PS Audio DirectStream DAC

[Weirdcuba]

Love the dac, but I don't have experience with it as a digital pre amp. The FPGA was a big selling point for me also.

[doggiehowser]

Originally Posted by ylee

I love the implementation of FPGA in this DAC. I'm seriously thinking of buying this given what I've read about its sound quality and the relative future-proof design. The only consideration I'm weighing at this point is how this will synergize with my Benchmark AHB2 amp if used as a digital preamp. The AHB2 has a very different architecture compared to PS Audio's amplifiers (and just about all other amps on the market). Not sure if I should also buy the BHK preamp and see if this will synergize well with the AHB2, or if I should go whole hog on PS Audio stack. I just sold my CP-800, so I am preamp-less for the moment.

I did it in stages

DirectStream DAC for about 3 years.

Then in quick succession - BHK Monos, the BHK Pre, the bridge and the DS Memory Transport.

This has replaced my Electrocompaniet Nemos, an Audio Research Ref5SE and my EMM Labs XDS1.

You can find my comments in the PS Audio Community Forums, not sure if I can post a link to an external site here.

[timm]

Doggie. What made the biggest change in the system. The monos or the pre?? I have not heard your old gear so I have no reference.

I have other big plans for fundage coming up soon but I could see myself going off the rails with the pre and possibly the bhk stereo amp.

[doggiehowser]

I think the sum is greater than the individual parts.

I do think the power amps worked really well with my Audio Research.

[ylee]

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

I think the sum is greater than the individual parts.

I do think the power amps worked really well with my Audio Research.

Do you know where I can find specs on the BHK preamp, such as S/N ratio?

[longbowbbs]

Originally Posted by ylee

Do you know where I can find specs on the BHK preamp, such as S/N ratio?

http://www.psaudio.com/bhk-preamplifier/

[audio bill]

I find it strange that the S/N ratio which ylee inquired about is only specified for the headphone output and not the analog audio output.

[ejr1953]

Originally Posted by Weirdcuba

Love the dac, but I don't have experience with it as a digital pre amp. The FPGA was a big selling point for me also.

I have a DirectStream DAC, outputting to a separate preamp. In my case, I needed three sets of analog outputs (power amp, sub woofers, headphone amp).

I have played around with using the volume control on the DirectStream DAC, reducing it from 100%, increasing the volume on my preamp, and have found that, as I've reduced the volume on the DAC, the bass seems to diminish. I'm not sure if this is a "problem" with the volume control on the DirectStream DAC, or just a characteristic of how it pairs with my McIntosh C2500 preamp, so I don't mean to say this is the "fault" of the DirectStream DAC, just thought I'd pass that info along.

[timm]

I believe the volume is only supposed to be used when going direct to amp?? Not sure though. I have used mine direct to amp and the bass increased for me. Volume control had no impact on sound whatsoever. However, the impedance on my amp is only 24k ohm. The DS is a low - flat 120 ohm. So my amp likes that. My pre has a low impedance as well - but swings a bit higher w low frequency.

[doggiehowser]

I do prefer to use the DS DAC on low output voltage at max (106 on the volume) - and then using the preamp at higher levels

The ARC does sound better at higher volume setting even if the actual loudness is the same.

Thats one of the benefits of going to the BHK pre. I think the BHK is even lower in terms of noise floor but it is the way the volume knob works that is the clincher. It is a variation of how Ayre handles volume control and it works rather well.