Article: PS Audio DirectStream DAC (Snowmass) Full Review

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11 hours ago, bobflood said:

Thanks for another well written, very informative and useful review. I just recently purchased a Holo Spring 2 KTE DAC so I am no longer actively looking but I enjoy reading your reviews. Using HQPlayer and the Spring, I can get part of the way to the performance level of these DACs at a price I could afford. I may look at one of these later when I re-do my entire system.

 

Thanks again

I'd put the DAC you already have ahead of the Directstream.

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11 hours ago, Ben-M said:

Thanks a lot, that was a great review and a good read. 

 

I must also compliment you on actually picking a winner for each comparison. That really kills me when reviewers don't do that and call it a draw or say something like "you'll just have to listen for yourself and decide"...

 

I really wonder how an optimized DSD512 chain feeding a T+A DAC 8 DSD compares. The people who own them (like me) all praise its performance, but there aren't too many out there with matching chains that ever make it into a shootout. 

I've had both the Directsream and the T+A DAC in my system back to back.  The T+A running in DSD 512 was simply much better in every way I could describe.  Holographic imaging with richer and fuller tone.  More clarity, more focus, and a bolder sound that is really stunning.

 

The Directstream felt very overpriced and dated in form and function.  That touchscreen on the Direcstream has not aged well and doesn't belie a $6k product in 2019.