PS Audio Announces MK2 DirectStream DAC
All Image Credit: PS Audio
American HiFi brand PS Audio is now shipping its PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2, the successor to the original version.
This latest high performance DAC features; an array of digital inputs; 2 x I2S, 2 x AES, coaxial, TOSLINK and USB, a custom FPGA DAC and high current, high speed analog amps producing double rate DSD driving a passive audio transformer that feeds single-ended RCA or balanced XLR analogue outputs.
The original touchscreen display has been replaced by a more “streamlined” display module plus several control buttons creating a more minimalistic appearance. They provide easy setup together with the use of the supplied remote-control.
Analog to digital conversion is accomplished with two custom FPGA’s (field-programmable gate array) using PS Audio-designed software, rather than off-the-shelf integrated circuit DAC’s. This FPGA DAC design enables the software to be custom-tailored for high level audio performance, and the software is user-upgradeable to accommodate any potential updates.
All incoming signals are up-sampled to a 50-bit high-sample-rate data-stream and then down-converted to DSD. This allows the digital data stream to be converted to analogue audio with only a low-pass filter. It is a fully balanced design from input to output and supports PCM sources up to 705.6 kHz and DSD up to 256.
The PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 helps to eliminate noise and jitter by galvanically isolating every input, output, ground, and power connection. It features an all-new attenuator architecture for maximum signal quality at all volume levels, and can be connected directly to a power amplifier or used in conjunction with a preamplifier.
Finally the DirectStream DAC MK2 is capable of storing up to 10 firmware revisions that will be named after Colorado mountain tops. They will be available via the rear panel Ethernet port.
Features At A Glance:
- 7x Digital Inputs: Two I2S, two balanced, coaxial, optical and USB
- Balanced and single-ended analog transformer coupled outputs
- Fully balanced design from input to output
- Galvanically isolated inputs and outputs
- Exclusive dual FPGA DAC circuitry offers superior sound quality and user upgradeability
- Handwritten code for filters, processing and upsamplers
- 100% DSD based DAC
- Upgradable via software releases
- Volume and balance controls included
- Upsamples PCM and DSD to 20x DSD rate
- Accommodates PCM sources up to 705.6 kHz and DSD up to 256
- DXD support
- Store and install up to 10 Mountaintop firmware releases
- Remote control or front-panel operation; remote can be used to operate other PS Audio components
- Plug-and-play with no configuration required
- Available in silver or black
Specifications:
- Digital audio inputs: I2S (2), Coax, XLR Balanced (2), Optical, USB
- Sample Rates:
- Optical (TOSLink): PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz and 96kHz
- S/PDIF (Coax and XLR): PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz
- DoP64 Dual XLR: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz and 352.8kHz
- DoP64 and DoP128 I2S: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, and 705.6
- DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256 USB: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, and 705.6, DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256
- Analog audio outputs: unbalanced RCA (2), balanced XLR (2):
- Output level: 4 VRMS Balanced, 2 VRMS Single Ended
- Output Impedance: <100Ω/<200Ω
- Frequency Response: 20-20KHz +/- 0.25dB
- THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale): <0.1%
- Data Handling:
- Format: PCM or DSD
- Sample rate (PCM): 44.1kHz, 48.0kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz; 705.6kHz
- Word length (PCM): 16b, 18b, 20b, 24b
- Data rate (DSD): Standard (2.8MHz) or Double (5.6MHz) DoP as well as raw DSD on I2S and USB inputs
- Input jitter reduction: Effectively 100%, residual immeasurable. No input PLLs or FLLs.
- Input Processing: 225.792MHz
- Signal Processing: 56.448MHz
- Synchronous Upsampling, all inputs: 56.448MHz for 48k, 96k or 192k; 11.2896MHz for all others
- Digital Processing S/N ratio: Upsampling > 210dB, volume control and Sigma Delta Modulator: > 330dB
- Analog Conversion method: low pass filter DSD256 (quad rate DSD: single bit DSD at 11.2896MHz)
- I2S Digital Input: HDMI
- Format: PCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputs
- USB Digital Input: “B” type
- Format: PCM, DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM), or Native DSD
MSRP (silver/black):
- US: $7,999.00
- UK: £8,000.00
For more information visit the PS Audio web site.
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