I shouldn’t be the one to defend PSA against the assumption, that everything they invent or introduce has been available or bettered for years by others at a lower budget and with no worse sound quality, if PSA doesn’t clarify themselves how they compete 
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The difference is that now lots of people use OEM components because it makes no sense to reinvent the wheel, whether the ConversDigital cards or the Class D modules in the Stellar amps that PSA have been using for many years now.
This is a good thing because it provides good value. The difference compared to the likes of Lumin, Auralic, Innuos, Holo and others is that those brands have in fairly short time developed a range of proprietary modules (power supplies, volume controls etc.) and software and they can package them in the range of products at different price points. PSA now has just one standalone DAC and it’s pretty expensive, so they do not appear to be leveraging their propriety technology into a range of products.
There comes a point I think that products are more “different” than “better”.
I’m not sure, admittedly, but this has been the conclusion of many with top systems both on the streaming and digital physical media side (to say nothing of analog) based on listening comparisons. In my experience anyway… I wouldn’t argue the point with someone who felt differently, just trying to perhaps temper expectations for those who may be expecting a streaming product to better a player, that’s all.
Its a balance. How close can streaming get to the top of the line players? or even the mid upper level? its getting closer and closer. The source is the last the unknown which is why Paul will never say its on par. He has his doubts its the same quality source “file” as whats on the physical media. I get it.
But I have never had a 10k player, or even a 5k player. Owned Oppo’s for the past 20+ years since they first came out and I moved off sony. Never owned a top notch transport. Nothing to reference for me. But I love how good my system sounds with a Red and MKII. Not going to fret over that last 5% that would cost me 10k more and loose my ADD album switching method of listening. I love playlists, and just dont see myself going back to having to get up and swap discs. Have not done vinyl since the 80’s. I am afraid to listen to that as I may like it to much and just dont need another rabbit hole at this time.
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Hi Paul. That’s great to hear the AirLens has had a major sonic improvement, such that it’s now close to the PST standard.
Would you be able to say what helped you to lift the performance of the AirLens up quite a bit from before? What’s the secret sauce, when there’s galvanic isolation to keep things quiet already? 
Looking forward to the newsletter feature on the AirLens later this month!!
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Power supply upgrades. All of it. Bigger, better caps, a few tricks, etc.
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Tangentially on topic, where does the digital neophyte go to familiarize themselves with the digital ecosystem?
By downloading to a desktop the first of what will likely be a modest collection of DSD content and employing Foobar for playback, I’ve taken my first baby steps beyond basic streaming and local content playback (Vault 2i). Though not unexpected, the first practical implication is now having multiple devices and interfaces serving similar purposes needing to be managed and optimized.
Freeware on a desktop is functional but clunky at best. Manufacturer ecosystems or components within an ecosystem can be unexpectedly limiting eg Vault2i / ROON incompatibility.
I’d like to anticipate needs and avoid surprises by thinking through a digital system MGPP. To do so I really need a basic understanding of how hardware and software components work and work together.
Maybe I don’t need degrees in computer or software engineering but when I read something like this I realize I lack basic understanding of the technology that may or may not influence decisions.
“In addition to having exclusive access, Audirvāna’s reading program communicates at the lowest possible level allowed by each operating system, thus reducing the number of operations performed to a strict minimum.
For MacOS, Audirvāna is constantly adapted to the evolution of the operating system and is also already natively compatible with the latest generation of computers equipped with the new Apple Silicon processors.
For Windows10, in addition to using the drivers already available (WASAPI, ASIO) Audirvāna now integrates the KERNEL STREAMING mode for an absolute transparency.”
One of the big reasons I went roon was the fact that I did not need a laptop. Just don’t want that as interface. So maybe look for streamer with own software or roon if willing to spend the money on a core.
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I think spending some time on the Roon and JRiver Media Center Websites introducing and explaining how the respective software programs work and what they are intended to do would be worthwhile.
This seemed like a pretty good introductory overview of a “digital ecosystem”, so to speak:
Have fun.
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How big are the differences between the Airlenses‘ and the PWT’s PSU?
