Last week I ordered a refurbished PST during PS Audio’s Black Friday sale. It arrived in pristine condition and was immediately connected to my DS DAC using an existing WW Platinum Starlight 7 HDMI cable. I popped in an SACD and listened to it using my Stax/BHSE headphone equipment. Sounded a bit better than my DSF rip of the same SACD. Not a quantum leap in sound improvement IMO but definitely better. I played a couple more SACDs and enjoyed each of them more than my ripped versions.
Next it was time to play some Red Book CDs. First CD I placed into the tray did not read on the first load. Nor on the second. But it did on the third. Note that the CD was perfectly centered in the tray each time and the disc itself was sans smudges or scratches. When I finally hit play and began listening I was flabbergasted at the sound I was hearing. It seemed to me to be an order of magnitude better than my ripped flac version (from a Macbook Pro from an SSD thru a Matrix USB-HDMI converter with Farad LPS). Mesmerized indeed.
So of course I had to try more CDs. Each one sounded so much better than what I was used to hearing that I couldn’t help but continue CD listening until the wee hours. Must say I fell in love with the sound and became a CD playback addict without much further attention paid to my SACD collection (my original purpose in buying this unit).
Alas, this aural fairy tale does not have a happy ending. I soon discovered that the read failure I experienced with CD No. 1 was not a fluke. It occurred randomly yet continuously. Over the course of 13 days of listening I logged every disc read attempt and discovered that SACDs ALWAYS read perfectly on the first attempt. With Cds, however, I found that of the 41 CDs I listened to, the initial load read was successful only 44% of the time. The required number of loads resulting in a successful read was as follows: first time - 18; second time - 13; third time - 7; fourth time - 2; Fifth time - 1. Frustrating to say the least and a purchase killer for sure, considering that the shipping box stamp proclaimed “Certified Factory Refurbished”. I will not own a beautiful sounding $7000 list price component that does not function properly. No rational person would. Furthermore, what would be the potential resale value of this malfunctioning unit? And I have no confidence in having it looked at again by service as they obviously missed this problem AT LEAST once. So I reluctantly sent the unit back for a purchase refund. But I can’t forget how wonderful my CDs sound when played through it. Damn that CD loading issue!
In summary I would like to state that I would LOVE to add a properly functioning/playing PST to my system. But I am now somewhat gun-shy about purchasing another one, either new or used based on my brief experience. So may I query you past/present owners of this unit as to whether your PST read/reads CDs each and every time or not? Thanks for any feedback you may provide.
Listening to my PST now, never had a read issue like you describe. Reads every CD and SACD I load on the first try. I should add that the PST is the primary source in my stereo. I’d guess around 80% of my listening.
You need to contact PSA. For the past four years with my PST, I have never had any issue playing CDs or SACDs. The only issue it had was reading DVDs that were burned from hi-resolution files (it would read sometimes but often not). It should not have any problem reading CDs.
My unit always reads SACDs and CDs the first time, has since I got it in August 2022. I’ve experienced the “fatal error” exactly three times with each time a reboot fixing the issue and not coming back, at least for a while. It doesn’t happen frequently enough to contact support at this time.
You already sent your unit back, but I think that was the right call. I’d take that money and upgrade your DAC. The MK1 is nice but it gets better.
Ditto here. Only times I’ve not had the disc read on the first try is when I didn’t have the disc properly seated in the tray. This is true for both CDs and SACDs.
A MKII DS DAC would probably be a step up for me. But I have such a large CD/.SACD collection that I would first like to get a player for them. And after hearing how cds sound thru the PST, I can’t help wanting one. I just need to get enough positive comments to help me overcome my one-off (likely) bad experience with cd reads.
My experience is the same as that of some others who’ve commented. Occasionally I’m in too much of a rush to make sure that the disk is perfectly centered, and then it won’t read; otherwise no issues in that regard.
With the unit I had I was extremely careful to center each and every disc perfectly to preclude the possibility of read error to be due to my actions.
But from the responses I am getting it may be that my particular unit was an exception to the rule and was simply bad luck for it to have been sent to me.
I agree 100%. I have never had issues playing either CD’s of SACD’s. Recorded DVD’s do take a long time to load but they do play. The interesting thing is these same recorded DVD’S whether they are DOP DSD or hi rez pcm load as quickly as a CD in my PWT! I am sure they will take care of him as the refurbished items do come with a warrantee.
I have a very similar setup and have also found that the CDs sound stunning - so much so that my streaming sessions have become shorter and less frequent while CD listening in now my primary mode. I have never had a misread of a CD even with less than pristine CD condition. I am so sorry your experience has not been so good. Don’t give up on a PST, I think your particular unit is a fluke.
I too have had my PST for years without any unintended functioning. Don’t throw in the towel just yet. Work with the mother ship; you won’t be disappointed.
I sometimes have a disc reading issue, always my bad. Once correctly centered, it perfectly works. I used an HDMI connection to MK II and lately AES/EBU to MSB DAC.
Hopefully MSB will soon launch a I2S input module, it makes the PST a wonderful transport able to play SACDs (again) in my system.
Don’t give up, PS Audio customer service is top notch!
I want someone to try the new TEAC CD transport. Stereophile is Gaga about it. The words they use to describe how it is different from ANY OTHER CD transport is that it digs considerably more information from the pits then what most of us are accustomed to. That is how I describe my Gryphon Ethos or an MBL 1621A. When you hear it you are quite surprised that all that sound was hidden in there. It is a huge difference. Anyway, this TEAC unit lists for $2699. I am really curious but not $2699 curious. Somebody try it. Hopefully Luka or Greg.
I’ll chime in and say that I was an early-ish adopter of the PST and have not had the issues with cd playback you have. That unfortunately seems to have been a quirk of that particular unit. I love my machine.
Many positive experiences reported here considering PST experiences. I’d expect that on a PSA Forum. You did right to return it IMO. My PST didn’t last through a 72 hour burn in. It ended up taking out my DSD DAC when it did fail. The PST went back for a full refund. The DSD DAC went into service for a repair by PSA Tech Staff. Never received an explanation as to the cause of the failure.
From your replies I now have other transports to consider, but only as CD spinners. What if I wanted maintain the ability to play SACDs AND output in HDMI to my DS DAC? Any other choices out there at an equivlent price point?