PS Audio Directstream Junior - Annoucement

[audiohippo]

The DirectStream DAC from PS Audio is arguably one of the most successful HiFi products of the last two years, if not the twenty-tens. It's most certainly become one of the largest selling DACs in any case.

In the eyes of company main-man Paul McGowan, there was just one problem with the DirectStream DAC. The technology involved with the advanced FPGA and DSD capability commanded a premium price tag, some 41% higher than PS Audio's previous DAC, the PerfectWave.

This didn't sit well with McGowan, despite the global roaring sales.

Many loyal PS Audio customers had to sit on the sidelines, priced out of the market. Within a few months of DirectStream's launch, work began on a lower cost version code-named "Junior".



McGowan and code genius Ted Smith got to work with a simple aim; develop a more affordable version by reducing costs involved with the chassis, user-interface, PC boards and more. Include as standard the Network Bridge, and ensure its overall performance is at least 85% of the DirectStream.



According to PS Audio:

The two instruments have near identical character of sound. Full, rich, warm, never electronic. Both units share the remarkable ability of helping Red Book CDs sound close to high resolution audio, and uncover a wealth of music long buried in home libraries.

Where the two deviate is in terms of spatial accuracy, transparency, separation of instruments, soundstage width and treble accuracy. The best measure of these differences can be expressed in percentage. DirectStream Junior provides 85% of DirectStream's performance in the aforementioned areas. The differences are not glaring, and auditioned in a vacuum, DirectStream Junior will impress listeners as one of the finest audible experiences they have yet had.

Ted Smith has once again worked his magic with the same FPGA architecture as DirectStream, although differences do exist with the firmware given the changes made with the deletion of the touch screen and different output stages.





DirectStream Junior will ship in March, and sell for AUD$6795 RRP (including network Bridge II). For comparison, DirectStream sells for AUD$8295 RRP plus $1000 for the PerfectWave Bridge II.

[EfeTe]

Surprised that this one from our friend down under hasn't been followed upon. Anybody got one yet? Sounds very interesting indeed for people like ourselves with not as deep pockets

[EfeTe]

Anyway...

1st week of April the dealer will bring one to the house so that I can try it in my system. Asked for it to be polished black so if I really love it, then it stays

[Fabiano]

Hey guys, any word on this? I am in the mkt for a dac and this one looks promising.
tks

[longbowbbs]

In house....Just breaking it in.....

[EfeTe]

Congratulations! Which are the inputs you are currently using btw?

[longbowbbs]

For burn in just USB. I will play with others next week. atm it is iTunes on autopilot.

[EfeTe]

Burning in via USB here also. Have been struggling it to connect (well, connection is on though Bridge is not showing on JRiver for some reason) via Ethernet but will keep trying and get it right.

I am in awe as to just how "non-digital" this thing is making my music sound. Very impressive!

[longbowbbs]

Agreed on the non digital. I am going to spend some time with it as a pre-amp too. I need to get a better handle on the Bridge usage.

[Fabiano]

Thanks for the feedback! Looking forward to hear from you once this is fully broken in and rocking!