PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC Reviewed - HomeTheaterReview DST will play SACD in raw DSD if connected to either DirectStream or DirectStream Junior through their I²S inputs. DACs. • For Roon endpoint use, you need a Roon app installed on a primary computer or tablet (which must be a 64-bit-capable device). • It has upgradeable firmware. Instead of a standard op-amp, the DirectStream Junior uses a high-speed Class A video amplifier as the final switch for the single-bit, double-DSD output of the Junior. But later I connected the DirectStream Junior directly to my Pass Labs X150.8 power amplifier so that I could use it as a preamplifier, bypassing the Parasound. Roon Ready. Submit a ReviewContact Editorial Policy About us, Privacy Policy CCPA / GDPR Affiliate policy. %%EOF <]>> Next, a sigma delta modulator with embedded volume control is applied. PS Audio. The PS Audio PerfectWave™ DirectStream Junior Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) is a state of-the-art DAC, preamplifi er and media center. DirectStream Junior (DSJ), a world class DAC based on the architecture of the Stereophile and Absolute Sound’s Product Of The Year, DirectStream. DirectStream accepts PCM as well as DSD Digital Audio Retail: USD $3999. This upsampling is done at full precision (66 bits) so there's no loss of accuracy (greater than 144 dB S/N throughout)." It's a nine-inch-long wand that uses two AA batteries and has illuminated buttons for those dark, dank listening rooms. The DS DAC is … Karate Kid I & II Coming to Blu-Ray Box Set, PS Audio DirectStream Network Audio Player and DAC, PS Audio Announces OS Upgrade for DirectStream and DirectStream Junior DACs, ELAC DS-S101-G Discovery Music Server Reviewed, PS Audio Introduces DirectStream Junior DAC, MQA Adds More New Partners at Munich, Expands Relationships With Others Like LG. According to designer Ted Smith, "The input, if PCM, is upsampled with standard PCM anti-aliasing FIR filters to 176.4k or 192k. One major benefit of the DirectStream Memory Player is that it can output DSD data from SACDs directly through its 1 2 S outputs, provided they are connected either to PS Audio’s DirectStream DAC or DirectStream Junior DAC (both DACs can accept DSD data through their 1 2 S or USB inputs). Despite this fact, most "mid-priced" products get the least amount of hype or press exposure. 0000001621 00000 n According to PS Audio, the DirectStream Junior uses "a low phase noise, low jitter clock designed for DSJ by Crystek. PS Audio Directstream Jr Two years ago PS Audio made a bold statement in the DAC world with the release of the universally hailed and much awarded DirectStream DSD DAC. A big part of the DirectStream Junior's value proposition is that it includes not only a powerful DAC section, but also a high-quality preamplifier so that you can connect the DirectStream Junior directly to your power amplifier. 720-406-8946 [email protected] Then you can apply your savings toward the new PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player ... Additional Resources• Check out our Digital-to-Analog Converter category page to read similar reviews.• Visit the PS Audio website for more product information. DSD and MQA capable. The DirectStream Junior can handle virtually any wired digital input and format and can also serve as a preamplifier. 0000001440 00000 n This is one of those moments: The PS Audio DirectStream DSD DAC is a really serious product. They are the same is this regard. High Points • The PS Audio DirectStream Junior is elegantly built. If you get a chance to hear the DSJ and see and hear what it brings to the table, I think you may just be smitten too. This is a review and detailed measurements of the PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC. Ergonomic Impressions Control of the DirectStream Junior can be done either via its front panel or its dedicated remote control. Audio Components. Able to decode and play back MQA and work with Roon software, and defeating obsolescence by way of free firmware upgrades to its architecture that lead to superior sound, PS Audio's groundbreaking and award-winning PerfectWave DirectStream DSD DAC uncovers everything previously hidden in your digital music files. The