Eating my my words at this very moment :
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Hi Darren, any news about Perfect Wave Phono work in progress? So excited imaging it in my gear chain with Direct Stream DAC (just ordered) + 2 P12 regenerators + Technics SL 1200 G and Gold Note Donatello MC. Unfortunately my Roksan Blak integrated has only one XLR input, actually dedicated to DAC. Do you think next Perfect Wave Phono will have I2S output? And do you think that will make sense go digital through DAC via I2S - XLR - to integrated or is always better stay analogue (as I suppose) from PW Phono output direct XLR to Roksan Blak integrated. It means if I have only one XLR which is better to pair to: DAC or Phono. I listen 50% vinyl - 50% CD (via DAC). Where RCA, less good than XLR, would be better: digital from DAC or analogue from Phono? Very curious about time of new product: estimated date for launch? Thank you, stay safe.
I2S is a digital implementation. You would need as AD function which wonât happen.
The PerfectWave phono will not have an ADC. My stance on this is that if one wants ultimate analog playback partnered with a digital output, that a very high-quality phonostage partnered with a separate ADC should be used. Other than digitizing albums, adding an unnecessary conversion process for playback is not recommended.
I am also not a fan of putting clocks or high frequency noise in the same box as a phono preamp. Thereâre many ultra high performance ADCs on the market that can be used if one wants to digitize their music or use it for playback.
You can expect to see it Q3-Q4 this year. We will not be releasing further details until we get closer to the beta launch. This one is very special and I cannot wait to release it.
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Thank you Darren, as I supposed. Take your time, we expect great results from a brand like PS Audio and itâs a privilege this direct dialog with you personally. At that moment (summer-fall) Iâll purchase for sure your brand new PW Phono, jumping and pairing alternate XLR connectors from DAC to Phono each session, till the final decision: which sacrifice plugging into RCA, Vinyl Phono or CDs DAC? I know I know the BHK preamplifier has lots of XLR inputs, maybe one dayâŚ
One more thing if possible: level gain knob on the rear (like stellar phono) would be so difficult to use, no space in a rack and uncomfortable at all. I suppose the new PW Phono will have the touch screen as other perfect wave member of the family. Well, if QS improvement suggests you to avoid an electrical part as this screen, keep it away. I prefer a directstream chassis less sexy and total metal and knobs on front panel, if it means best analogue performance without electrical disturb or noise not needed. And if I understand well also the new DS DSD DAC will be without touch screen (sigh I bought the old model just last week!). Happy spring day from Italy (wonderful flowers and colors today even if in lockdown again) hope for all a truly rebirth after these terrible pandemic months.
To beat your Stellar Phono Pre it will need to be âvery specialâ indeed. Iâm also anxiously awaiting its release.
The Stellar Phono does not have gain adjustment on the backside, those knobs are for the adjustment of resistance if 60, 100 or 200 Ohms shouldnât do it for you. Those values are accessible via remote, as is gain.
The Stellar is, for its asking price, well, stellar.
I also find the Stellar chassis more attractive than the Perfect Wave series. It is also just still possible to pull it out of the rack and hold it with one hand while switching tonearm cables with the other. Thatâs good for a notorious swapper like me.
What do I like about it: sound quality and that it comes with a remote.
What is not perfect? It is difficult to see the what the little blue lights indicate from a distance. It is sensitive to RFI, which I think was a design choice by Darren. Not that he wanted RFI (obviously), but there was something about measures to suppress RFI had other, unwanted, effects. I canât remember what they were though.
Looking forward to seeing and testing the new phono stage when it arrives!
Hi Darren. Is the proposed Perfect Wave Phono Preamp likely to have a mono switch?
My PS Audio GCPH has one and I find it really helps solidify the image when playing mono records via a stereo cartridge.
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, it certainly will have mono as a feature.
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That is excellent news! Thanks for your response and best of luck with the design & build.
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Thanks!
I have a Stellar Phono Preamp in my system and love it. I recently got a new cartridge and I am having difficulty in the settings of the preamp. The cartridge I am talking about is the following:
Grado Opus 3 Timbre Series Low Output
Output: 1.0mV @5 CMV (45)
Inductance: 6mH
Resistance: 70 Ohms
Input Load: 10k-47k Ohms
Tracking Force: 1.6-1.9 Grams
Compliance: 20Îźm/mN
Channel Separation: 30db. - 10-30k Hz
Controlled Frequency Response: 10-60 kH
Non-Sensative to Capacitive Load
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!
input = moving magnet
Gain = medium
loading = 47K
start with that. you may find you need to up the gain to high.
