Owners Manual

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

Quick Start Guide

Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC

S is a parallel data connection with separate clocks and data and transferred via an HDMI

cable. I

S 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. Then you can simply

choose which one to listen to from the front panel touch screen or the remote. If you are using

USB, make sure both the computer and DirectStream are connected and powered up. USB

also requires a driver to operate properly. Mac and Windows 10 computers have the driver

built in. Windows 7 or older PC's require the PS Audio driver to be installed. Download the

driver from our website at

http://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PSAudio-USBAudio2.0DriverLatest.zip

DirectStream will show up under Device Manager as PS Audio PerfectWave DSD, under a

heading PS Audio USB 2.0 Audio Devices.

CONNECTING DIRECTSTREAM'S OUTPUT

DirectStream is designed to drive a power amplier directly, or as another input on a

preamplier. The outputs of DirectStream are high-performance, high current outputs that

can drive long lengths of interconnect cable without degradation.

DirectStream has two types of analog outputs, balanced XLR or single ended RCA. We do

not recommend using both outputs at the same time. Be aware that most ampliers

and preampliers will produce 6dB higher level with the balanced outputs relative to the

single ended outputs. If you are using both outputs be advised they will be at dierent

levels. Our preference for connection to a power amplier or preamplier is through the

balanced XLR outputs of DirectStream.

If DirectStream has a gain mismatch with your power amplier, you can use the balanced

outputs and achieve 6dB more gain or choose the single ended RCA outputs for lower

gain. DirectStream also has two output levels available to users. Go to the setup menu on

the front panel touch screen to select the best output level.

RCA or single ended inputs will be the typical inputs as many preampliers, surround

processors receivers, integrated ampliers and power ampliers have only this standard

type of input.

Plug either the RCA or the XLR outputs of DirectStream into a line level input on the

preamp, integrated, amplier or subwoofer. Do NOT plug the output of DirectStream into a

USB

S Input

Connecting the

Output

If There's a Gain

Mismatch