the mk1 sounded great when released in 2009....the mk2 sounds even better. am yet to hear any digital front end (anywhere near this price point) that sounds better then the pwt/pwd/bridge.
have not compared it to any of the newer high end dacs but did a/b/c it against two much costlier dacs three years ago (both were Esoteric's from previous years). neither sounded better then the pwdmk1. 2 friend ruled it a tie but i preferred the pwd. not sure if this was a fair comparison as the esoteric units were 1 and 2 year old at the time...while the pwd had only been out 4 months. unfortunately, those were the cards i was dealt.
regardless...you'll need to spend alot more loot to beat this dac imho.
get the mk2....and the bridge if you stream. if you still like spinning disc's...get the pwt as well (perfect match for the pwd). together...they make for a fantastic digi front end that's hard to beat without spending alot more loot.
have not compared it to any of the newer high end dacs but did a/b/c it against two much costlier dacs three years ago (both were Esoteric's from previous years). neither sounded better then the pwdmk1. 2 friend ruled it a tie but i preferred the pwd. not sure if this was a fair comparison as the esoteric units were 1 and 2 year old at the time...while the pwd had only been out 4 months. unfortunately, those were the cards i was dealt.
regardless...you'll need to spend alot more loot to beat this dac imho.
get the mk2....and the bridge if you stream. if you still like spinning disc's...get the pwt as well (perfect match for the pwd). together...they make for a fantastic digi front end that's hard to beat without spending alot more loot.