Affordable alternativ to the PS Audio DirectStream DAC

Let me toss in a suggestion for the exaSound e32 MkII. Granted, you'd have to piece it together with a streamer, but exaSound is offering a package with their DAC, their Sigma Streamer and a Teddy Pardo supply (highly recommended) for $3399. 30 day risk free trial. I've owned the DS DAC since it was in beta testing, and agree with the OP's thoughts on its sound. My friend has a similar system but wanted a less expensive DAC, He chose the e32 MkII with the Pardo supply (doesn't have the Sigma Streamer). My opinion is his digital is quite nice. I consider a great budget alternative to my DS.

The Rockans are VERY expensive I was looking for something have the price of the PS Audio DirectStream

Actually the starter Rockna Wavedream is $6k so that is not VERY expensive. 

Although they do have more expensive models in the SE series.

So expenisve is allways going to be a relative terms.

In our shop we have dacs from $1k to $35k so compared to a $1k dac a $6k Dac is expensive, compared to a $35k dac a $6k one is pretty cheap.


Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

If you hear somebody complaining about the PSA DS dac, ask them what release of the firmware did they use. Most people like the improvement each release provides. I’ve updated the dac multiple times and each new release sounded better than the prior release.

I highly recommend the $1,500 Audio Mirror Tubadour III DAC.

I sold my Denafrips Terminator after hearing this DAC. BTW, I bought the Terminator after reading that people prefer it over the PSA DS DAC. And I am a big PSA fan and have some of their products including their big Power Plant P20.

A friend of mine also prefered the Audio Mirror DAC over a much more expensive Lampizator DAC and sold the Lampizator. It really is that good.

martin, you are in luck.  The PS Audio is a FPGA design, and the Denafrips is a Resister Ladder.  These are expensive designs.  Buy a DAC based on a Delta Sigma Chip.  The go to chips at the moment are the ESS 9028 and the ESS 9038.  There are several of these that are excellent.  (I currently run two - one is the Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2v2, and I also use my Oppo 205 as a DAC.)
With the FPGA and Resister Ladder types the additional cost is not for additional quality, but additional work in implementation.  Most, if not all, of that cost goes into a different type of sound - that you may prefer, or you may not.  However with the 'DAC-on-a-Chip' you will get (1) a different sound, (2) a cheaper price.  So long as you do a modicum of research you will get a fabulously good DAC.

I am presently considering the Okto Research DAC8 (when it come out) and the Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro.

PS Audio Perfectwave dac. 

I have owned several high end DACs - the Luxman DA-06, the PS Audio Direct Stream with Bridge II, and currently the Esoteric D-07. I have been using a bluesound as a streamer for several years and have found it much better than the bridge ii in terms of reliability - it just never stops playing. My bridge ii used to stop playing all the time with high resolution files. Yes, the DS is a very good sounding product, but frankly the Luxman was richer sounding (not what I expected to find at all given all the reviews of the DS) and the Esoteric kills them both in terms of sound quality AND build quality. The Esoteric is an older DAC which is available for about $1500 used and simply makes the PS Audio look like a child’s toy. So, for $2k (including a decent coax cable) you can get an amazing DAC. The Esoteric allows you to upsample into DSD, and I have found that makes it sound more analog, but you can also convert without upsampling or into 2x or 4x PCM which sounds a bit more detailed. Your choice - it just depends on the music. Anyway, just my two cents but it could save you about $2k over a new DS with bridge (they sell for $4k brand new - nobody pays retail for PS). 

I have the PS audio Direct Stream DAC for the money nothing comes close. And the software updates are free.

Do what the others have suggested when the new Jr comes out the price of the old one will bottom out.

Thay have just stopped production on the Direct Stream CD unit. I am waiting for the new one to be come out so I can buy the older model at a deep discount 

Also PS Audio has some of the best CS it’s world class.

What’s the model of the esoteric dac ?

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9e6fa-ps-audio-directstream-dac-da-converters

here is one on sale here on AG for $3900. i have one of these; it is the cornerstone of my system. with the frequent os upgrades it is like having a new component every year os so. i would buy another one if building a new system

If you live in Denmark you could look for Soekris dacs. Some of them have very good reviews and are below $2000. I just checked and the Soekris 1541 is around $1300 (1150 EUR).

http://www.soekris.dk
[Edit: pricing info]

Denafrips received some bad reviews IIRC.

No, you are not recalling correctly, jburidan. Certainly not for the Terminator. Just search around for all the reviews, comparisons and awards. 
Sorry all, I couldn’t let this wrong recall sit there since it’s right at the top of the thread.
So back to the subject at hand... 

I’ve heard quite a few DACs and ended up with the Aqua Formula xHD with my first choice being the TotalDac 12 (but out of my current budget). The La Voce has the same Aqua house sound, detailed, natural, effortless with a massive 3D sound stage (better than TotalDac btw in this regard). I’ve also heard the PSAudio Directstream with the latest FW in a friend’s system and while it’s full bodied and has quite good PRAT I didn’t care for the artificially lush sound which might have masked some of the detail. The friend’s DAC was a Soekris which was a bit more detailed and accurate (not lush, not too thin). Another DAC I recently heard at a local dealer / friend is the LessLoss DAC which I believe uses the Soekris RtoR boards, and is a very natural, detailed, overall quite beautiful sounding DAC - recommended. Another RtoR to investigate (mentioned above) would be TotalDAC. Similar to the Aqua sound in some ways (effortless, very natural timbre, great PRAT) but different in that the TDs are a bit more lush but not as airy/3D as the Aqua. Both are excellent.