DirectStream Junior also accepts signals via its USB, Toslink, coaxial SPDIF, AES/EBU, and iS2 inputs. www.psaudio.com. The PS Audio PerfectWave™ DirectStream Junior Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) is a state of- the-art DAC, preamplifier and media center. My final sonic impressions were made using this setup. Although it has been available for over six months, I've seen only a few reviews of what could very well be the best value in PS Audio's entire DAC lineup. I have Hydra Z from Audiobyte and it output from I2s only native and I don’t have sound for it. 0000019475 00000 n Im selling a PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC and streamer, in silver and in perfect condition. You'll automatically be entered in the HTR Sweepstakes, and get the hottest audio deals directly in your inbox. In October of this year PS Audio will launch DirectStream Transport (DST). xref All the input, output, and power connections are on the rear panel, where you will also find a dedicated firmware upgrade slot. Many DACs are user-upgradeable, but very few have received the steady stream of free firmware updates that delivered sound quality improvements - not just bug fixes - that enable the DS DAC to retain its … �/�‘���K�k�T"�������M�a�Ͱ������D�?�����l݊k�p��ٗ���d�X\,�X���8�@����>,���a�7�a��RX�q9�x�����cq���pHL��#�R+"�����L�q�=�mN�Ϯ���r�Z7G��E|�K 8R�#���9�l�O`��������vݱSe��I�j���D��5d�)�;i�f�pIӯ5�p���~�N�/��(�(f�� ��4s�#䘥��xH�+�몦�$4[� ��m�d�(�����{�`]_�����æ(A�OV��+4���]�r�����p" ;%�+u�S��rN�.2��%�I&{�5� ��)�-0�o�"R9N�;t���rE����%ٮ\. The PS Audio DSD has seven digital inputs; two I 2 S (pronounced eye squared S), and one each of TOSlink, coaxial, USB, AES/EBU, and a network input for the Bridge II module (which costs extra but came installed on my unit). Outputs are either balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA. x�b```"E�PAd`B��@#������ C`�E�� ): Issues: 120 HZ buzzzz when DSJ attached to two different pre-amps, AND, a Digital Gurgle sound when attenuator is out and DSD player input to USB port when vol. Comparison & Competition At a $3,995 list price, the PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC has plenty of competition, but none offers the same features, flexibility, and sound quality as the DirectStream Junior. Ever since finding my Audio Nirvana with my system in general (Speakers, Amp, Vinyl and Digital) I have found one area that needed improvement (My DAC). 0000000016 00000 n Dimensionality was so precise that, on some of my DSD 5.6 recordings of the band Mr. Sun at the Salina Schoolhouse, you can not only tell where each musician was located, but you can also map and locate the sound of a Canon DSLR's shutter that was making photographs during the set. Paul McGowan, the leading man at PS Audio of Denver/Colorado, thinks of himself a bit like a rebel; a rebel with a cause that is. 0000004709 00000 n There are some things, though, that the Junior does not do--mainly, there's no wireless option (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) and no internal MQA decoding. DirectStream solves this problem by employing a pure DSD single-bit approach for both PCM as well as DSD media. DirectStream Junior provides a fully synchronous 24-bit/192kHz path for USB-based audio, supporting up to 32-bit/192kHz and single- as well as double-rate DSD. On modern pop stuff, where the bass plays a prominent part in the mix--such as "Chained to the Rhythm" by Katy Perry--the bass was never sloppy or slow, but precisely defined and under control. Because both 44.1 and 48 kHz (and DSD) are all upsampled to the same rate, only one clock is needed in the DirectStream Junior. Yes, PS Audio is developing a new high end DAC. Single-bit 64x DSD is upsampled by 10x and double rate 128x DSD upsampled by 5x. 119 0 obj <> endobj This input signal is 30 bits, and the volume is accurate to 20 bits. 0000001263 00000 n above 77. DirectStream Junior DAC . The DirectStream converts all inputs to one-bit DSD and then up converts to 10X DSD before finishing the conversion at Double DSD or DSD128. The only features that are missing are wireless input capabilities and internal MQA decoding; but, if you use the Junior DAC connected to a computer, the computer can supply the wireless connections and even do MQA decoding from the TIDAL streaming app. I employed the DirectStream Junior tethered to my Mac Mini via its USB input, the ELAC DS-S101-G Discovery Music Server connected via S/PDIF, and Roon via the built-in Bridge II Ethernet connection. It shares a unique technology with its big brother, the DSD DAC ($5,999 without the Network Bridge), which utilizes FPGA (field programmable gate array) to upsample both DSD and PCM files. d$K��D���Q��Ad!