@tomhail I’m one of them you’re probably referring to. Most of my comments have been general b/c I’ve been more involved w/trying to get the streamer to play nice with my network. So, I should post re. the sound. Up till now my comments have been “great”, “love it”, etc.
Background: Started w/the DSD Sr, moved to the MK II and now have the PMG 512. Coming up on ~4 weeks w/the DAC.
Out of the box, noticed fine details in recordings and better bass (tighter, more refined). Bass lines of upright, electric and drums are solid and so well defined. I know other’s liked it but I mostly felt underwhelmed w/the MKII bass. PMG…sound stage, wide but, more importantly, DEEP. Instrument placement is the most pinpoint I’ve experienced in my house since 2009. And, dynamic. The range is noteworthy. The first 2 tracks I always play are Bonnie Raitt, So Close, and Dire Straights, Private Investigations. Bonnie for female voice, cymbals, guitar, drum, speaker placement vs. spatial cues, but mostly for her voice (see comments below). Private Investigations, the culmination of everything to judge by. Quite, loud, depth, width, micro details, pace, male voice, guitar, etc.
I was so impressed with the 512’s sound that I purchased the PMG Pre to replace my BHK. Wow, it got better. First thing I noticed was the dead silent noise floor. There’s always a bit of very low level tube hiss w/the BHK. More, or less, depending on tube rolling, but always there. With the BHK sidelined I was able to hear (actually, no longer hear) how much underlying din there was. The PMG combo is dead quiet. There’s a 3 dimensional quality that is now the new baseline. When a song fades out…it trails off forever. Also of note, amp is the BHK 250, tube’s, too, and they’re dead quite w/this pairing.
I have Roon streaming random tracks as I type this. Lyle Lovett, Smile, a slow jazzy tune, just started playing. First instrument that comes in, piano…so realistic and each note defined. I’ve seen him 6+ times in concert, this is the closest I’ve heard his voice to being there. Cymbals…nice tsss and decay, bass…tight, drums…taught and clear, strings…sweet. Now, Diana Krall, Let’s Fall in Love, is up. Her voice, again, best I’ve heard. I’ve always believed female voice is so hard to replicate. There’s a chesty characteristic that I cue in on. The PMG DAC (and pre) has none of this. Just, pure, voice. Next up, Chuck Pyle’s playing, Rio Rey. Colorado folks should know him. Never made it big time but he’s about as good as it gets. Such a pure voice. Fabulous on acoustic guitar and the fiddle in the background…again, so clear and realistic.
Also, I feel, PRAT is mo’ better. Synergy, timing, pace, toe tapping, etc. is next level. If I had to pick, soundstage and dead quiet noise floor are such an improvement over previous products. But, everything else I described deliver in spades with this DAC…complimented exponentially (by how much?) with the PMG Pre. I’ll agree w/Paul that I do get “jaw dropping” often.
Speakers, Polk Audio SDA-SRS 1.2tl’s. Whoa, wait, don’t stop reading!!! Fair to think Polk isn’t in the speaker league of many of you. I know I’ll get some push back and pooh pooh’s on my speakers but these are not OEM. There’s a serious upgrade community…crossovers, inductors, internal bracing, dampening, tweeters, outriggers, etc. and, since 2009, I’ve transformed them to a level most ‘audiophiles’ won’t think them capable. Not as modern and resolving as today’s speakers but the soundstage they produce and, post mods, the detail they have is astounding. I’ve been to Munich Hi-End, Capital Audio Fest, etc. auditioned uber speakers and have background selling audio equipment. If you haven’t heard my set…you simply don’t know. Not saying they are giant killers but they hold their own. What I’ve learned in the past 10 years (start of my foray into PS Audio) is they dramatically scale up with the quality of gear. I haven’t reached a point they just stop delivering. PMG DAC and Pre combined w/the BHK 250, anchored with the P15 Powerplant, is very satisfying.
Next move, in the wings (pun intended) are a set of Genesis Gen II’s that are, if you don’t know them, of the same Infinity DNA as the IRS’s Paul used to voice most PS Audio products prior to the FR series. I have a pair Paul helped me get several years ago. New Year’s resolution is to finally get them running w/PMG gear running them. Long, long-term, the FR series is under consideration.
My .02 cents. PMG Series, winner, winner, chicken dinner.