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I use Foobar everyday at my desk on my home office PC for listening with output to a DSD-capable DAC over USB. Also whenever I want to convert between formats like from Bluray surround sound files in MKA to FLAC. I use the DarkOne v4 UI setup. Even SWMBO, a UI PhD, was happy using it until I got her Tidal. Every now and then though when I restage my PC or swap in a different one, I have to fiddle around trying to remember how I set up Foobar to play DSD256+ files.
So basically I never actually recommend Foobar to folks unless they are the types who are happy to fiddle with PCs.
I do like though using Plex’s DLNA server on my NAS to send DSD using an app (e.g., Linn Kazoo, even though I do not have Linn equipment, or usually for me, BubbleUPnP) to my UPnP endpoints that can receive DSD over the network. This even works for me with DSD surround sound. But admittedly, my endpoint for that (exaSound S88) is quite network capable and I have a CAT-7 Ethernet house.
Whatever you consider, lots of folks here can help. Often there is already another thread already out there just for the subject.
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I think some audiophiles worry about streaming because they think audio has to be complex. The thing with streaming is that it is so dead easy. Most 5 year olds can do it. 90% of music consumption in the USA is by streaming, so most everyone else has worked it out.
My one word of advice - don’t use a PC laptop. In 20 years of streaming I never have, partly because I’ve not owned a PC laptop for 20 years. They just complicate matters.
Choose the streaming service you want to use, buy a streamer that has it onboard, connect it to your wifi or network and your DAC with a usb cable. Done.
Roon was designed as a multi-roon system and, like any shared data system, requires a data server. Roon Nucleus is a plug-and-play solution. Again, it’s idiot-proof.
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Many thanks all. I appreciate the guidance.
You might also watch a few presentations Andrew Gillis from Small Green Computer gave at Axpona on digital networking: “Networking for Audiophiles” and “The Ultimate Digital Audio Source”. I use a separate streamer and server. I just recently received the DS mkii and am awaiting the Airlens. The DS mkii is a wonderful DAC. Very engaging, effortless sound. Enjoy your audio journey.
Let’s break this down a little.
The third paragraph of Steve’s post ("Choose the streaming service you want to use, . . . ") describes the most basic, and simplest, form of streaming. All the music comes from online services like Qobuz.
The next level involves playing local files (that is, music you own and store on your own hardware). One might have local files as a result of ripping CDs that one owns, from purchasing digital downloads, or recording vinyl. Some streamers are available with internal hard drives or with USB ports to connect to an external drive. These normally come with an app that can access both online content and local files. Such units are a good solution if one has a fairly small amount of local content (say, less than 1 tb). No need for a computer to play music in addition to a streamer. (Use the computer to rip CDs and transfer the files to the streamer’s storage.) For larger libraries, it’s best to store the local files on a NAS.
At the moment I am looking to buy a new streamer. I am concerned that I don’t buy one and find that I don’t like the app/OS that comes with it. Some streamers work with their own apps only, while others allow one to use any DLNA compatible controllers. A few, such as the forthcoming AirLens, don’t have their own software, so one must use DLNA or Roon. For years I stored files on a NAS and played them to the Bridge in my DS Mk1. I may well continue with this setup with the AirLens (it requires having a server such as PLEX or MinimServer on the NAS).
The last level involves multi-room playback using Roon (or other options I am not familiar with) and does require a computer.
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How do you know that AirLens requires my server has to have PLEX or MinimServer? I have a NAS with a modified version of Twonky Server. I like it because it handles my DSD128 needle drop recordings. Will the AirLens work with Twonky Server?
I wrote “a server such as PLEX or MinimServer,” That phrasing can certainly include other servers. I have never used Twonkey, but it may well work with the AirLens, assuming it’s DLNA compatible.
When I started streaming in 2010 it was only to play local files from network storage. There was no online streaming at that time.
I bought a new streamer/DAC a few weeks ago. I went to my dealer just to try out the app. It’s OK. Those of us that use Roon, and there are a lot of us, realise that it pretty much solves everything. That’s why there are lots of us. So I only look at Roon Ready units, and they are listed here.
https://roon.app/en/partners
Roon does not require a computer, it requires a server, such as Roon Nucleus, to run Roon Core. Part of Roon is RAAT (Roon Advanced Audio Transport), which is streaming software, no need for a separate streamer, just plug directly into your DAC with usb.
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Yes, you should be fine with Twonky.