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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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jburidan
803 posts
 
I would think Bricasti is a solid second-tier performer, in that it tries to squeeze as much as possible from a Sabre chip. But why pay more for less at this point, knowing what FPGA can do?
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
I believe it's short sighted to judge a DAC based on its chipset. There are a multitude of pertinent factors that determine the final sound quality (SQ) and performance of the end product.  2 DACs for example could utilize the same chips and yet occupy polar ends of a SQ  spectrum. 
Charles 
bill_k
880 posts
 
@jburidan - With all due respect the Bricasti M1 DAC doesn’t even use a Sabre chip and never has (it uses a highly rated DAC from Analog Devices.) I also agree that there's much more to the sonic performance of a DAC than a particular chip being used, including among other things implementation of the power supplies, clock circuitry, analog stages, jitter, etc...
fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
I loved my Direct Stream DAC - it was the best DAC I had ever owned at the point when I owned it. A truly great peice. 

When I switched to Bricasti the change was not small. Granted the Bricasti cost close to triple the price so to be fair it should be better. If Ted had all that extra money I’m sure he could put to great use. Chip types or FGPA and all that is just that - all that. I just care what it sounds like. 

Lampazator still mods those early 80’s CD players to sound incredible. They have no right sounding as good as they do. Using early 80’s chips and they sound insane! 

So many ways to skin a cat. All that matters is what it sounds like to you in your system or that’s how I see it anyway. 

PS Audio has come a long way and their reinventing of themselves really took hold with the Direct Stream.

For a while there it was pretty much regenerative conditioners and cables and the like but they now make some really great sounding DACs, Amps and pres at different price levels.

I have not tried their newer less expensive stuff but I’m sure it’s great at its price point. Certainly seems to offer seriously good specs. 

Wish they just wouldn’t flood the market like they do to hurt the owners resale of their gear but I guess they need to make so many to keep their prices where they are so it’s all part of it I guess. I’ve seen those 300 mono’s from dealers for some serious deals and at some point may have to give them a try.

I am stuck myself trying to decide on a new pair of speakers to upgrade from my Magico S5’s 

I am going back and forth between:

Magico S5 MKII
or 
Vivid Audio G3 

struggling with this call. Love Magico but those ugly G Series Vivids are really good. Tough one...

I’ll be deciding in next couple days. 


jburidan
803 posts
 
You’re right, biil_k… Bricasti M1 uses the ADI 1955 chip. And while I’m not in a position to evaluate Bricasti -- never heard and can’t afford one -- I wouldn’t invest in a static-state DAC, because I think that FPGA is the future of digital conversion. 
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