One other thing, the press release says it $5995, given the P10 is $4995, that's a 20% increase. Paul had said it would be slightly more expensive, but in audiophile parlance a 20% increase is massive! huge! ground breaking! Umm, get my point?
Yes, I do. There seems to have been an earth shattering, game changing, iconic bit of price creep...
:-O
My understanding is that the DirectStream is (er, SHOULD be) input insensitive. i.e. USB input SHOULD sound identical to TOSLINK, SPDIF etc… So gapless should be no problem unless you stick with the bridge, assuming that the bridge is an option with the new DAC. (?)
Paul you are the most honest owner I have met besides myself LOL
as for the rest in am sure we all are cool
I do have a short list of questions if they can be answered
1 was the testing done using the PWT for both dacs ?
2 does the new DAC have volume control same as before or a full bypass option
3. Did you do a test comparing the two dacs with USB. As this will tell me how improved the USB input is
As I would like to use that.
4 if yes was the test done PCM to PCM ?
5 you might not know but will existing people be able to do DIY upgrade
If we are able too
6 what if any other dacs was this compared to
And please do not answer if you feel it should not be.
Al
Well, maybe the dumbest owner we've ever met. :-??
1. The testing was done using the PWT, computers, the Bridge etc. Since this has been in serious and intense development for two years, we've tried this with everything, and then some. Moreover, we've compared it to close to 10 of the very best DACS out there, even some made in Scotland, and I am delighted to say we're not worried. But it's more than just a new DAC. This really is something unique that truly does uncover info in your discs you simply didn't know existed.
2. Yes. It has a volume control and if you have a chance to read the white paper, note that perhaps for the first time, the volume control is completely transparent and perfect at any level. It also has an output attenuator so you can select high or low output to match your power amp or preamp.
3. USB was tested extensively.
4. Upgrades will be completely user friendly. Shouldn't take more than 45 minutes at the most, even if you're drinking a scotch with the upgrade.
I'd rather not mention names of DACS we compared it to. But I have spent the last 6 months going in quiet to the lairs of people you might respect, with the very best equipment and setups possible, with the very best ears on the planet and compared at great length.
Paul McGowan said: Upgrades will be completely user friendly. Shouldn't take more than 45 minutes at the most, even if you're drinking a scotch with the upgrade.
Perfect.
I drink single malt when modding audio; beer, cars; wine, motorcycles (they are Italian).
Paul, As a beta forum member, in no way do I consider myself dishonored to receive information from another source. Actually, I very happy to get information days early. Now, we can let the questions flow. Will Directstream have a bridge? If so, is it still a card? Is the bridge the new Bridge II for an April ship?
The Bridge is the same as Bridge 1, same slot. Bridge II is getting close. We’re actually working on the PC board for it now, but it’s not going to happen for April, we’re still probably an easy quarter away. It does not come with the Bridge, it’s optional still.
OK guys, I've been biting my tongue when Paul posted this 4 weeks ago and inadvertently showed everyone a picture of the new DirectStream unit on the PS Instagram site--with the lid off!!
But Paul told me to keep my lips zipped, so I did.
So now I have the grand Pooh-Bah's permission, go to http://instagram.com/p/jxsR4WGA4g/# , look at the left side of the picture and you'll see the prototype DirectStream. Notice the power supply is different and the cabling from the digital board to the analog board is simpler without the coax wires that we had on PWD MkII. Also note that the chassis is exactly the same as the PWD, so as Paul mentions to do the changeover yourself you need to remove and replace the analog board, digital board (just above the analog board) and the power supplies. But you can see the Bridge slot is the exact same one as before.
No worries at all Paul. I’m perfectly happy not to have to wait until Saturday. This thing sounds like a real giant killer. Can’t wait to get my hands on the the upgrade.
Yes, it looks much simpler. But also I see no screens between the power supply, the analogue part and the Bridge slot.
It may not need it. Remember DSD happens digitally but at a much higher frequency, so the data from the FPGA on the digital board is sent digitally to the analog board for time alignment and low-pass-filtering immediately adjacent to the output connectors. So the EMI shield may not be needed.