�T�M?a���Ymbj��1`t`h`9��������xf3��7C6�1�a�d�� ��� Hi, Manual for this input say that it support DSD directly or DoP. Product: PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream Junior DSD DAC; D/A Converter; DSJ; Jr. trailer Despite this fact, most "mid-priced" products get the least amount... Review: What you need to know about Samsung 65-inch Q70T TV, Urbanista Stockholm Plus True Wireless Earphone Review, Tannoy Autograph Mini Loudspeakers Reviewed, California Passes Anti-Flat-HDTV Legislation To Try To Save Energy, CEA Says Black Friday Electronics Sales Are Strong, Wax-on. Its like new, from a pet and smoke free home, no scratches either. This is what I have done so far in my experiments (any suggestions? My Thoughts. L In perfect condition, with all original box and accessories (remote, power cord, manual). PS Integrated Amp Sprout100 Sprout100 is the size of a big novel, yet it will fill your living room, bedroom or any room with enormous, live sound. 0000007403 00000 n Now the signal is in a one-bit format and is passed from the FPGA to the analog output filter. 0000001178 00000 n PS Audio mainman Paul McGowan teased the DSJ at CES 2016: DSJ remains an FPGA-centric decoder and inherits its Father’s digital filter as is. It's far too easy to find yourself with something that doesn't do everything you'd like it to do. • PS Audio DirectStream Network Audio Player and DAC Reviewed at HomeTheaterReview.com. This DAC is one of the few FPGA based solutions and unique in a way that its FPGA code can be updated via firmware updates. %PDF-1.4 %���� 0000014242 00000 n Quick Summary . 0000003316 00000 n Thank you for your purchase of the PS Audio® DirectStream Junior Digital to Analog Converter. However, I did have my listening notes and my aural memory. Class A+ Stereophile rated DirectStream DAC converts any digital input format, such as PCM or DSD to a pure DSD stream and outputs near-perfect analog directly to your power amplifier or preamplifier. Sonic Impressions I lived with the DirectStream Junior's big brother for several months last year, but I did not have it in-house to do any direct A/B comparisons with the DirectStream Junior . Using this advanced approach, the need for synchronization is eliminated, jitter levels are reduced.". How many DACs can make that claim? When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Both have a refined treble presentation that rivals a good analog recording. Very fine piece of audio equipment! Bill Leebens, PS Audio’s Director of Marketing, told me the MQA playback upgrade will work on “all DirectStream Junior (DSJ) DACs and any DirectStream or older Perfect Wave DACs that have the optional Bridge II installed.” 0000003162 00000 n 139 0 obj <>stream One feature that the DirectStream Junior lacks is wireless access. The DirectStream is a fully balanced design. Setting up the Roon connection was easy since I already use Roon on my main music computer; all I had to do was indicate the DirectStream Junior as a new Roon endpoint, then choose it as the output destination, and I could send anything in my Roon music library (which included my TIDAL account) to the DirectStream Junior. Also, the DirectStream Junior is a Roon endpoint, which means that you can send anything in your Roon library, be it on your home NAS or in your streaming TIDAL account to the DirectStream Junior for playback. 119 21 For the first time, you will truly appreciate what has been buried on your SACD, DVD-A, and BluRay Audio discs. The features and specs of the DirectStream can be pretty easily summarized, since I don't intend to bog down in the obvious with this DAC. The unit that I have has the network "bridge" streaming option and costs US $6,899. 