Why so many PWD & PDT on Audiogon?

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jerry.......I understand your point completely. I have just done the same thing with the SF Cremona Auditor speakers. I have had them about a month, like them very much, but planning on selling them when the Guarneri Memento's arrive. There is nothing wrong with the Auditor's, they are just being replaced with another model. We all do it, that's for sure.

In this case it is clearly a path to an upgrade. Having lived with both Auditors and then GMs for about equal length of time, the GM's were clearly a more refined speaker. You'll notice it in the bass that will surprise you for a monitor speaker, you will notice the smoother, sweeter top end, even the midrange has a tonal beauty and voicing to it that simply seduces the listener on female vocals and stringed instruments much more. There really is a reason they cost 3x as much as the older Cremona A's.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim.......When you read the PS Audio pitch on the website, the PWD seems to have all the right stuff, supposedly top line parts, plenty of user selected features, hand built in the USA, new MA selectable filter, and more. I can't figure what's not to like, especially when coupled with the PWT using the HDMI output to transfer I2S data to the PWD. I sounds like an incredible combination that should be producing amazing sound.

I re-read the review of the units in the August issue of Hi Fi News. In a sidebar discussing apodising digital filters they note "apodising filters are best used with sampling rates of 88.2kHz or higher, but can be exploited with 48 or 44.1kHz if some sacrifice to in-band response is allowed." they also noted that at the time of the review "Native" mode was not quite debugged. Maybe that was part of the delay for introducing the product.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Stillone

I re-read the review of the units in the August issue of Hi Fi News. In a sidebar discussing apodising digital filters they note "apodising filters are best used with sampling rates of 88.2kHz or higher, but can be exploited with 48 or 44.1kHz if some sacrifice to in-band response is allowed." they also noted that at the time of the review "Native" mode was not quite debugged. Maybe that was part of the delay for introducing the product.

Jim.......Perhaps the debugging of "Native" mode did cause a delay in introduction. I remember reading somewhere that the "Native" mode sounded the best due to the perfect data stream from the digital lens in the PWT.

I am not sure I would want to own the PWT and PWD, but I would like to spend some time with one to see what it is capabile of doing. There was a lot of emphases in the design for the two pieces to play .wav files stored on DVD. Since there are no commercially available .wav DVD discs, and you would have to produce these discs yourself before being able to enjoy "high rez" playback, I think PS Audio missed the mark on what their prospective PWD & PWT customer might want in the player. I believe it would be a much more popular product had it been a universal player from the start, without all the hoopla about what it might be capabile of in the future with more engineering upgrades.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim.......Perhaps the debugging of "Native" mode did cause a delay in introduction. I remember reading somewhere that the "Native" mode sounded the best due to the perfect data stream from the digital lens in the PWT.

I am not sure I would want to own the PWT and PWD, but I would like to spend some time with one to see what it is capabile of doing. There was a lot of emphases in the design for the two pieces to play .wav files stored on DVD. Since there are no commercially available .wav DVD discs, and you would have to produce these discs yourself before being able to enjoy "high rez" playback, I think PS Audio missed the mark on what their prospective PWD & PWT customer might want in the player. I believe it would be a much more popular product had it been a universal player from the start, without all the hoopla about what it might be capabile of in the future with more engineering upgrades.

If I remember correctly just about every reviewer prefers Native mode and using the I2S interconnect.

I may have noted I listened to the units for about 30 minutes while I was in Singapore. Unfortunately the speakers that were hooked up were not what we would consider stellar so I had a hard time getting into the two units. There were some things about the units that captured my interest.

I am really looking for a good server that will handle hi-rez files but not with a computer interface. I have been reading up on those Music Vault Units but I would prefer a SooLoos or McIntosh/Escient interface.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by Stillone

If I remember correctly just about every reviewer prefers Native mode and using the I2S interconnect.

I may have noted I listened to the units for about 30 minutes while I was in Singapore. Unfortunately the speakers that were hooked up were not what we would consider stellar so I had a hard time getting into the two units. There were some things about the units that captured my interest.

I am really looking for a good server that will handle hi-rez files but not with a computer interface. I have been reading up on those Music Vault Units but I would prefer a SooLoos or McIntosh/Escient interface.

This may work for you: OLIVE | SAVE THE SOUND. - PRODUCTS - OLIVE4 - OLIVE4HD. The HD version has a better DAC but if you want to bypass the internal unit's DAC (which may be a good idea and just use this as a server), I would get the base Opus 4 model with 2TB of memory and use it's digital out to the DAC of your choice. It has a CD slot to rip music onto the hard disk and will download the metadata and organize the music automatically. It also has ethernet and 802.11 wireless capability to connect wired or wirelessly with your network and will detect internet radio stations that way, so you can stream Pandora or whatever else floats your boat off the internet. fyi...

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by cmalak

This may work for you: OLIVE | SAVE THE SOUND. - PRODUCTS - OLIVE4 - OLIVE4HD. The HD version has a better DAC but if you want to bypass the internal unit's DAC (which may be a good idea and just use this as a server), I would get the base Opus 4 model with 2TB of memory and use it's digital out to the DAC of your choice. It has a CD slot to rip music onto the hard disk and will download the metadata and organize the music automatically. It also has ethernet and 802.11 wireless capability to connect wired or wirelessly with your network and will detect internet radio stations that way, so you can stream Pandora or whatever else floats your boat off the internet. fyi...

I have been to the Olive site many times but the 4HD is new to me. Thanks.

I wish they had more about loading Hi Rez files into the unit. I may have to give them a call.

Jim

[jdandy]

It looks to me like high-rez equals .wav files. Other than that, it is the standard fare of file conversions. The Olive 4HD looks to only have one digital input besides wireless and ethernet.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

It looks to me like high-rez equals .wav files. Other than that, it is the standard fare of file conversions. The Olive 4HD looks to only have one digital input besides wireless and ethernet.

I understand that some HI-Rez files are stored as FLAC too. Since some of the services do not send you the disc rather you must download the music, how do we get it to the Olive?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Stillone

I understand that some HI-Rez files are stored as FLAC too. Since some of the services do not send you the disc rather you must download the music, how do we get it to the Olive?

Jim.......Ethernet, I would guess.

[Dj_AmTraX]

If you just want something that can handle WAV. & FLAC files why not just get a mini Windows 7 PC with Drobo attached and a soundcard with digital out? The UI in Window7 Media Center is decent.

I am using a MacBook via Optical out to DAC. All I need now is the PS Digital Len. iTunes is easy to use and I can control via iPhones. iTunes does play high-rez FLAC files you just have to trick it.