PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC without the transport


I am eagerly awaiting release of the bridge and lens and plan to get the whole turnkey PS Audio music server package once it comes out. I was wondering if it is worthwile to get the DAC earlier and use it with my digital transport (using Marantz UD9004). All I read about is the PS Audio DACs performance when used with the PWT. Is anyone using just the DAC with other transport over S/DIF and how good is it? I am currently using the Xtreme DAC card in my Theta casablanca III.
edorr
Here's a good info source for those considering the PW system. There is alot of information being discussed particularly about bridge.

http://www.psaudio.com/ps/forum/
hi Ben. the differnce is sound between the two is not always apparent and very small when it is. seems that certain disc's sound better then the stream while others sound identical. when i can hear a difference, it's sound-stage depth for the most part. this translates to sounding more "live" imho. one redbook disc also seemed to have a smoother, slightly less fatiguing high end then when streamed. again...a vast majority sound identical.

two that i found sound better with the PWT are eric clapton "backless" and muddy waters/howlin wolf "muddy and the wolf". have not heard any difference in music produced recently so far(the last 10 years or so).

again...the differences can only be heard during critical listening/direct comparisons and only in about 5% of the disc's i've compared (roughly 40 so far). don't want to start a big stink over this as this is one mans opinion with specific tastes in music/sound and on a specific system. plus...i'm no expert by any means.

regarding hi-res dvd's: have compared 5 so far and can tell no difference what so ever(24/96 flac). both sound fantastic (as you know). it's to the point now that i can't even imagine it sounding any better. closing your eye's and feeling like a band is front and center is what the bridge/pwt both do to high res. it's also what this hobby is all about to me.

cheers buddy
Lev
Thanks Levy.

Have you ever encountered any latency-type dropouts? I have been putting up with random dropouts from day one. Since this is not a phenomenon experienced/reported by all Bridge owners (some do, but I believe most do not), I have been going on the assumption that it is a network issue.

What is your server setup? Once I resolve this issue, I will be nearly 100-percent satisfied (when gapless is implemented, I will “feel complete”).

Dang…A Bloody Mary sounds good. Extra spicy, two cherry peppers, one dill spear, a sliver of lime, fresh-ground black pepper….It was a “festive” evening and I am feeling the residuals….
enjoy the bloody mary Ben. i have some issue's with my stream as well. periodic drop outs on both redbook and high res as well as TnP locking up once in a while. i still have a problem with TnP not seeing my PWD from time to time to. this last issue is my biggest problem as it requires rebooting the PWD to correct. lots of tweeking left to do on the bridge imho

i had hoped these problems would be resolved by now but understand there is way more to it then i know. purchased the bridge knowing/expecting problems has helped me get through the frustration but still.... . anyone not ready to put up with this kinda stuff should hold off on the bridge imho.

my set up is pretty simple. new pc running windows 7, j river and a linksys wireless n adaptor. iphone and TnP as well.

cheers
Lev
That's interesting that you, Levy, have similar dropout issues. It makes you wonder if the dropouts are a latency/streaming/network issue or a Bridge issue...?