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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
 
Thanks - I thought I remember one update being called "Yale"?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I would be interested in trying new software but if I had to go back to a windows based server to do I’m not sure it be an improvement.


The three apps run on Mac, Windows and Linux.


Incidentally, both my mini PC and the sonicTransporter and the ZENeth all use the same super low power required Celeron J1800 processor which has all the power needed for these Audio serving tasks but with nice low power, low noise. The lower the power better as long as it can perform it’s Music file serving task. My windows based mini PC would run hot - real hot and amazingly the sonicTransporter runs unreal cool. Almost can’t tell it on.


When using Ethernet, it should not matter what power is used on the computer, in fact it should not matter what computer is used.

The more important thing is to optimize the playback app and the router/switch and associated cabling after the router/switch.

I have done a lot of experimentation here and found the following to be optimum:

1) AQVOX Ethernet switch

2) 0.5m Wireworld platinum cable from router/switch to isolator

3) EMO EN-70e isolator

4) 2.0m Wireworld platinum cable from isolator to Ethernet interface on DAC

It must be done in this order for best signal integrity and lowest jitter result.

Does this software you speak of need to be run of a PC in a set up like mine?

Your setup is fine.  Versions for Linux, Windows and Mac are available for free.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

aolmrd1241
1,011 posts
 
Quotes from Paul McGowan on the soon to be released Snowmass OS update for the DS dac.

"Getting close. Listening to Red Cloud in comparison there’s just no contest. I am shocked at how two dimensional Red Cloud now sounds compared to Snowmass. They are not even in the same league, which is crazy because Red Cloud was a HUGE improvement over whatever the mountain before it was."  

"Tonality has changed quite a lot as well as the upper reaches of the frequency range. This release definitely sounds as if it is going higher in bandwidth, and tonally, it’s fuller and instruments more rounded with greater body. The blackness levels are dramatically better too."  
johndoe21ro
72 posts
 
What about Bricasti? Any new owners/opinions?
BTW this was a very interesting thread! :)
jwm
918 posts
 
Steve I'm using J River DLNA like you through AQVOX SE to EN-70e and then to dac. How would you use Linn, Kinsky, bubble UPnP instead of J River with my PC and DAC? Thx Jeff
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