Also, to whomever commented that "RtoRs are all sounding the same", simply not true. Is there a theme whereby there is an effortless and naturalness inherit in most designs, yes. Do they sound the same, no. Listen to TotalDAC, Aqua, Aries Cerat, Soekris, Lessloss, etc. and you’ll hear significant differences but all stellar DACs.
Final note - whatever your short list becomes I highly recommend demoing the DACs in your system. Only you can decide and your system will play a significant role in how the DAC integrates to your liking (or not). Happy Listening!

The latest firmware for the DS dac (3.0.6) again takes the unit to the next level sonically. Even though it is an update to the PIC code...its just plain keeps getting better and better. Hearing is believing!!! 

A few months ago a friend brought over his PS Audio DirectStream DAC and a Schitt Yggdrasil.   I run an old Peachtree DAC-iT, which I paid $500 for some years ago.  The follow-on model is now available from Peachtree for $250.  You can find my unit on EBay for about $125 these days.

There were a number of local audiophiles present and we came away with a variety of opinions, though there was one thing we all agreed upon.  The Schitt Yggdrasil was edgy and nothing any of us wanted to listen to, let alone worth its price tag in excess of $2000.

I liked the PS machine better than my Peachtree, as you might expect.  But the Peachtree actually sounded very, very good.   More than half of those present liked the Peachtree best of all!

The Peachtree just sounds good.  I thought there was a hair more detail and accuracy with the PS, but certainly not $4000+ worth.  I'd be willing to pay something like $800 for it, but nothing at all like the money that is asked.  I have NO complaints about my Peachtree. 

It only does up to 96/24, so if you have a need for 192/24, you'll want the newer Peachtree DAC iTx.  I have no interest in high rez streaming services and therefore do not have that requirement.

And as an FYI, here are the details of my system that we used to listen to these DACs.

VTA SP13 tube preamp
B&K AV1260 12 channel MOSFET power amp
Linkwitz Orion v3.3 loudspeaker system - active crossover calls for 4 amp channels per side, so 8 channels total needed.
Digital Source:   HP laptop running Ubuntu Linux, Banshee music player

The DS dac and DMP transport...when used together,form such a musically coherent presentation with the latest firmware updates...it has to be heard to believed. I tend to believe that if one’s system is not up to the task of revealing all that this pair of music making machines have to offer...it will not be fully appreciated...period.

Dear Martin-Anderson,you can find the Teac in The Netherlands (Enschede :DP-audio at the price of:1699€ , the same on the web Hifi 79 studio:  1375€, (nl.) ‘ or Wifimedia Experience Center: 1390€ (nl.) In Belgium there are also available.

Hi @lukaske95 Thanks for the tip.

I have just got "burned" on a pair of Tekton Design DI. Ordered them without trying them out at home. It was not possible not dealers in Denmark.

But I have promised myself that I only will buy product that I can audit in my home.

I know that it will give me a very limited range of product to choose from but I have to live with that.

I feel that I live in a 3' world country (: when I read about all the dac's that people have suggested in this thread and close to none of them are
available in Denmark or Europe.

Thanks

Hi Martin-andersen: Danmark is not a 3th world country. You have very beautiful stuff ( I have the Gamut D 200i). Denmark is one of the leaders in Europe ( only ,it’s not that well known) Here in Belgium, you can find anything. Positive point :it’s cheeper than in Denmark. A reason to come to Belgium.  Regards !

Look at the new Musicbook Source. Around 3200 euros. Great analog pre amp /dac/streamer. Made in Germany so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your hands on one 

ahhh beautiful Denmark.. almost heaven...

Can you use/modify U.S. equipment to run in Denmark, or does the unit have to be designed for European electric systems?

Toolbox 

@toolbox149 I am not sure. I don't think so.

But I have bought a Orchid dac and going to use that until the new PS Junior are released

OP, please share your impressions on how the Orchid compares when you have a solid feel for it.

Not sure whether you want/need a built in streamer

Underwood HiFi is selling Auralec 

and... 

Pure Audio Lotus DAC5: I think I read that it has a 120/240 switch on the bottom (not sure about in home trial. Call Walter, he's usually amenable 
http://www.tonepublications.com/review/pure-audios-latest-dac/ 

Here is another review of the PA Lotus DAC5,   https://headphone.guru/the-pureaudio-labs-lotus-dac-5-from-underwood-hifi/

I bought the Allo DigiOne Signature player and the Orchid. Also invested in a roon setup

Chord Qutest. With either a Moon Mind 2, or Auralic G1, Lumin Mini, or even a Bluesound Node2i depends on the budget..

I am a newb to good Dacs but I have to agree with Audiotroy that the Ifi Pro iDSD  looks amazing for the price  https://ifi-audio.com/products/pro-idsd/    I know I will be saving for this for a while to use with my PC  Currently running Tidal thru USB to a Questyle QPR2  to my Focal Utopias ,but after hearing upscaled DSD on Audirvana Trial. Hardware that can Upscale to DSD1024 and direct stream Tidal among other features. Sounds very appealing.

Maybe you should reevaluate your budget?  Now that you've actually listened to the PS and loved it, you might think about how you could responsibly afford it.  Sometimes we have a pre-determined budget in our heads, which is a good thing, but sometimes we just have to decide whether or not to stretch because our pre-determined budget can't get you where you want to go musically.  Only you can make the decision.  

Just recently got the PS DS Jr - under $2k. Awesome improvement over last DAC . Also PS still upgrading firmware like the Sr - overall very happy. NAS connected via Ethernet . Sonos via coax - using freeware tools to stream from NAS - but may consider Roon in future --- a bit pricey

@chayro I would buy a used one if I was living in the US, but used PS DS are very rare in Europe

Maramtz ND8006 
Very good i own it