0000013980 00000 n With all its features and unique PS Audio technology, the DirectStream Junior looks like a potent package. Listening to my own recordings, I was impressed by how well the DirectStream Junior delineated the entire soundstage. The PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC ($3,999) is a prime example of this phenomenon. DST will play SACD in raw DSD if connected to either DirectStream or DirectStream Junior through their I²S inputs. Anyone who has been considering the PS Audio DirectStream DAC because of its sound and features might also want to look at the DirectStream Junior. hތVKnG��)�l���A�Jy�&���Bi�� ��hF�{x�#d�3�zF�V5K$�|$u��T�rӽ�w�? endstream endobj 120 0 obj <> endobj 121 0 obj <> endobj 122 0 obj <>/ColorSpace<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 123 0 obj <> endobj 124 0 obj [/ICCBased 132 0 R] endobj 125 0 obj [/Separation/Black 124 0 R 133 0 R] endobj 126 0 obj <> endobj 127 0 obj <> endobj 128 0 obj <> endobj 129 0 obj <> endobj 130 0 obj <>stream For those audiophiles who can't pony up the money for a DirectStream Junior DAC, PS Audio also has its new Stellar Gain Cell DAC ($1,699), which uses different technologies but shares similar basic DNA. during the review period. �$X1W��8��vN����xr�z7~6�q�U(I�p�+������=W�� n[�fK�ߤ���}������N����j�RU�����ȡ%S���o8�Es%SC7��as�2iڱ�$������H�l���ɞ�8a����@X[�k� 0Y�ߙ;::������ �%�ӂZ��@�i�,SP�T .�:��Ǥ�Q$���$u �Hg��� One of the differences between the Junior and its larger sibling, the DSD DAC, is that the latter has a touchpanel that the Junior lacks. The DirectStream Junior – aka DSJ – sells for US$3999 and just like Big Daddy it is made at the PS Audio factory in Boulder, Colorado. On some of my recordings that include a double bass, that puff of air that accompanies low bass notes came through cleanly and clearly. For me, that aspect is the icing on the cake, because being a DSD fan, I love how the DSJ sounds with native DSD files. The PS Audio DirectStream DAC is a 5 year old design that, with the latest “Snowmass” release, still competes with the best DACs in its price class. I used the DirectStream Junior DAC most of the time connected to a Parasound P-7 preamplifier with the DirectStream Junior 's volume at max level. For the first time, you will truly appreciate what has been buried on … Built in Boulder Since its introduction almost 5 years ago, the DirectStream DAC and DirectStream Junior, have altered the expectations of audiophiles worldwide, and proven their ability to be upgraded in the field at no cost to their owners—obsolescence is obsolete. But short of those missing features, the DirectStream Junior does virtually everything that a DAC/preamplifier should do. The DirectStream Junior supports PCM bit rates up to 24-bit/352.8-kHz and DSD 128 via its AES/XLR balanced, coaxial, USB, I2S, and Ethernet ins--but only 24/96 via its Toslink connection (the standard upper limit for Toslink.) The vast majority of PCM DACs require two clocks: one for 44.1 and one for 48. DirectStream accepts PCM as well as DSD Digital Audio data and converts it to high-performance analog audio that can … PS Audio has also offered DAC hardware upgrades in the past. In October of this year PS Audio will launch DirectStream Transport (DST). 0000002356 00000 n In my system, the Junior delivered a refined, musical, yet detailed sound that was never aggressive but always involving. • The DirectStream Junior is a Roon endpoint. PS Audio Directstream Junior Dac (REDCLOUD) in my System! 35 years after the introduction of the CD, PS engineers have perfected the art of data extraction and delivery so you can finally hear what's been locked away in your CD and SACD collection. It's a very attractive unit, as you can see, substantially built, and not of a mini-DAC form factor. Without that option it costs US $5,999. If you ask almost any audio expert about value, they will tell you that the middle-priced product in any manufacturer's product line is usually the best in terms of price/performance/value. Also, the Junior's overall presentation was closer to what I hear from analog because there was no extra zazz in the upper midrange or lower treble that can add an unnatural hyped-up quality to the music. The signal is then upsampled to 28.224 MHz (10 times the standard DSD sampling rate) to 30 bits. Your support is greatly appreciated! This is done by upsampling 176.4k PCM by 160x or 192k PCM by 147x. 0000002990 00000 n That was then or what would become the MK1. The DirectStream Junior has a variable output controlled by the large circular knob on its front panel, plus an LCD display panel. 