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Bricasti M1 DAC vs PS Audio Direct Stream DAC

I own a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC that I like a lot but heard my friends system with the Bricasti M1 and I am strongly thinking of changing my DAC and would love your feedback from other members that have heard either or both. I know they are both great but really thinking of changing my Dac from PS Audio Direct Stream to the Bricasti M1 DAC. I use a HP Desk top computer as source with Jplay and JRiver Media 19 and the outstanding Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable. The rest of my system is below. I listen to Classic Rock, jazz, vocal, some modern music and the usual audiophile stuff.

Thanks

My system for reference.

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Monitor
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Cardas Clear Interconnect 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
PS Audio Direct Stream DSD DAC w/ Bridge DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase Vibration Cancelation/AC Condtioner
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's amps
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
BMI Shark Pure Jeweler Grade Platinum AC Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Hubbell Outlet 5362/5262 Deep Cryo Process
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
It needs a lot more time to break in. I think min a buck and a half or couple hundred. Run its 24/7 for a week. Turn amps of but run everything else and keep the music flowing so when you turn on amps music starts playing without doing anything else but flipping the power switch on the amps. Then at the end of the 24/7 week turn it off and unplug it and let it sit and cool overnight. Then turn it on before work in the am and listen when you get home and it will be quite different then now. Also, after the week and a few hours listening go ahead and think about a little tweak to your speakers location/toe in/out just a tad as its a different source and it won't need much but a little tweaking will go a long way... My soundstage image is pure wall to wall with crazy separation in there but it needed the break in to get there for sure... Break in is not a little extra with these but rather a pure necessity that annoying it may be is great once gets there and it opens up. The time is worth it and I wouldn't think of or worry about anything else until this happens...
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Day 2...the M1 is very, very different from the DSD. I submit it's analogous with hearing live music at a big venue compared to hearing music in a small intimate setting. Instruments/music through the M1 is significantly more natural sounding(intimate). Music through the DSD comes at you, while music through the M1 pulls you in. I'm more than satisfied with the change and look forward to listening to more music without thinking about equipment.
agisthos
442 posts
 
When the DS DAC came along I just looked at all the reviews in general and barely any of them declared the DS to be a game changer, or the best DAC they has ever heard. They only declared it to be 'good' which in the audio review industry means 'not very good'.

This is probably why PS Audio are spending so much time on software updates, trying to extract decent performance out of it.

The Bricasti M1 is the opposite, it seems to have consistent raves.
aolmrd1241
1,010 posts
 
Agisthos, With a statement like that I would almost be certain you have never listened to a DS with PP OS.

I have owned Wadia,Electrocompaniet and EAD digital playback and listened to countless others,the PSA DS was and is way above any of them in sound quality. Although I have not heard the Bricasti M1...I'm sure it is a great sounding dac. If you get a chance go give a DS a in depth listen,I think you will be pleasantly surprised...
ricred1
1,976 posts
 
Agisthos,

I purchased the DS after receiving generous credit for my PS Audio Perfectwave DAC II and thought it was a worthy upgrade. I want to be careful not to exaggerate the differences between the DSD and M1, but I think it's valuable to the audio community to discuss/compare different products. Of course it's in the context of my system, my room, and my preferences/biases. For years I've owned Wilson Audio speakers(Sophia 2s, 3s, and Sasha 1s) and like with the DSD the music came at you. I've listened to Rockport Aviors and currently have Aerial 7ts. I submit Aerials and Rockport speakers pulls you into the music and that's what the M1 does. That being said, just like some still prefer Wilsons to others, some may still prefer the DSD to the M1. I strongly prefer the sound of the M1.
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