has anyone tried PS Audio perfect wave duo

The combination is truly excellent to a degree that all of the aforementioned devices/DACs pale by comparison (yes, I have heard the aforementioned servers and Dacs - PS Audio-DLIII, Benchmark - DAC 1/pre, Cambridge-DAC Magic, ARC-CD7, Wadia devices, SB3/Duet/Transporter, etc.). I do not have any experience with the acknowledged digital leaders (i.e.: MBL, dSC, and other five-figure devices), but I can verify that the Perfect Wave combination indeed takes digital to a new level.

Wpines - the PWD will allow full server capabilities once the Bridge device is released later this year. Most high-end transports these days are designed for single disc operation. The key to the Perfect Wave Transport is the built-in Digital Lens, along with the true I2S interface. Combined, these two technologies allow, among other things, exceptional jitter control (i.e.: reduction). The PWT also supports up to 24/192 native. The forthcoming Bridge will also feature a "built-in" Digital Lens and I2S interface. The big deal is, it is a true high-end solution to music servers (which is the only way to go for digital, because HD SR files absolutely convey more information than the limited (and “old”) Redbook format (16/44). Finally, digital is becoming a nice alternative to analog.

Distributor representatives hit the road with products for auditioning in June. That’s how I auditioned the series at my local dealer. The series that I listened to extensively was just superb. While the HD files and DVD disc (containing HD files) did sound exceptional, I found that Redbook playback was the best that I’ve heard to date.

There are well known and praised digital front end systems on the market listed at $68,500, $29,000, and…I don’t know off the top of my head what MBL’s best are listed at. Now, we have the Perfect Wave system listed at $6,000. Comparatively speaking, this cannot be considered “over-priced.” I just bought the PWD for $2,000 (plus trade in). I have written about what this system sounds like. It does not deserve comparison to the DACs that I am familiar with in the $5,000 and under sector. The PWT/PWT should be compared to the super high-end digital front end systems on the market. It may, or may not hold its own with such products, but I can verify that it is superior to most of the well mentioned systems. Personally, I have opted for the forthcoming Bridge instead of the PWT (transport). To me, a high-end music server makes more sense – why bother with individual CDs…

Shazam,

I'm still waiting on mine too. Like you, I’m hoping for a wireless Bridge, but as long as the remote control interface is stiller (which Paul indicates that it will be) I can live with an Ethernet connection - which might even enhance the transmission quality. It would be another freakin' wire to string across the floor though.

While you’re awaiting the Bridge, what will interface your Sonos and PWD with – USB or S/PDIF?

Actually, the Duet will support up to 24/48 natively. I'm not sure about the DL-III (I know it up-samples – not sure about native though)?? I do know that the 24/96 files that I feed my Cullen-modded DL-III via the Duet all sound superior to my Redbook.

Kartracer:

Since you have the SB Duet, you are undoubtedly running the SqueezeCenter software, which will down-convert 24/96, or anything higher, to the Duet's native 24/48 output. I’m not sure if SqueezeCenter up-converts 16/44 to 24/48, or if it simply streams the 16/44…anyone?? Now, what I don't know is what the DL-III does with the 24/48 signal. It will depend on what it supports natively (maybe the PS Audio website has this information available), but remember it is an up-sampling DAC. So, if you have the DAC set on 24/96, it probably takes the 24/48 signal (and/or 16/44) and up-samples it to 24/96 (I assume this is the protocol). In native mode, the PWD will support up to 24/192 without any up-sampling (i.e.: it will support the Duet's 24/48 "signal" natively).

PS says that the USB on the PWD, which supports 24/96, runs straight to I2S and is one of the best USB interfaces available, but the Duet doesn’t support USB – so you and I will have to run S/PDIF. Once the Bridge arrives, the best interface between it and the NAS will be Ethernet (or wireless – if they go that route, but it sounds like they’re still undecided), effectively eliminating the need for USB or S/PDIF. The Bridge will also go directly to I2S (the PS protocol is to place the Bridge/Lens in the chain prior to the analog conversion, at which point it is output to I2S with asynchronous clocking).

Kartracer,

Since the DL-III is an up-sampling DAC (with the choice of either 24/96 or 24/192) I assume that when the SB Duet feeds it a 24/48 signal (from 24/96 files which SqueezeCenter down-converts to 24/48), that signal is automatically up-sampled it to either 24/96 or 24/192 depending on the setting you choose? In other words, we're not really hearing what 24/48 sounds like natively, we're hearing it up-sampled to 96 or 192 kHz. Therefore, via the Duet and DL-III you and I cannot hear what native 24/96 really sounds like. I (think) what we get is a weird hybrid (24/96 converted to 24/48 and then reconverted back to 24/96)??

Once you and I receive our PWDs we can feed them up to 24/48 natively via our Duets, but that's the limit. We'll have to wait for the confounded Bridge to realize native 24/96 and higher.

In any case, I am 99% sure it only deals with 16 bits, but I haven't queried the PS Audio folks yet to get the real answer.

Ahh...does this mean the 96 and 192 kHz up-sampling modes are actually 16/96; 16/192? That doesn't seem right?? I guess it won't really matter come December!! Ironically, the 24/96 files that I feed the Duet-DLIII do sound superior to the majority of my Red Book files (just think what they'll sound like via the PWD).

Will the PWT/PWD be able to be controlled and your music files accessed with an I-Pod touch? I had read this someplace but haven't heard it discussed lately? Or would this be connected with the yet to be released bridge?

This will be implemented via the forthcoming Bridge device. At one point there was talk about interfacing with an iPod/iTouch device(s). From talk on the PS Audio Forum, it now sounds like PS may take a different approach. As of now it has not been decided (or at least made public).

Does the dac sound better single-ended or balanced?

I'm still waiting for my PWD to arrive. During the audition, it was connected via a balanced interface, but I'm not sure there would much of a difference between really great single-ended ICs vs balanced ICs. I'll use balanced just because it's available and I have some good balanced cables on hand.

One thing to consider is the fact that balanced gives you a 6db gain so if you plan to use the PWD as a preamp that may give you a little extra headroom on the volume.

The Bridge won't be on the market until after the first of the year. PSA is also working on a dedicated NAS that I believe will include a server. The combination of the two (Bridge and NAS - in conjunction with the PWD) should take music servers to a whole new level.

I should hope that anything costing three to eleven times more would sound better. Just how much better can digital sound though? I just hooked my PWD up and it is incredible right out of the box via coax. Once the Bridge is installed via internal I2S it should sound even better.

I can understand why the newer (latest) and pricey digital gear might sound better - considering the newest technology (i.e.: new filtering systems that specifically address "pre-ringing" - such as Meridian/s new apodising filter; and the newest technology designed to address jitter issues). What I can't really come to believe is how anything with older technology can (or should) sound better (even if they were once the proverbial “kings of the hill”) - there have been some comparisons to really great - but older (antiquated), gear here. That the new PS gear is only listed at $3,000 (each) is truly something to be very excited about.