I just realize that being 70 and on fixed income, this might prove to be the last dac I ever own, so I want to make sure to maximize what I can get for the money, and still have what I need in other areas. I have a Cocktail Audio X45Pro, based on the ES9038Pro chipset, and it gives great sound. But, as you say, I’ll always want better. I just need to minimize that want with my next purchase.
I am with you. I only read his review to kill time but never take note of whatever he was writing.
I have the EMM Labs/Meitner MA-1 purchased at the same time as the PS Audio dsd. The Meitner did not offer updates and now its performance is WAY BELOW the PS Audio dsd. Only PS Audio could offer this sort of after sale support. It is second to none!
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EMM is not a brand I know. I was aware that Mr Meitner was involved in developing DSD. It appears that the MA-1 was his first attempt at a consumer DSD DAC. They probably did not upgrade the software because they brought out much improved hardware. It also seems to be a budget level device compared to everything else they sell.
I don’t know about your ‘budget’, It costed almost the same as the Psaudio dsd dac. In the context of sofware updating, the Meitner dac has become bad compared to the Ps audio dac due to the lack of s/w updating.
I had a look at their product range. Seems to be around $25,000 to $130,000. If you’re into an EMM Labs system, the MA-1 is the budget product. Even the MA-1 V2 is still pretty budget, completely upgraded hardware, more than double the price of the PSA DSD DAC in the UK.
Call the MA-1 the Jnr, £8,500 in the UK. Their Snr DAC, the DV2, is £30,000.
People like @tarheelneil obviously don’t want to remain in a costly upgrade path. I’m 100% with him on that. The digital/Class A/D system I use is both hardware and software upgradeable. It has had two hardware upgrades and several software upgrades since the actual original unit was manufactured in 2009. There are lots of modular systems that can be hardware and software upgraded. This is nothing new. Brinkmann can update any product they’ve made since the 1980s to current spec. When Linn do major hardware upgrades, they will put the old circuits in a new budget case and you a sure streamer/DAC to use or sell.
There are loads of different ways that manufacturers enable customers to recycle their products without having to do a full upgrade. My system is Roon Ready, but was manufactured before Roon even existed. Clearly the DSD DAC has provided owners with software improvements over the years, but Ted has explained it is now technically redundant because the software tools he uses are no longer supported. It doesn’t mean they won’t sound great for years to come.
The main reason why I don’t have a PSA DSD DAC is because the upgrade path from the PWD Mk2 DAC was too expensive. I bought a DSD DAC from another brand for much less than the upgrade.
That’s quite a posh Nokia. It’s got a colour screen.
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Don’t know if you have seen this, but what comes to mind is a DSD Mk I for now and eventually trade it for a Mk II. Assuming you have confidence in the provided Denafrips review. At one time I considered Denafrips, but the acquisition at a distance, and lack of support, at the time, was a major put off. It really comes down to availability and what sonic improvement(s) you seek in your system.
I had seen this, thank you. I’m going to take a few weeks of soaking up every review, recommendation, caution, comparisons, and anything else that might in any way help me make the best purchase. And who knows, maybe by then the MK II will be announce as ready to beta test, and I can participate. One can hope!
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Maybe you could arrange a unit for a beta test, could be fun.
There was a group test here. The Chord TT2 and PSA DSD DACs came out way on top, the difference between the two was probably more a matter of taste.
You can read this stuff till kingdom come and just get more confused.
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I would imagine that when it’s ready for beta testing that @scottm will reach out to me. It’d take me only a microsecond to say yes.
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It would be interesting to know what FW version was used.
You may want to look into the Okto Research Dac8 stereo.
Stereophile recommended, class A+. USD 1500 (!!).
K Robinson reviewed and bought the multichannel version, J Atkinson reviewed the stereo version and he was enthusiastic about the sound and amazed when he measured it. He compared it to the 10 times more expensive MBL N31 and said it was competitive, although he slightly preferred the MBL.
They have momentarily stopped taking orders, probably overwhelmed by demand after the reviews.
Quite intriguing.
Has anyone tried or heard it?
I’m also going to be in the market for a $7kish streamer/dac solution soon. It’s for the living room system so I think one box will be strongly preferred.
Would do dcs Bartok if I could stretch but new it’s double what I want to spend and used probably don’t drop that low. Checks every box for me for sure and untouchable reputation for quality.
PS DS2 won’t be single box this time, and who knows when it will be released? TSS had been dangled forever and now that’s indefinitely on hold. Speakers have been a many year dangle and no release in sight yet. DS2 I bet is still a year off at least. Teds comments lead me to believe hardware outside of fpga not set yet so no chance beta in weeks. Many months at best I suspect though just a guess.
The Mytek Manhattan new product looks interesting with the roon engine built in (that’s different). It’s an ESS dac tho and haven’t been fan of those previously.
I was zeroing in on Auralic Vega G2.1 (tho also ESS) but then learned yesterday they don’t fully decode MQA (which is important to me) but instead estimate it somehow (it’s in the fine print of their specs).
So who knows. I’m kinda munching the popcorn hoping some other great contenders pop up over the summer.
The review of the Okto Research Dac8 is very good.
I was amused there is a bug in its firmware, swapping the left and right channels. Everyone gets bitten by bugs.
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However, I am currently listening to etudes d’execution transcendante (Liszt) on my new PST with Sunlight on the DSD, and I must say it is amazing 
. Hats off, Ted and PSA.
Edit: played by V Ashkenazy
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Nothing wrong at all with units based on the ESS ES9038PRO. That is what my three year old Cocktail Audio X45PRO uses, and it gives stellar sound. But being an audiophile, I’m possessed with the desire to find something even better. Maybe the Manhattan Bridge unit will have a better implantation of the 9038, but I doubt my sound would improve that much. I’m in no big hurry, but once I find something I think will sound significantly better, in my price range, and makes me think service and updating will be easy, I’ll spring for it. In the meantime, I’ll just learn all I can, keep eyes open for new units and reviews, and play the waiting game, enjoying a Cocktail.
As the PSA DS Sr. had an A+ rating in Stereophile’s April Recommended Components, does it now qualify for their first A++ rating? Hmmmmm.