I really like mine on Filter 3 with no upsampling but Filter 1 is the fancy filter with apodizing whatevers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Look forward to your impressions. I only heard this dac when it was across from Headamp at CJ09. It sounded good to me but this is coming from a guy who can't hear the difference between my DEQ2496 and the BelCanto DAC3. Recently I've just been listening to the DEQ because I'm too lazy to surn the BC on and set it to the right input etc.

Try the two with a nice pair of studio monitors in a treated room. You may notice a difference in the resolution, frequency extension as well as tonality/neutrality. (the areas I thought it excelled nicely)

At the very least, why not do your subconscious a favor and adhere to the placebo-affect inherent in listening to the more expensive gear?

BTW, what do you vinyl owners have to say about how the PerfectWave compares to your vinyl rigs?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very very preliminary impressions. But wow. I really, really like it so far. I've got it going head-to-head with the Dodson now, using the SkipJack to A/B (not blind). As you guys know, I love the Dodson. But compared to the PWD, it sounds a bit veiled and smeared. I haven't done any volume matching, which of course is important. But my gut reaction is that regardless of whether the PWD may be a little louder, I feel like I'm hearing deeper into the musical presentation. For instance, on The Pogues' "Misty Morning, Albert Bridge," there's a banjo that I simply have not heard so clearly before now. I knew it was in the mix, but now I can hear it being plucked. Who knows, maybe I just like the fact that it has cool lights and my mind is playing tricks on me. But my initial thought is that the PWD is revealing more layers than what I have previously heard from a source. PEEL THE ONION, BABY!

And the thing has lights and features galore, so I'm a pretty happy monkey right now. But we all like new car smell, so I will insert the caveat here that I need to live with this baby for a while.

Most of my listening so far is on Native (no upsampling) and Filter 3.

Of course, I will post at 33, 97, 398, and 1000 hours to catalog the changes.

post-205-12951156259071_thumb.jpg

post-205-12951156262417_thumb.jpg

Edited by The Monkey
Insert unboxing pr0n
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, it's been one hour, anything new? As I recall from my brief experience with the PW DAC over the summer the PWD DAC was indeed very revealing and the music seemed to present a lot more depth to the soundstage giving the rooma a real clubby sound. I really liked it based upon my all too brief audition. Are you considering getting the bridge when it is released 2Q this year?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.