0000013759 00000 n The ten-times DSD sampling rate was the lowest common rate attainable through integer upsampling of 176.4 and 192kHz PCM files. No, it was not maximum-bit-rate MQA, but it was good enough that, when I compared several TIDAL versions with my own digital files of the same material, I was hard-pressed to hear any easily discernable differences between the TIDAL feed and the local digital file through the DirectStream Junior. We learnt a bit more about his motivations and mind set in an interview we conducted with Paul at the eve of introducing their Network Bridge, an add-on to the PS Audio PerfectWave DAC or PWD for short. It has neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth input options, so for Internet (and Roon) access you need to have the DirectStream Junior connected via its Ethernet input. This is the static ad content. Product Description The proper term for the DirectStream Junior would be DAC/streamer since it supports local sources, remote NAS drives, and even streaming services. 0000002303 00000 n MarcinGD March 20, 2020, 4:06pm #1. 0000008360 00000 n Specifically from the PerfectWave DAC to the DirectStream DAC. I was also impressed by the DirectStream Junior's low-frequency extension, control, definition, and impact. These filters have a steep cutoff to both keep as much frequency range as possible while avoiding any aliasing. PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC Reviewed. 0000003240 00000 n as to the hum…the unit is at ps audio now, searching for an answer. If you ask almost any audio expert about value, they will tell you that the middle-priced product in any manufacturer's product line is usually the best in terms of price/performance/value. The DirectStream Memory Player (DMP) is a universal optical disc transport with a twist inside: an advanced Digital Lens. The DirectStream Jr gets FPGA updates every time the DirectStream Sr does. This is just a placeholder for now to get things styled. It has AES/XLR balanced, coaxial, Toslink, USB, I2S, and Ethernet inputs, as well as one pair of balanced XLR and one pair of single-ended RCA analog outputs. Low Points • The Junior does not decode MQA internally. This means that your entire library of music can finally reveal all the music and subtle low-level details buried deep within its core. This remote also works with the PS Audio Direct Stream Transport, as well as several other PS Audio components. Selling my PS Audio DirectStream Jr DAC/streamer. Hand-written, discrete, perfection based conversion that uncovers all the missing information hiding in your digital audio media for all these years. 0000002266 00000 n 0000004583 00000 n Updated to the latest firmware. PS Audio describes the DirectStream DAC’s circuit as follows: All incoming data, PCM and DSD, are upsampled to 30 bits running at ten times the standard DSD rate and then back down again to double DSD for noise-shaping. • It can process any digital format currently available. I also spent a good deal of time listening to my TIDAL playlists, which include lots of MQA tracks. • There's no wireless connection options. Conclusion Buying a DAC is tricky. 0000000716 00000 n startxref Directstream Junior I2s input native DSD. 0 Let's see just how good it really is. Then the signal is downsampled to 30 bits at 5.6448 MHz (double the standard DSD sampling rate.) The DirectStream DAC is one of the few in the world capable of updating its entire architecture with a free download. Although the DirectStream Junior DAC could only do 24/96 on TIDAL "Master" tracks, I found that the sound had a level of sonic finesse and detail that would be difficult to improve upon. If I had to go out on a limb, I'd say the DirectStream Junior offers 90 percent of the performance and functionality of the original DirectStream. Wax-off. It is on kind loan from a member. In all respects, the DirectStream Junior is sonically similar to the DSD DAC. It is simply that good.