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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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jwm
918 posts
 
Oh well just ordered the switcher an another Sbooster regulated power supply to a total fee of 400.00. And away we go as Jackie Gleason use to say.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Eliminate most of the wired Ethernet issues by simply earth-grounding the DC common of your router.  Tie the DC common to the ground pin of the IEC connector, either inside the LPS you are using, or by using an external wire to the third hole in the AC outlet.  The Sboost is a good choice because it has fast regulation but I don't think it is earth-grounded.

Another thing you can do to help is to add a EMO EN-70e isolator in the Ethernet cable.

I do both of the above.  Works like a charm.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
Steve,

This sounds awesome. I love learning new great ideas like this. You make some of the best digital products on the market so we all love your advice and ideas. 

Can you expand a bit more on how to do this. We PC based audiophiles love trying to squeeze the last bit out of our rigs and mods like this are awesome.

A couple years back or so when I started this thread you were the one that taught me the importance of the transport - think I was running USB from my PC back in those days. Time flies and as does the technology.

Thanks for sharing and helping us out! 
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

FS - It can be fairly easy if you order a LPS supply from one of the small vendors. You can request that they connect the earth ground from the power IEC to the DC common that is on circuit board and the DC connector.

If you have a 2-prong plug on your supply, like a Sbooster, then you may have to make a 4-foot wire with a banana plug on one end and the other end must connect to the "ring" on the DC connector. You can connect this usually by removing with a knife a short length of the insulation on the DC cord and then solder to the shield. The banana plug can go into the ground hole of an outlet.

BTW, what is happening here is the leakage that usually occurs across the Ethernet interface transformer is reduced significantly, resulting in better SQ.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

jwm
918 posts
 
I added the Netgear Switch to my system. Ethernet from my PC connects to my Netgear AC-1200 local wireless router. The router connects to the new switch and then from the switch to the Bricasti. I will say the sound is more relaxed, more open or transparent. I can't believe it. The only problem is when I play DSD X2. The sound turns on and off like shuttering and then it shuts off. The other 24/96/ 24/192, and DSD X1 all work fine. DSD X2 works fine with just my wireless router.
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