-26%

PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK2 (Like New)

$7,999.00 $5,999.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

BLACK UNIT (LIKE NEW) 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... Read more

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BLACK UNIT (LIKE NEW)

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
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.

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

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
Sunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday
January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,December
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