No kidding. Which are those many ADC.
Once again, you should look at the market. In a summary, youâre designing a phono preamp. There are tons in the market. It takes around 3 months to design one as most engeneers pretty well how to design an audio pre-amp as great ones have be designed for tens of year.
There is no perfect loading (arms,cart dependant). That why a I have a MM loading selector which allows me six or seven settings from 7 ohms to 47K. Costed me $200. Quite simple : a 6 different resistors holder, I turn a button one click, change resitor and loading. This allows direct comparison and I set it when I think it giges the best result according to my equipment and the record. You forgot to mention that over 10 curves are needed for non RIAA LPâs and around six more for 78 rmps.
You can give me all you physical theories, the best phono amps Iâve listened to are the tubes one. 4x12AX7 are enough to build a better sounding one than the one of the previous perfectwave phono.
Valve amps can keep being improved buy buying better valves (NOS ones)
My guess is tha digitizing albums is great : when one has time, he can listen to the LP (cleaning up before and after and son on) or when one just want to listen to it quickly, or during an aperitif, he can include it in a play list. And avoid playing the LP (too many playings destroy the LP sound).
I guess you havenât realised time have changed : it is no longer manufacturers which tell customers what they want : customers know what features they need and if manufacturers canât provide it, they change of manufacturer. You still want people to kisten to their LPs the way you want.
My opiion is quite simple : I want to be able to listen my LPs both ways : analog and
May be this explains why more and more rippers are on the market.
Good luck
Youâll never manage to play a cartridge with a 1.0mV output. Itâs a too low output and the Perfecwave phono preamp hasnât been designed for those.
You need a step-up (as if you add a MC cartridge).
I recommend this product : not to expensive (as your cart) a really sounds great (well, depending of your phono stage). Iâve used it on different carts including a grado sonata LO and a Benz Micro Wood SL (offered to me by Goldmund for free).
https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/phono-preamps/elevator-exp-mc-step-up-amp.html
It is delivered with a quite good (a bit heavy) power supply.
This one is a bit more expensive and I would only recommend it for higher range cart (not saying yours is a not a good one).
Also, you need to do your best investement
Enjoy your music. Best
Are you sure you have a âPerfectWaveâ? I say this since that doesnât exist as a commercial product ⌠yet. Darren is working on it and it will be coming out later this year. There are several other phono preamps that PS Audio has produced in recent times, the GCPH (long since discontinued), the NPC (discontinued 2-3 years ago), and the current Stellar Phono Pre.
In response to PHIL007 (the eternal optimist), both the NPC and Stellar can easily handle a 1.0 mV output cartridge. I have used a Shelter 901 (0.9 mV output) without issue into the NPC and the Stellar. I actually didnât need anywhere near the total gain of either phono pre and no noise issues. I have not tried a step up transformer, so I canât comment on any improvement from that, but that would be a significant investment.
Vinyl is like the Wild West, just about anything goes and there are no hard and fast rules. If something works for you, congratulations!
Wrong name⌠I have the Stellar Phono Preamp!
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Thatâs what I suspected, confusing names is easily done, no problem!
My friend had the Grado Reference cartridge. It was just about the most musical cartridge Iâve ever heard. The midrange is to die for. The newer Grados now has added speed, detail, and high frequency extension to the game.
Grados are moving iron similar to moving magnet. You have the low output version, so use the high gain moving magnet input. If itâs not enough gain with the MM, use the low gain MC input, but set loading at 47k Ohms. Setting it lower can dull the sound. Good luck. I believe you will love this cartridge.
@mdiaz0429 - If this wording is a bit confusing, @waymanchen11 is saying that the MM input is for high gain cartridges. The gains (low, medium and high) applied on the MM input are actually lower than those for the MC input:
However - since you have the low output version of the cartridge at 1mV, if you feel youâre not getting enough gain out of the SPP to your stereo preamp from the MM input, you may want to try the MC input set to 47k ohms to see if the added range of gain improves things sonically.
You would then also have the option of trying 1k ohms, by first insuring the knobs between the inputs on the back are turned all the way up to 1k and then selecting the Custom setting on the remote. You then would essentially have the option of either the top or the bottom of the specified range for your cart - 1k or 47k ohms.
The MM input has no loading options - it is fixed at 47k ohms. So if you find that there is something âmore rightâ sonically about Either the MM input, OR the MC set to 47k - vs. the MC set to Custom/1k, youâve sorted something out independent of gain.
If that all makes senseđ¤
Edit: did not realize this was from a month ago until I posted this reply.
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