® Owner’s Reference Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Instructions for Use PerfectWave DirectStream DAC 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Table Of Contents ® Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Introduction i - vii i ii - v v - vii Getting Started 1 Quick Start Guide 2-8 2 - Warnings - Overview - DirectStream hardware and design choices - Unpacking and Connections, Register the Unit - Connecting the DirectStream - Connecting the Ouput - Gain Mismatch - Control and Operation - Input Selection & Input Naming - Filter and Sample Rate Selections, Adjusting the Output Level, Screen Brightness, Network Bridge Option - Firmware Upgrades
® Introduction Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Important Safety Instructions Read these instructions Heed all warnings Follow all instructions WARNING. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. Clean only with a dry cloth. For the Piano Finish Top refer to the instructions on page 8 of the Quick Start Guide. Do not place flammable material on top of or beneath the component.
® Introduction Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Welcome The PS Audio PerfectWave™ DirectStream Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) is a stateof-the-art DAC, preamplifier and media center. DirectStream accepts PCM as well as DSD Digital Audio data and converts it to high-performance analog audio that can be fed directly to a power amplifier or preamplifier. DirectStream represents a major advancement in the art of recreating the musical event.
Introduction ® Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Why DSD? DirectStream is entirely DSD based, even for PCM inputs. DSD was chosen as the core engine for this instrument for a number of compelling reasons: • DSD is simple to convert to analog: just low pass filter it. • DSD is inherently linear: it’s hard to build a PCM DAC that always takes the same sized step in the output for any possible unit increment of the representative PCM voltage value.
® Introduction Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC The DSD engine is it's heart The heart of DirectStream is the DSD engine itself. Regardless of input format, whether PCM or DSD, all data are upsampled to 30 bits running at 10 times the standard DSD rate and then back down again to double rate DSD for noise shaping. The internal volume control keeps complete precision: every bit in the input affects the output of the DAC for any volume level.
® Introduction Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC If the switch is too slow it won’t keep up with the 5.6MHz signal used in this instrument. If the switch doesn’t react in consistent times it will introduce jitter. Use of traditional CMOS gates adds a lot of jitter as do cross-coupled totem-poled bipolar transistors.
® Introduction Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC they can possibly go without causing problems; we also control their transition times, thus limiting the amount of induced noise and jitter into the main digital processing area. 6. Outputs of the FPGA use the slowest, lowest drive compatible with their function keeping noise as low as possible. 7. We use slower, older technology CMOS when we need CMOS. This choice lowers both noise and jitter potential. Balanced design 8.
® Introduction Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Digital filtering Double rate DSD shaping filters in the sigma-delta modulators in particular, offer many degrees of freedom for a filter designer. There isn’t a mathematically perfect filter to use (they all have tradeoffs), so we’ve chosen the filters that sound best in our experience and in addition to that we run everything with as wide of an audio bandwidth as possible. 15.
® Getting Started Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Installation Considerations LOCATION A good location for DirectStream is in a cabinet or on a shelf at an easily accessible height. Care should be taken to keep it away from power amplifiers or large potentially hum inducing products. The IR (infrared) receiver for the remote is located to the left of the Touch Screen. A direct line of sight will will help with DirectStream's IR sensor, which has been greatly improved from its predecessor, the PWD.
Quick Start Guide ® Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Unpacking and Connections • • • • Register the Unit Carefully unpack the unit. Your new DirectStream comes wrapped in a soft organic cotton bag to protect its beautiful finish. Use the included cotton gloves to remove the unit and place in the chosen location. The piano black top cover has a protective plastic film. Remove this film. Connect DirectStream to your digital sources using the appropriate connections.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC I2S Input USB I2S is a parallel data connection with separate clocks and data and transferred via an HDMI cable. I2S will typically provide a slightly better performance standard than any serial data stream such as S/PDIF or AES/EBU. You can connect one or all seven inputs at the same time. For instance, you can connect the USB input to your computer and the coax input to your CD player.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC phono or equalized input of any type. Once everything has been connected, use a high quality AC cable to power DirectStream. DACs in particular are quite sensitive to AC power and produce a bit of line noise themselves. Make sure you have a high quality shielded power cable to power DirectStream, and a Power Plant if possible.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC least 3 hours before use. Input Selection Should DirectStream need to be rebooted, use the rear panel power switch to power cycle the instrument. It's best to wait 30 seconds before powering back on. SELECT THE INPUT The first step is to select the input you wish to play. The input select is on the touch screen. Touch the input selected which is the visible input icon already displayed. The input selection list appears.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC DirectStream upsamples every input and file type to 10X DSD rate before processing. It is not possible to select the upsample rate for modification and therefore no sample rate choices are available on DirectStream's touch screen. Filter and Sample Rate Selections Adjusting the Output Level Screen Brightness The Network Bridge Option Unlike many DACs, including DirectStream's predecessor, no filter options are available.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC PWT: the built in Digital Lens and output asynchronous clocks of both devices ensure bitperfect performance. The Bridge II slips right into the slot on the back of DirectStream and can be added in less than 30 seconds by the owner. Simply remove the rear cover plate, insert the Bridge II and you are done. Complete instructions are available with purchase of the Network Bridge II.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Remote Control 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Quick Start Guide PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 Rev D ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
® Troubleshooting Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC USB not connecting USB – DirectStream not recognized, or no sound via USB To play music from your computer into the DirectStream via USB you must have a driver installed that communicates with the DirectStream. On a Mac computer with OSX Yosemite or later the drivers are already available and the unit should be automatically recognized.
® Troubleshooting Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC In any of these cases the remedy is quite simple. Remove the device and force Windows to reinstall the driver and the device. DirectStream will show up under device manager as “PS Audio PerfectWave DSD” It should show up under a heading “PS Audio USB 2.0 Audio Devices”, this is the USB2.0 driver. The entry under “Sound video and game controllers” is the USB1.0 fallback driver.
Warranty ® Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Limited Three Year Warranty Registering Should I Register My Product? • • • • • Coverage Registering your product validates the warranty start date. If you do not register your product within 30 days of service, a copy of your purchase receipt from an authorized PS Audio dealer may be used as a proof of purchase to establish the warranty start date.
Warranty ® Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Not Covered What Does this Warranty Not Cover? This warranty does not cover damage due to: • Accidents, carelessness, improper transportation, misuse, neglect, or abuse • Failure to follow the operating instructions that are provided by PS Audio in the owner’s manuals (available for download at psaudio.com) • Use in any manner inconsistent with PS Audio’s operating instructions (available for download at psaudio.
Service ® Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC If you require service in North America Obtain an RMA number How Do I Get Warranty Service? For service assistance, or for help with the operation of a product or just for information, please contact PS Audio customer support. Warranty Service Within the US • • • Use original packing • • • You must first obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization Number (RMA#) to receive warranty service and prior to returning any item. Contact PS Audio to receive an RMA#.
® Service Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC Your Serial Number Your Purchase Information Date of Purchase 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Service PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 14 Rev D ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
® Notes Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Notes PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 Rev D ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
® Notes Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Notes PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 Rev D ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
® Notes Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Notes PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 Rev D ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
® Notes Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC 4865 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 Notes PH: 1 (800) PSAUDIO service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com 15-061-01-1 Rev D ©2018 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
