Perfect Wave DAC and Bridge


I installed the new Bridge into my DAC Saturday. It took about 10 minutes to get it installed and playing music. The sound is like nothing I've heard from digital or analog. The sound is so much more transparent, sweet, and more dynamic than the PWT, my Levinson Reference 31.5 and 30.6 DAC, or any analog rig I've heard, it's hard to believe. It has a sense of pace and rightness to the sound that sends tingles up the spine. And this was at Redbook resolution, when we moved up to 24/96, all I can say is you have to hear it to believe it! Got to go. More details soon.
128x128sgr

Showing 7 responses by sgr

On further listening, while the bridge is extremely dynamic, transparent, quiet, and above all fun to listen to, there are differences between it and the PWT. The PWT does have an earthy, rich sound the bridge is not portraying. I suspect the way the files were ripped could be a factor. Ethernet cables between server and bridge could also be a factor. More experimentation is due. Now I'm using the Assent software included with JRiver to stream the data between server and bridge. PS Audio claims there forthcoming software will be better as it is designed to work with music files. Though maybe not as wonderful as I remarked earlier, it has a quality about it that I find hard to turn off and go off to work.
I compared my PWD to Levinson Reference which I owned at the time. I'm not sure why so many are for sale. People are free to change their minds I guess Or is it because the line is pretty easy to get and dealers can sell PS Audio without fear of sanctions?
My best results with settings using the bridge: auto and filter 1. Not sure why this combo sounds the best in my system, it just sounds right.
Yes I mean Native and filter 1. These settings just sound more real in my system. I believe the Bridge is still breaking in so I guess this could change.
Is it possible to still access the J Rivers DSP software if you are using J Rivers with TagnPlay
I'm using Asset as that's what J River uses supposedly. So far I have not had it work with the bridge though it does work with computer hooked to fhe DAC via USB.
I'm using JRiver and a Microsoft Home Server with the Bridge and tagNplay with my iphone. The server is connected to my the cable companies DSL Router via CAT5 cable, than a separate CAT 5 cable runs from the DSL Router to the Bridge in the PWD. I've really been very pleased with the results. The PS Audio and JRiver software seems to work very well together with an occasional need to reboot the DAC or tagNplay. I still haven't tried PS Audio's eLyric as it is not ready to be used for Microsoft Home Server. I hope to add the ipad 2 when it becomes available instead of my iphone for tagNplay. I think the larger display will really make this a killer system to use.
I really am amazed at how well it all works together, even though the system is still in its infancy. And the sound quality easily rivals the PWT/PWD combo. Usually I can't even tell the difference between the two. It would be interesting to get together with a couple of friends to do a double blind test between the Bridge and PWT. If you like the sound of the PWD DAC, (most do, some don't) this digital system is one of the best sounding most fun systems to listen with I've found.
The biggest chore has been ripping all my CDs to the hard drive. But this has been fun too, it is amazing all the great sounding music I'd forgotten I have that have just been sitting on the shelf!
Well time to start ripping CDs, I think I'm on number 999. . .