So looks like PST has its own set of problems as DMP used to have. My DMP for reason did not give this types of mechanical problem though. Most problems were with s/w but after initial few iterations those were under control with acceptable work arounds.
Regrds,
Sourav
With the current state of the shipping industry a perfectly functioning unit could have easily been knocked out of alignment due to rough handling. That drive unit has been fully vetted by Marantz and itās family of brands.
I have my PST for 6 months (luckily, I had some trade-ins so I did not felt too badly about the sale). What I found playing different types of files/discs are:
USB sticks with small storage, files need to be stripped out of directories and Megadata to play. Some USB brands need to be re reformatted to work;
Commercial CD and SACD are playing flawlessly.
Hi-res. AIFF DVD burned from online purchases works fine;
DSD128 burned DVD works but a few did not.
Hi-res. FLAC burned DVD does not work most of the time, it will skip songs and some time the front button would be blinking.
These are true to my PST even after reboot from the back button.
Well, I forced myself to order a PST. I was struggling with wether I would use it enough to justify the cost, the DMP works fine for me, but had I passed on this opportunity there would have always been that nagging feeling I made mistake for not trying it. Iāll have to force myself to listen to less streaming and more CDs. Now I just have to wait a month or so for it to be built and shipped. 
Good call.
When you hear this PST youāll be glad you made this decision. Itās much more musical than the DMP.
Iāve been ripping a lot of SACDās but there are some I canāt rip for some reason, like a couple of Diana Krallās and some classicalās. It just will not play when I transfer the files. So I still need a disc spinner to play those discs. Anyway, when I play the discs off the transport, it does feel like it has more substance than the files. It really feel like thereās nothing that can sound better than these discs.
With so much angst in the world, Iām sure no one wants to read about my continued hand-wringing over the purchase decision on this, but the fact is, I donāt have a clue whether the rest of my system (SGCD, M700s and Maggie .7s) has the resolving power to make the PSTās improvements noticeable in my listening room. The systemās reproduction of the PSTās signal would need to beat what it does now with a Marantz SACD 30n. I know I can order, listen for 60 days, and return it if I canāt hear a substantial improvement. But thatās kind of a pain.
Anyone else here in similar circumstances? I guess I need to make a decision PDQ, given that weāre at the 29th already.
Well, I have closing in on 300 hours on a PST right now and can say it bests the DMP. Itās been a difficult audition time for me because my listening is headphone only for this time period due to an equipment failure, though I did have a week or so of listening to the DMP beforehand on the same phones and the PST went through about three sonic phases and is stabilizing now into a very involving and natural sounding character.
The three different phases it went through show me break-in is real. At first it sounded quite good but a bit thin and āfastā . . . I knew it would improve and sensed it would be an equal of the DMP with just a bit of thinness to burn off. The next phase it was congested and very warm sounding, thick bass and a compacted imaging and āsoundstageā (what you can get from headphones). Then in the most recent phase it sounds much improved, a wider perspective, a more dynamic perspective with space about the notes and āimagesā. . . Decidedly good listening.
Similar situation, but I do have the resolving power so it comes down to how much I would play CD/SACDs. Iād suggest going for the PST and picking up a DSD down the road with an appropriate I2S cable.
Well, as it happens, I just got off the phone with self-professed ānew guyā Zach (Zac?) and we had a decently long conversation about the equipment I have and what the PST could bring to that party, and I decided to bite the bullet and pull the trigger, if I may be allowed to mix firearm metaphors. Given the audition privileges, I decided it was better to be damned by spending the money than damned by missing the deal entirely.
Theyāve moved so many of these from the sale that all he could offer is that a) Iām in the build queue, b) all the parts are on hand, and c) they arenāt projecting December deliveries. Yet. 
Congrats. You wonāt regret it. And PSA was right to hire Zac, he seems to be an effective sales 
He was, and not for just the obvious reason. 
He was knowledgeable and personable, and fun to talk to.
I have a PST, and itās the best transport I have ever heard and owned.
Congrats Craig! I think youāll be very happy.
Get some good SACD with DSD mastering such as the ones from Octave, then you can appreciate how good the PST is.
Believe me, I donāt need to be sold on DSD or SACDs. Iāve been a fan since they first came out, and have owned three players before the PST, and while I donāt own as many discs as some here, Iāve probably got a couple hundred, some great, some meh. I also have all the Octave issues to date. Even so, I never quite felt like I was hearing all I was supposed to be hearing from any of them. I hope this moves the bar substantially.
It will.
I agree.
Welcome to the club!
