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Author Topic: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery  (Read 12967 times)

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CEE TEE

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #40 on: February 07, 2014, 04:57:03 AM »
Yes, I even stuck some shelf liner in a week ago but didn't tape it down.  The actual Anax mods will be around so I'll test with them and see what the current incarnation is. Thanks. I do like both 2.0.2 and 2.4.3.  Each for different reasons.

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johnjen

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #41 on: February 07, 2014, 05:23:11 AM »
Yeah I ran the shelf liner as well.  It seemed the best of the lot.


But now I'm running a hardwired and modded setup that eclipses all of the ones I tried previously.
It is $$$ but the results are quite gratifying.


JJ
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PWD-II w/bridge (lightly modded) - Schiit Ragnarok - The Rok (lightly modded) - HD-800 SAA modded, balanced & hardwired
Shunyata Python & α-Digital & Anaconda XLR - AudioQuest Coffee - Wyrd Schiit - 'Other' cables & Tweaks aplenty
Schiit Mojo (retired for now)

skooby

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #42 on: February 12, 2014, 04:52:05 AM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on February 05, 2014, 10:42:28 PM
Clicks and pops tends to be indicative of USB or other digital inputs behaving out of spec compared to what the fw/protocol tolerance the DAC is expecting.  You can sometimes hear this on less than stellar USB sources hooked up to something like a femto clock.

Just got my PWDII new directly from PSA.  I do experience pops and clicks, unfortunately, through Toslink and S/PDIF (my USB got corrupted by bad PC power, so never want to use this).  But this only occurs while under the NativeX mode.  All other upsampling modes seemed to be okay (no clicks or pops).  Hope PSA can fix this problem fast...
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Anaxilus

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #43 on: April 16, 2014, 05:52:25 PM »
Thought I would finally post up some pics of the transformer differences between the mk1, mk2 (factory, not upgraded from mk1), mk3/DSD

Mk 1




Mk2 (new factory unit/not the upgrade kit)


Mk3
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skooby

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #44 on: April 23, 2014, 12:59:35 AM »
Just saw PWD 2.4.4 out on PS site for download.  Anyone tried this out yet?  Any better than 2.4.3?
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CEE TEE

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #45 on: April 23, 2014, 07:43:23 PM »
Thanks for the head's up.  Have not tried. (Will be a little while before I get around to it, though.) Glad there are still updates even though they are going DSD.
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Stapsy

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #46 on: April 24, 2014, 09:32:48 PM »
Question for the PWD crew.  What is the difference between 2.0.2 and 2.0.3.  I sent an email to PS audio asking if they could send me 2.0.2 and 2.0.3.  The file they sent me as 2.0.3 shows up on the PWD as 2.3 whereas 2.0.2 shows as 2.0.2. I haven't been able to find much information on 2.3.
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CEE TEE

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #47 on: April 24, 2014, 10:02:06 PM »
Per Gordon on the PS Audio site, they are supposed to sound the same,  just a fix for SPDIF "pre-emphasis".
Per another user and with this link, there is a breakdown:
http://www.psaudio.com/vanilla/discussion/4585/pwd-firmware-update-killed-my-bridge/p1
2.0.2 is the first release firmware for the MkII upgrade.
2.0.3 added a fix for preemphasis on SPDIF inputs.
2.1.0 added drivers for the different mfg front panel display that entered the production stream early in 2012.
2.2.0 added support for a new rev. analog board that entered production mid 2012.
2.0.2 and 2.0.3 sound the same except for the preemphasis issue. Many users consider them to have a smother, more liquid or organic sound. It is also a bit more full in the bass.
2.1.0 and 2.2.0 sound the same. They are a bit brighter and more energetic. They also have a more open and focused soundstage. Some users find these to be hard on the ears and fatiguing after a short listening period. Others are enamored with the soundstage and are not bothered by the brightness.
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Stapsy

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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #48 on: April 25, 2014, 02:14:47 AM »
Thank CT.  I asked PS Audio about 2.0.3 anyway.

As far as listening impressions the 2.3 sounded brighter and more energetic to me.  From memory I liked 2.2.0 better than 2.3.0.  I will have to revisit 2.2.0.

2.0.2 is probably my favorite so far.  I wish it was slightly less wooly in the bass and maybe a little more energetic. The more laid back 2.0.2 works well with my unmodded HD800 and the Code-X, which can both be a little too bright.
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Re: The PS Audio Perfectwave DAC PWDII Mystery
« Reply #49 on: April 25, 2014, 07:09:10 AM »
The PWD MKI I just got in came with 2.1.0, but I didn't really test it much before going to 2.4.4. With this, it is a more spacious and airy sounding but also more fatiguing than the Gamma2, both using a minimum-phase filter.

I'm curious to try 2.0.3, so I'll probably listen to 2.4.4 for a while, take measurements, then listen to 2.0.3 and take measurements to see if I find any subjective or objective changes.

From my measurements of the 2.4.4 FW, I wish they had MP filters with less post-ringing. I like what is implemented in the Gamma2. I'll have to double check this all, though.
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