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DirectStream DAC MK2

DirectStream DAC MK2

We are very proud to announce the new Mountain Top update for our DirectStream DAC MK2 - Mount Massive. This revolutionary free upgrade brings a new life into an already impressive Digital to Analog converter. As Paul puts it, “This is the single biggest upgrade I have ever heard in the 50 years that I have done this. It’s huge… It’s really, really big”. You can download the Mount Massive update for free from our downloads page or purchase a USB pre-loaded with Mount Massive.

Check out Tony Cordesman’s review of the DirectStream DAC MK2 as well as a this post about Mt. Massive. These reviews have been reprinted with the permission of The Absolute Sound.

Since its groundbreaking introduction 8 years ago, the PerfectWave DirectStream has stood alone as one of the most remarkable DACs ever built. We are excited to share with the world the next generation of this technological wonder, the PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2. Unlike the vast majority of high-end DACs based on off-the-shelf IC technology, DirectStream MK2 is handwritten, discrete, galvanically isolated, perfection-based conversion that uncovers all the missing information hiding in your digital audio media. CDs, streaming audio, high-resolution PCM or DSD based media are expertly upsampled in the DirectStream MK2 to twenty times DSD rate and output as pure analog directly into your amplifier or preamplifier. There has never been a better sounding DAC at anywhere close to the price of DirectStream MK2. The ground breaking DirectStream DAC was the first choice of thousands of critical listeners worldwide, and now with the introduction of the MK2, that legacy will continue.
Regular price $7,999.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $7,999.00 USD
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A Massive Update

Hear Paul's thoughts on what makes this Mountain Top update our best in 50 years. The Mount Massive beta release update includes:
  • Lowered ultrasonic noise by 30dB
  • Moved what ultrasonic noise remains out from 30kHz to beyond 100kHz
  • Lowered audible noise by 10dB
  • Added a new Digital Lens FPGA buffer
  • Improved sound quality dramatically
  • Design

    DirectStream MK2 converts every one of its galvanically isolated input signals, both PCM and DSD, to a high sample rate 50 bit version which is further converted to pure DSD for its final conversion to pure analog. Use of twin FPGAs rather than an off-the-shelf DAC chip provides immense processing power, resulting in a complete lack of digital glare, and allows the owner to download our free operating system updates as they are released. With every free upgrade to the operating system, new levels of resolution and audio magic will enrich and make new this remarkable D to A converter.

  • Application

    DirectStream MK2 is the heart of a highly resolving true reference quality digital audio-based system. It handles all PCM sources up to 705.6 kHz, and DSD up to 256. Its zero-loss digital volume control now features 100% galvanically isolated input, outputs, and power supplies.

    Technology

    The Class A+ Stereophile rated DirectStream DAC just got a whole lot better in the MK2 version by solving one of the biggest problems in digital audio: noise and jitter from incoming sources. Thanks to a radical new technology the DirectStream MK2 DAC eliminates incoming noise and upsetting jitter by galvanically isolating every input, output, ground, and power source of this remarkable new DAC. Once delivered through these clean and noise free inputs the MK2 converts any digital input format from CDs, servers, computers, and streamers, into a pure DSD format and outputs perfect analog directly to your power amplifier or preamplifier. Whatever the format, sample rate, or the medium, the DirectStream MK2 provides a pure output that fulfills the promise of high-resolution analog performance from digital sources. DirectStream MK2 is the work of PS Audio's digital audio guru, Ted Smith. Unlike conventional DACs that rely upon off-the-shelf DAC chips, the DirectStream MK2 is hand-written onto a pair of FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array). This allows far more precise and accurate processing of the digital signal, resulting in significantly better sound quality and upgradeability in the field. Periodically, Ted Smith's continual research into digital audio reproduction nets another breakthrough in performance. DirectStream MK2 DAC owners are given it free in the form of a downloadable upgrade. In this way, DirectStream MK2 owners can be assured that their unit will continue to improve over time. Hear what’s been missing in your music for all these years. If you know the sound of music and instruments and want to hear what’s been missing on your discs, then this DAC is right for you.

