PS Audio DirectStream DAC

[PLK]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

So what's new here with the PS Audio? Is it claimed to be a lossless translation to DSD?

"DirectStream DAC converts all incoming data including PCM to 1-bit DSD using their own code implemented in a Spartan VI FPGA. Chips need not apply."

“The choice of a FPGA over a DAC chip was easy. FPGA’s allow as much or little full width math to be used as we need. Unlike typical small DAC chips, we’re not limited by the heat needed for intensive upsampling and other processing duties. We use more power and physical area to dissipate heat without conflicting with other functions on the board, most of all the analog output.

The Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGA allows complete freedom of processing power and clock choices: our design runs the input processing at 170MHz, the oversampling at 56MHz, and the output at 5.6MHz.”

[-E-]

And that, folks, is pure marketing gobbledegook.

A FPGA chip is still a "DAC chip." Trying to differentiate is beyond absurd.

[PLK]

Originally Posted by -E-

And that, folks, is pure marketing gobbledegook.

A FPGA chip is still a "DAC chip." Trying to differentiate is beyond absurd.

A FPGA is not strictly a DAC unless it has been programmed to function as one.

The DirectStream DAC maybe a good replacement for your non-USB, not-able-to-receive-a-192khz signal DAC.

[-E-]

[PLK]

-E-,

If you're happy with an old non-USB DAC that can't receive 192/24 or DSD, fine.

What's your problem with PS Audio?

Does it make you feel good to crap on a product that you haven't heard?

[redm]

Maybe we should take it down a notch and see how it sounds before we pass judgement, that's all that really matters.

[doggiehowser]

I may not own any PS Audio electronics at the moment but having heard the PerfectWave first gen a few years back, with the PW Transport and the Digital Lens network card, I honestly don't think Paul McGowan is a "marketing" guy per se. I read his blog periodically and find he talks a lot of sense. His PW DAC IMHO broke some new ground, especially with the digital lens add on.

His new DAC IMHO follows on from what designers like Ed Meitner and Andreas Koch have also adopted in the past and the premise of using a higher clock rate (to push the noise level to a higher band) is IMHO sound engineering principles.

In addition to EMM and Playback, which also use FPGAs, I have also heard the Chord QBD72 (the older non DSD model) which is another FPGA based design. It is also an incredible performer and was my dream DAC for a long time.

[antipop]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

So what's new here with the PS Audio? Is it claimed to be a lossless translation to DSD?

I also think they're bringing at a lower price point. I don't know the exact prices of the others but I remember they're in the 10k$ range.

I agree there is no need to fight on a product that's not released yet. I don't see PS Audio as a pure hype company and I hope they'll deliver with this one. All I can say is that they got my attention

[Elberoth]

Originally Posted by PLK

The Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGA allows complete freedom of processing power and clock choices: our design runs the input processing at 170MHz, the oversampling at 56MHz, and the output at 5.6MHz.”

That means the DAC runs at 2xDSD, and the 10xDSD mentioned earlier seems to be just a marketing claim.

There are quite a few DACs that do 2xDSD.

[doggiehowser]

Originally Posted by Elberoth

That means the DAC runs at 2xDSD, and the 10xDSD mentioned earlier seems to be just a marketing claim. There are quite a few DACs that do 2xDSD.

The 10xDSD is the intermediate internal upsampled signal.

56MHz is 10x 5.6MHz