New PS Audio PerfectWave


Has anyone tried it? Any reviews or comparasion with the old ones?
128x128nasaman

Showing 4 responses by 2chnlben

The number of bits utilized does not necessarily mean a DAC will perform better. The nearly $70,000 dCS Scarlatti utilizes a 5-bit DAC (albeit is a proprietary "Ring DAC" - interesting technology).
I'm pretty sure the OP is referring to the new PS-A power cables -you know...like in “Cables Forum.”
The PWD/PWT is SOOO good. I ordered the PWD because the Bridge/PWD combination will provide the same level of performance as the PWD/PWT. With the Trade-Up promotion, I spent $2,000. If this thing DOESN'T sound as good (or even better) than the $80,000 king of the hill, it has to be close. I've not heard the "king of the hill" but the PWD/PWT was so damn good that anything better is going to be competing with the kings of the analog hill (which I don't think anyone has yet confirmed to be true). One thing’s for sure – and it’s exciting, digital is REALLY coming of age; it’s here now – and the future looks even brighter (think higher sample rates).
This is encouraging to read. I have a PWD on order and have been using similar electronics (Cullen modded DLIII, Wyred4Sound ST-500 and PSA GCP-200(incredible preamp, I can't believe it's gotten so little attention)). Would you mind sharing some of the improvements you've heard over the modded DAC?

What I heard was very similar to what has been stated by the beta testers and the PS Audio guys themselves – via the PS Audio website here
Let me try to give this some “tangibility.” When I listened to a Redbook CD from Keith Jarrett, The Koln Concert, a live recording from the early 70’s, I immediately commented on how well this was recorded; the decay of the individual notes was very apparent and the timbre was very good for a Redbook recording. I liked what I heard so well that I purchased the flac download of this recording as soon as I got home from the audition. On my system the piano does not sound the same – the timbre is not nearly as lifelike as what I heard via the PWD/dealer system, nor was the discernable decay of the individual piano notes. I also felt that many of the CDs and files that I am familiar with sounded better resolved than when played on my system (i.e.: “more information was conveyed” – the sound was much less “digital.” Digital is highly dynamic and highly resolving of the information – up to 44/16, but it is the missing information that makes for “better resolved” music).

I should point out that I am very familiar with my friend’s reference system (the local dealer) and for the most part, I prefer the sound of my Krell Res II speakers to the sound of his B&W 802D speakers (I am specifically referring to the upper midrange and treble frequencies – overall, I feel that the B&Ws are more resolving). My point is, the differences that I heard at the dealer may have had something to do with his overall system compared to mine, but for my taste, I generally prefer the warmer sound of my speakers to the more analytical sound of the B&Ws (especially on piano) – so the differences that I heard on, say the Keith Jarrett CD, I attribute more to the PWD than I do the speakers or other components.

I didn’t focus on sound staging, imaging, or bass extension/control – and nothing in these areas jumped out at me either via the PWD/PWT (no great improvements in any of the aforementioned areas). I was not out to make a comparison between digital and analog either, because there was not an analog system set up for comparison. I was merely there to hear if things sounded better to me compared to what I am familiar with (digital playback). What I heard was better. As I said, music was more resolving (not analytical, bright, forward, or clarified), it was however, more lifelike (instrumental timbre and vocal tonality, as well as a more appreciable “atmosphere” - bloom/air cohesiveness). Details seemed to be more “fleshed-out” (as when Jarrett coughs during his performance, hums to the tune, or starts tapping his foot while playing the piano).

I am not one to praise cables, power cords, tweaks, or even power conditioning – I just don’t hear easily-discernable differences. What I refer to above was, for me, easily discernable. The differences, which I heard as positive (“better”) were in no way as easily discernable as when replacing speakers – which, to me, makes the most obvious difference. The differences in resolution, timbre, tonality and atmosphere were not subtle either – they were definitely discernable – which to me, was better. I can say that the PWD sounds audibly better than my PS Audio- Cullen Stage IV mod DAC – enough so, that I traded that DAC in plus two-grand for the PWD. I hope it sounds as good in my system as it did in my dealers system; there was enough discernable improvement to my ears that, even if some of what I perceived as better was system related, I’m confident that I will hear a worthwhile difference at home.

I don’t usually ramble on this much, but you asked….