    • 100% DSD BASED D-A CONVERTER
    • UPGRADABLE VIA SOFTWARE RELEASES
    • VOLUME, BALANCE CONTROL BUILT IN
    • UPSAMPLES PCM AND DSD TO 20x DSD RATE
    • DXD SUPPORT
    • PASSIVE TRANSFORMER COUPLED OUTPUT
    • IMPROVES IMAGING + SOUNDSTAGE
    • DUAL FPGA PROCESSING
    • HANDWRITTEN FILTERS, PROCESSING AND UPSAMPLERS
    • IMMUNE TO OUTSIDE SOURCE JITTER PROBLEMS
    • INCREASED DIGITAL HEADROOM
    • NO OFF-THE-SHELF IC-DAC CHIPS USED
    • UNCOVERS DETAILS USUALLY MASKED BY PCM PROCESSORS
    • 7x DIGITAL INPUTS
    • GALVANICALLY ISOLATED INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
    • FULLY BALANCED FROM INPUT TO OUTPUT
    • STORE AND INSTALL UP TO 10 FIRMWARE MOUNTAINTOPS
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    Specifications - DirectStream DAC MK2

    Physical

    Unit Weight 21 lbs [9.53 kg]
    Unit Dimensions 14” x 17” x 4” [ 36cm x 43cm x 10cm]
    Shipping Weight 30 lbs [13.6 kg]
    Shipping Dimensions 20.5”x 24” x 10” [52cm x 61cm x 25cm]

    Power requirements

    Input Power Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz
    Power Consumption 25W

    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 and AES3: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz; DoP64

    Dual AES3: 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 Output

    Connector RCA single ended or balanced, XLR balanced
    Output level high, maximum 4 VRMS Balanced
    2 VRMS Single Ended
    Output Impedance <100Ω/<200Ω
    Frequency Response 20-20KHz +/- 0.25dB
    THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale) <0.1%
    Output Stage Passive audio transformer, fed by high current, high speed analog amps producing double rate DSD

    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, 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
    Digital Volume Control Zero loss of precision
    Analog Conversion method low pass filter DSD256 (quad rate DSD: single bit DSD at 11.2896MHz)

    I2S Digital Input

    Connector HDMI
    Format PCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputs

    USB Digital Input

    Connector USB “B” Type
    Format PCM, DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM), or Native DSD
    Transfer mode Asynchronous
    • Paul Wilson, Future Audiophile

      "While the PerfectWave DirectStream DAC garnered a lot of buzz when it was released, my guess is a veritable chorus of accolades will soon be surrounding the DirectStream DAC MK2. If my budget only allowed for an $8,000 DAC, I would give this one a very, very serious listen. Given its retail cost, it will effectively raise the bar on delivering a magnificent audio experience..."

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    • Stereophile Magazine

      "The same size as its well-regarded predecessor, the MK2 processor replaces the rectangular, four-color touchscreen with a smaller display with a Mute/Menu button to its left and a blue-illuminated five-button controller to its right. However, it still upsamples PCM data to 30-bit words, now sampled at 2× the original's 28.224MHz..."

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    • Positive Feedback

      "For sure the DirectStream DAC MK2 reflects the people at PS Audio and especially Ted Smith, who writes the firmware/software that has a major role in how the DirectStream DAC MK2 sounds. Of which, sounds neither bright, dull, rolled off, hyped, lean... sounds like what we want our music to sound like. Wait... come to think of it, the DirectStream DAC MK2 sounds like Ted; humble, honest, and truthful, all the while being playful and fun. Full of color and joy..."

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    • The Absolute Sound

      "Equipment like the Perfect Wave Direct Stream DAC MK2 from PS Audio shows that some 40 years of advances have made the best digital sound far more musical and realistic, and the best highest-resolution PCM, DSD, and DSD/SACD discs and streaming now outperform the best-sounding LPs that I’ve heard..."

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