As an update, Clint at W4S has advised the ms2 can be upgraded to be compatible with the PWD II in nativeX with i2s over HDMI. The upgrade is $250. I'm gonna go for it, but turn around is likely to be 20-30 days. I will report back when I have tried it out assuming all goes well. [-O<
frode said: Gordon,
Any news from Jesus at Sonore - has the unit been sent to you for trial?
Ok guys, this is exciting! The upgraded W4S MS2 server can play into the PWD II with i2s over HDMI in nativeX mode. No issues at all!
I’ll give you a few minutes to digest that…
I got the ms2 back this afternoon, 13 day turnaround from Australia - not bad. The i2s input in nativeX is a bit of a holy grail because of the 2 digital lenses in sequence, this means sound quality as good as the bridge or PWT theoretically. This is the “silent server”.
I won’t harp on it too much now. I will do some SQ comparisons vs the bridge. It plays gapless. If anyone wants more info I can try to answer any questions, but the guy who really helped me is Clint at W4S.
@stereophilus let us know about the SQ, if possible compared to bridge , thank you! 
@maniac no problems.
Incredibly cool!
Second that!
Recent communications with Clint @ W4S revealed that a 3TB version of their server will be out within the next few months. Absent a true working version of WaveStream prior to the release of the W4S 3TB Music Server, that is the direction I will go.
I will have to add the $250.00 I2S NativeX option. Perhaps that option will be less costly if ordered at the same time I place the initial order. Christopher
I’ve been doing a few comparisons between the bridge (alac and hi-res flac files from ext hdd via FireWire 800 to Mac mini via wifi to linksys router via cat 6 Ethernet to bridge) and the ms2 (identical alac and hi-res flac files from ms2 via i2s over HDMI to PWDii in nativeX).
I suspected that the HDMI cable might make a big difference, but I could hear no difference between a no-name cheap cable and the very thick W4S cable that is recommended by W4S.
There are differences between the ms2 and the bridge, although, I’m not sure how much of the upstream setup is affecting the bridge sound. Instead I’ll stick to the comparison as it stands between 2 different setups; one including the bridge and one including the ms2.
The ms2 sound is a bit thinner in the midrange, and a bit less fluid. It plays alac (red book) and hi-res flac gapless, but it couldn’t play my 48khz 24bit version of Jean-Michel Jarre’s Oxygene… Not sure why yet. It did excel in 3D imaging and added a sense of “reach out and touch the instruments”. In Cat Power’s Breathless off Jukebox (alac redbook), the reverb is really cranked, but with the ms2 the distortion/noise is removed from the music like I’ve not experienced before and Chan Marshall could have easily been standing dead centre between my speakers!
The bridge setup, by comparison seems a bit lush in the midrange, but seems better paced, with more fluidity. It still does the 3D trick, just not as believably as the ms2.
Bass and treble air seemed to be very similar, if not the same. It’s too early to decide a winner. Both have merits. And to be honest, I suspect the OS of the server has some affect on these results. The ms2 is a Linux based system, stripped down and dedicated to music.
I think the ms2 would be a good solution for anyone wanting the best sound from the PWD II with ripped audio who doesn’t want the fuss of the bridge and the associated network and computer maintenance. The SQ difference is probably not reason enough alone on my initial comparison.
@birddogthecat I’m glad this thread has been useful for you. Clint seems like a great guy, really helpful. It might be that the new servers ship with the nativeX compatible digital outputs, thus meaning no extra cost if you choose to go that way.
@stereophilus You are correct. Just heard from Clint and the current production MS2’s have standard NativeX compatibility as will the soon to be released MS3TB versions. Christopher
After a few weeks of living with the W4S ms2 server, I’m not using the bridge anymore. With all sorts of music, the ms2 gives better delicacy and timbre. It still doesn’t play 24/88.2 flac though - not sure why. Hi-res files play gapless, but sometimes skip to the following track too early (around 4-5 seconds early)… Again, not sure why. Apart from these small flaws, I have a new reference.
After a few weeks of living with the W4S ms2 server, I'm not using the bridge anymore. With all sorts of music, the ms2 gives better delicacy and timbre. It still doesn't play 24/88.2 flac though - not sure why. Hi-res files play gapless, but sometimes skip to the following track too early (around 4-5 seconds early)... Again, not sure why. Apart from these small flaws, I have a new reference.
Do I understand correctly that an internal USB to I2s adaptor is used to output via HDMI?
If so, why is this not sonically inferior?
Or am I lost again?
Do I understand correctly that an internal USB to I2s adaptor is used to output via HDMI?
If so, why is this not sonically inferior?
Or am I lost again?
Thanks Jesus, I had forgotten to try out the USB output compared to the HDMI. I can compare the 2 outputs from the W4S server pretty easily, just switching between inputs on the PWD II. I had the USB configured to output prior to upgrading HDMI output, so that is all good.
I will let my ears decide between the 2.
Let us know what you find - I still haven’t heard USB better the Bridge.
The most frustrating part of streaming through the PWD2/Bridge is that the SQ is so damn good…when it works. As I consider the W4S Server (and waiting for the 3TB version), I often marvel at how good the PWD2/Bridge can be. If only it could be depended upon to work.
The much (& long) anticipated release of WaveStream will be the determining factor. If WS works - really works - then that will settle the matter. (That is a big IF). I am assuming that the 3TB W4S Server will be released after WS. Yes, I fully realize that is quite an assumption. Christopher
Sorry about the delay. I have had few issues with USB from the W4S ms2. The first night I tried it, everything worked fine. The i2s over HDMI was a clear winner. The USB was the same overall tonality as the HDMI, but rolled off in the high and low frequencies in a pretty obvious way. USB was also more 2D, rather than 3D.
It did occur to me that it may be the $40 QED USB cable was the cause of this difference. But after grabbing 2 other USB cables to try comparing to, I’ve run into an issue with USB output not working.
I guess the other reason HDMI could beat USB in my setup is the second digital lens on the i2s input. For now, I’ll have to wait before I can answer that. For now the HDMI seems a clear winner.
@stereophilus, what do you mean by second digital lens?
Jesus R