I love my PS Audio Direct Stream with Red Cloud :)


Yesterday, PS Audio released the Red Cloud FPGA software written by MIT genius Ted Smith.

With immense delight, I auditioned all through the night.

The beauty exceeds what were my wildest expectations when I purchased the DAC several years ago, and reconfirmed that I had made another good choice (my previous good choices include Tannoy 15" DC speakers, Cary SLP05 preamp, Art Audio Jota HC monoblocks, Wavelength Cardinal monoblocks, Cardas Clear cables, Acoustic Zen reference cables, Wyred4Sound server, PS Audio Premier Power Plant, inexpensive HDMI cable, and ceramic corn dishes.

While I haven't heard a great many DACs, I have heard static-state Sabre DACs, which sound ear-bleeding mediocre IME, and R2R chips which were the thing 20+ years ago. I think that FPGA Red Cloud is superior, and the best thing aesthetically to have come from a scientist educated at MIT. Make music, not war.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with PS Audio, except as a happy customer. It's just a great company!


jburidan
As someone who is in the clothing business,  my technical knowledge of some of the things mentioned above is pretty limited.  that said,   i have been into and enjoying good home high end audio since the mid seventies. I have a system that is 100% PS Audio and think they are a fantastic company with fantastic products.  Is there better out there?  Probably but i do not stray as i am happily married.  When a company has designers like Paul McGowan,   Ted Smith,  BHK,  etc.  then that is pretty impressive.  Add great customer service and built and serviced in the US,  plus the free upgrades like Red Cloud (which i thought was a nice improvement over Huron) and they are #1 in my book.   And they have great sounding products which is why we are all here.  
I've enjoyed a PS Audio DirectStream DAC since it first came on the market, and have applied (and enjoyed) each software upgrade since.  I also have one of their DirectStream transports, the combination of the two is the best digital sound I've heard!  I do have a Mytek Brooklyn DAC for streaming MQA...but I think the PS Audio pair beats the sound of most music remastered in MQA (but not all).  I also have one of Paul's P10 Power Plant's, find that having clean power does make a difference with digital sources.
I recently purchased the Direct Stream Dac senior and I’m thrilled with the new firmware  and unlike Deepgroove my experience is completely different , LOL ,..
Sure the $800.00Gustard along with the Audio Gd shamed the PS Audio Dac ,..You see , its all about the bass ,,Lol 
I like red cloud for a number of different reasons, but one of them is improved bass. 
deepgoove:
I'd like to take the DirectStream DAC off your hands, if you're inclined to get rid of it.