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#1
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Closing out the DirectStream DAC w/ Network Bridge II?
PS Audio announced this morning what appears to be a closeout sale of its highly regarded DirectStream DAC with the Network Bridge II installed. If my math is correct, the price will be $4,000 -- while supplies last.
On the one hand, what I have read about this DAC/streamer, especially with the new Windom software upgrade, is very impressive -- and, at this price -- is akin to a siren call, strongly inducing me to buy one. But, on the other hand, the fundamental architecture of this product is five years old -- which is a lifetime for a digital product, even one software-upgradable. This factor is a bit of a red flag waving. And so, I feel somewhat like the horse frozen between the bucket of oats and the pile of hay -- unable to commit to one direction or the other. To complicate matters, I am very pleased with my current DAC/streamer (a Lumin T2), which is based on dual Sabre 8028 DACs. That being said, affordable upgrades are always in the cards for me. As a consequence, I am soliciting the thoughts of others about this dilemma.
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Jonathan "Do not go quietly into that good night, . . . Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Main System: Theta Casablanca V preamp/processor; Wadia 8 CD transport and Digimaster DDC 2000 DAC (w/all updates); Theta Compli CD transport; Oppo UDP-203 disc player; Lumin T2 music server/DAC; Roon Nucleus+ core (w/Teddy Pardo LPS); SOTA Sapphire turntable (w/ Premier FT3 arm and Hana SL cartridge); SugarCube SC-2 non-destructive "click and pop" removal device; PS Audio Stellar phono preamp; Magnum Dynalab MD-102 FM tuner (w/MD-205 Signal Sleuth FM antenna amplifier and ST-2 FM antenna); McIntosh MC 611 (3), Krell FPB 200C, and KAV-250a power amplifiers; Revel Ultima Studio (2 - L&R), Voice (1 - center), and Embrace (2 sides and 2 surrounds) speakers; SVS PB-16 Ultra (2) and 3000 Micro (2) powered subwoofers; WireWorld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables; various Kimber Kable, MIT, Shunyata, and WireWorld interconnects; Shunyata Denali 2000/T (2), Denali 6000/S, Hydra [original], Hydra 2, and Venom PS10 power conditioners; various Shunyata Delta, Venom, PowerSnake, and Sidewinder power cords, and Venom Defenders (2); Richard Gray's Power Company Substation and 400 Pro; Luxul AGS-1024 Ethernet switch; Sound Anchor amplifier stand; VTI (2) and Billy Bags (4) equipment racks. |
#2
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I love my DS. They did the same thing last year around Black Friday on the DS. So I don’t think they are retiring it and ted has given no indication he is going to stop upgrading it. Last year I don’t think they had product for three months post sale.
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#3
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Did you read the email?
Its a private offer before Black Friday and not a closeout sale. Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub |
#4
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Windom is so good it will blow your mind.
Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub |
#5
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Agree, based on what has been said in the past few weeks by Ted and Paul there are no immediate plans to replace or physically update the DS Sr. The release of the TSS (Obsidian) and the replacement for the DS Jr. are in line before anything is done with the Directstream Sr. So if anything the "Black Friday" sale. However if you think the Directstream is dated an FPGA based alternative with a similar sound profile is the Aqua La Voce S3. It's internals are entirely modular and made up of multiple task specific boards that can be user replaceable if and when there is an update. List price is $4300. I own both and switch back and forth.
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Jack |
#6
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The Lumin is a superior streaming platform with superior software to the Bridge's designated software. As to the DAC sections they are just different as Sabre based dacs sound different to AKM based dacs and to FPGA based dacs so it is what you like is whats better.
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Jack |
#7
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What does the Bridge do? Can You simply stream a digital signal via USB without the ‘bridge’?
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Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2 X 2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server, Clearaudio Performance SE. Satisfy tonearm & Maestro Wood MM cartridge. Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Sigma NR v2, Block Audio PCs, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - 4 X Alpha CGS cables, Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches, Keces P3 LPSU, Cables: Wireworld Platinum 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum 8 Speaker cables, 6M & 1M Tubulus Concentus ICs, Other:Two PSI Audio AVAA C20, Multiple GIK products, Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Minis and Ultra SS, Three 20 Amp lines, Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona Rack |
#8
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Quote:
You can stream via USB if you like. Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub |
#9
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And Now, full MQA, Tidal (including Masters), Spotify, Qobuz, VTuner, and Roon ready.
Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub |
#10
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Bridge II is a streamer on a board. So no case and it gets it's power from the DS power supply rather than from the wall. Yes it works and works well but it is not up to the level of a $4200 dedicated Lumin and is not intended to be. That is the reason Octave is being developed.
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Jack |
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