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PS Audio PWT software bugs

I purchased a PS Audio PWT about a year ago and have had some strange transport/software bugs since new.

If I put in a CD and then let it sit for more than about 10 minutes, the transport will refuse to play the disc when "play" is entered. The Icons on the front panel will change as if the disc is playing but no output. I am using the AES/EBU digital output to a Brystom BDA-1. The unit will freeze and I can "skip" to the next track but still no output. Often I cannot even eject the disk. I have to do a hard power shut down and cycle. After power up, it recognizes the disc and plays normally.

Same thing happens if I start a track, then stop it and go away for more than about ten minutes. When I try to resume the mode changes to icons showining "play" but no sound and the track will be frozen. Almost no response from any input after that.

When I contacted PS Audio (Marcus Iezzi), he replied in an email:
"There is a bug in the firmware that is causing this issue and our software team is working on fixing it."

Has anyone else had this problem and do you know if a firmware version has been released to fix the issue?
dhl93449

Showing 1 response by wdascenz

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wdascenz
5 posts
 
The issue, as I am most certain all are aware of, is that the transport stops in the middle of a disc, although sometimes it stops earlier on certain discs – more than not. When it decides to run through an entire disc, the audio quality is superb. Adding insult to injury, it will not initialize on certain discs. My personal experience has been that the latest firmware update v.1.24 does nothing to stop the problem. Others have reportedly tried different laser drives including converting from IDE to SATA with the same end result. I have also read that their later products have a similar firmware glitch. The “word on the street” is the opinion that PS Audio has no interest in getting involved.

However, as it turns out, during a conversation with Paul McGowen, via eMail, he revealed that they will not be able to address the problem as they outsourced the firm-ware programming to a company in Romania and that option is no longer available.  Paul did volunteer the source code should an audiophile/programmer be able to figure it out.  That level of computer science is way outside my level of competence so I passed on the offer.
I will try other "fixes" (what choice so I have?) and should I come up with something worthwhile I will share it -- otherwise I have cool looking "boat anchor."
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