+1. 
dan said Paul,Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
I saw on another forum that JA plans to do a follow-up, and will compare the DS to a Luxman DA-06, Auralic Vega, and dCS Vivaldi.
Yes, that’s the rumor. We’ll get the tiny bug he brought up fixed and let him measure it again. We’ll let everyone know. As I mentioned as has Ted, the audibility of this bug is not something we’re concerned with but we do have to pay attention to the measurement crowd and we will.
Good stuff Paul. Listening to Dennis Armitage now.
Thanks Tony! Enjoy your Sunday.
Quote from Stereophile review:
‘All testing was done with the DirectStream running on the newer v.1.1.4 firmware and the volume control was set to its maximum.’
Is it correct that JA didn’t use 1.1.5/FPGA 1.6.1?
No, the 1.1.4 is either a typo or they had downlevel PIC code. But FPGA 0.61 was what they had when they refer to newer software. JA explicitly retested with FPGA 0.61 and in any case the software that changed shouldn’t cause any changes to any of his graphs. (I don’t know if Paul sent a whole set of new software or just the FPGA 0.61 code so that may be part of the confusion.)
aliaswolf said After having read all reviews concerning the DS I can conclude: It's fun to read about it, but it's much better to listen to it. And, I get bored by reading the reviews again and again, but I can't stop listening to the DSI agree 100%. About 10 years ago Stereophile & TAS had a bit of fight as to measure or not to measure. I always read JAs measurements even though I don't have a clue what he's on about. I agree with the TAS argument ie. let your ears be the judge.
Happy listening peeps
Most, if not all of us, are very happy with the purchase of the DSD. Each of us, I think, has a vested interest in seeing this DAC succeed to the maximum so that PSA has an incentive to keep improving it. The larger the user base, the better.
Forums such as Stereonet and Computer Audiophile have large memberships with many prospective buyers among them. It would be a shame if those prospects are scared off by the measurement brigade because of Stereophile’s measurements based on a minor known bug in the firmware that has already been fixed (but not issued).
I’m not a measurement freak either but I’m heartened by Paul’s statement that updated firmware will get to JA before his second review. That will take a lot of the wind out of the sails of the measurement brigade.
[Elk Hoofnote: I moved the posts asking Dan what DAC he purchased to replace the DS. They are now part of the DS Mute thread where he originally claimed he found a better DAC.
While Dan sent me yet another unpleasant PM yesterday proclaiming he will never return, my guess is he will be back. I have encouraged him to continue participating. If he chooses, he can respond in that thread where it is on topic.
Back to your regular programming.]
Just got my PWD upgrade to a DS back from the PS Audio factory in CO. Measures poorly, measures well: don’t care!! This DAC is positively 3D. Just a couple hours into listening and I can tell it is a huge improvement. Warm, detailed with a great soundstage. Takes the harsh of digital out. I was skeptical since I loved my PWD so much: the DS is just better. Best digital I’ve ever heard in my system including a Cambridge 840, Rega Saturn, Rega DAC, and a couple others I’m forgetting.
Dale
amsco15 said Just got my PWD upgrade to a DS back from the PS Audio factory in CO. Measures poorly, measures well: don't care!! This DAC is positively 3D. Just a couple hours into listening and I can tell it is a huge improvement. Warm, detailed with a great soundstage. Takes the harsh of digital out. I was skeptical since I loved my PWD so much: the DS is just better. Best digital I've ever heard in my system including a Cambridge 840, Rega Saturn, Rega DAC, and a couple others I'm forgetting.Dale
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback.
I’m so going to get myself banned from the math/measurement crowd on other forums.
alcarp said May still be useful if someone else at PS Audio can publish the before and after measurements. It might stop a lot of the negativechatter going on in other forums - see link below.
PS Audio Directstream DAC Owners & Discussion Thread | Owners Discussion Threads
I have been following this tread.
I am amazed that some talkers in this forum seems to know more about how the DS sounds that the owners of the DS, just by looking at some graphs. Pretty impressive if you ask me. I better ask them for some advice in case I am getting confused with good sound.
I, too, am surprised how many are better at listening with their eyes than their ears.
I think quite a few talkers need to convince themselves that an expensive replacement is not necessary, so they keep looking for things to critize.