Need to be updated? :) We can update the firmware and I do at times squeeze in new features (and more rarely find new ways of getting better sound). I've noticed no unexpected sound differences in my FPGA compiles of working code. I sure have had some funny sounding bugs.
-Ted
Hi, Ted. Well, first, a great big "thank you" for being a genius. Now, don't be modest, please! We are all blessed (and will be consistently reminding oursleves once we get the chance to hold one of these babies in our hands) by what you have been able to achieve, so you deserve it.
I really am happy with what I am reading and hearing about this. Count me in. I'll figure out how to pay for it somehow. :-w
I promise to not go home before part 2 has been published. Ted takes a lot LESS editing, to be honest, but he also talks for an extraordinarily long time. Then thereās the Q and A part. Plus I have a day job.
I promise to not go home before part 2 has been published. Ted takes a lot LESS editing, to be honest, but he also talks for an extraordinarily long time. Then there's the Q and A part. Plus I have a day job. :)
Paul, you have a Day Job?? What is it? Doesn't PS Audio pay the bills? :D
Don't waste too much time on editing, just chop it up into watchable chunks (15~30 minutes?) and post 'em all so we don't miss anything... :O :)
"Whatās the thoughts on a trade with factory final testing vs the kit ? Can we be sure it will meet all specs ?"
Iām pretty sure Paul will have a more useful answer based on experience but Iāll try:
There are no adjustments or trimming needed. The boards will, of course, been tested and packed well for shipment. The most likely problem is forgetting one of the ribbon cables or the power connection (Iāve done it myself when Iām swapping cards too quickly.)
The screws for the various connectors are there for both for strain relief and EMI control. Donāt skip them, especially the TOSLink connector, it has a pretty firm connection.
Tho proper care should be taken (the wrist strap, etc.) the boards arenāt particularly delicate.
Can the FPGA be reprogrammed in the unit or does it have to be programmed off of the PWB? I thought FPGAs were just one-shot devices that could be programmed only once, let alone by a firmware update.
FPGAs need to are programmed every time they loose power. We bit-bang the program in during the boot process. The code is stored in a flash and is updated in the unit just the same as the UI codeā¦
In terms of components used, (parts, quality of parts, different configuration of partsā¦etc.), and design topology, how outdated will an updated (DIY) version of a PWD MKII be in comparison to the new Direct Stream DAC (i.e.: even with the upgrade ādrop-in pieceā added to the PWD MKII, there must be some other significant differences in the overall build of the new DAC vs the PWD, so just how close will an upgraded PWD MKII sound/function in comparison)? One has to assume that the new Direct Stream DAC will sound better, and overall, be a better DAC when compared to a modded/upgraded PWD MKIIā¦ Or, will the new ad-on, ādrop-in piece/upgradeā contain 100-percent of the primary upgrade used to design the new DAC (I canāt imagine it willā¦)?
Ben, Paul said in the Direct Stream thread: āThe upgrade replaces all three boards and the transformer inside, so unfortunately itās the majority of whatās in the PWD itself. All that remains is the chassis and the front panel display.ā I donāt think there should be a significant difference between a PWD thatās upgraded to a Direct Stream and a new Direct Stream. They should sound the same.
Well, no and yes. It depends on what you mean by HDMI. We donāt use (or recognize) the HDMI protocol.
But like other PS Audio products we do do I2S using HDMI cables and connectors, but not in an electrically compatible way with standard HDMI.
The DirectStream adds the capability to also do raw DSD (a clock, a left bit and a right bit per sample) over the same wires. Also of course you can do DSD via DoP (DSD over PCM) thru any input (except possibly TOSLink)