PS Audio

While there's little doubt that the PerfectWave DirectStream is one of the state-of-the-art DACs currently available, many have wished for a less expensive solution that still offers most of the performance of this unit. Enter the PerfectWave DirectStream Junior, PS Audio's newest DAC offering at $3995.

DirectStream Junior builds on the same architecture awarded Product of the Year by both Stereophile and The Absolute Sound and that has received Editors' Choice and Golden Ear awards. DirectStream Junior is a pure DSD Digital-to-Analog Converter that uncovers all the missing information long hidden in your audio library, from both PCM and DSD sources. CDs, high-resolution PCM files, and DSD media, are expertly upsampled to ten times the native DSD rate and output as analog directly into your amplifier or preamplifier. Whatever the format, whatever the sample rate, DirectStream Junior provides a pure DSD-based solution that fulfills the promise of high-resolution analog performance from digital audio. 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. You can also connect it to your NAS drive, computer, or favorite Internet streaming station through its built-in Bridge II. Some of its special features include:

• Pure 100% DSD-based Digital-to-Analog Converter
• Fully upgradeable through software releases
• Built-in Bridge II Network streaming Audio input
• Resolution perfect volume and balance controls built in (no loss of bit depth as volume/balance changes)
• Upsamples PCM and DSD to 10x DSD rate
• DXD support
• Passively-filtered, high-speed output stage improves imaging and soundstage
• Simple, direct signal path with one master clock
• Custom-written software filters, processors, and upsamplers
• Immune to incoming jitter problems from different sources and increased digital headroom
• FPGA-based circuitry; no off-the-shelf DAC chips used
• 6 digital inputs
• Fully balanced from input to output