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Bricasti M1 DAC vs PS Audio Direct Stream DAC

I own a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC that I like a lot but heard my friends system with the Bricasti M1 and I am strongly thinking of changing my DAC and would love your feedback from other members that have heard either or both. I know they are both great but really thinking of changing my Dac from PS Audio Direct Stream to the Bricasti M1 DAC. I use a HP Desk top computer as source with Jplay and JRiver Media 19 and the outstanding Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable. The rest of my system is below. I listen to Classic Rock, jazz, vocal, some modern music and the usual audiophile stuff.

Thanks

My system for reference.

Ascendo C-8 Renaissance Speakers (Germany) Monitor
Purist Audio Design Corvus Praesto Revision 2.5m Bi-Wire Speaker cable
Cardas Clear Interconnect 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Darwin TRUTH Pure Silver Reference 1 Meter RCA Interconnect
Audio Research REFERENCE 1 w/Rhodium IEC/NOS Tubes Tube preamp
Decware ZSTAGE External Triode Output StageTelefunken ECC801S
PS Audio Direct Stream DSD DAC w/ Bridge DA converter
Tellurium Q BLACK DIAMOND Reference USB Cable
PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase Vibration Cancelation/AC Condtioner
Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono's 140 Watts Tung-Sol KT120's amps
PS Audio PowerPlant Premier AC Regenerator
BMI Shark Pure Jeweler Grade Platinum AC Power Cable
Sablon Audio Petite Corona 2.0M AC Power Cable
Mad Scientist PC-NEO with Power Purifier AC Power Cable
JPS Labs The Power AC+ 2M AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series SE T1 AC Power Cable
Synergistic Research Labs Tesla Series T1 AC Power Cable
PS Audio Noise Harvester (5) Converts noise to light
OYAIDE RI Beryllium Power Outlets (2)
Hubbell Outlet 5362/5262 Deep Cryo Process
Blue Circle Audio The Yalu Balula Industrial Surge/Spike Protection
JPLAY v5.2 hi-end audio player turns PC into a digital transport.
JRiver Media Center 19 Music Software
fsmithjack
rhanson739
269 posts
 
My experience with the DS DAC is that it does take about 500 hours to begin sounding good. And even at that, you may wind up having to move speaker setups, check your room treatments, etc.

I have a pair of Vandy subs, so bass is not an issue. If it were, I'd adjust the subs, but I never had the need.

It is a remarkable DAC, and I don't expect to part with mine anytime in the near future. I'm lovin' it.
fsmithjack's avatar
fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
Sabai I think Mcondon was referring to a few of the posts out there where the owners have been pretty critical of the DS and are not big fans of it and there were more than few of them as opposed to the reviewers but we all know how that goes with them...

I am not one of them. I loved my DirectStream!

I think it is an outstanding DAC and I really enjoyed it and it totally took my system to the next level and then some. It was the best DAC I ever owned up until I purchased the Bricasti which I don't want to get into quite yet other than to say the Bricasti is "clearly and distinctly" a much better DAC than the DirectStream. Actually it's a pretty unfair comparison but we'll get into that later.

Please understand that doesn't take anything away from the outstanding DirectStream that clearly punches well above its weight. The Bricasti's retail price is over $9,000.00 and even at that lofty price point it's position is that of a "Bang for Buck" performance alternative to the more expensive big boys out there. I am told the last few hardware/software Bricasti upgrades really propelled it to another level...

I just needed to hear them both in my room and in my system but now I need go through the process that we all endure with new components of letting them burn in properly. It's a bitter sweat process but heck its all part of the fun!

I am one of those guys that enjoys the idea of pushing my system forward until it gets to who knows where. I am sure I am going to make a mistake along the way and before I solved the USB cable problem I was having with my new Bricasti I thought that may been have the case here when I traded in my DirectStream toward the Bricasti but after just a couple days of break in I can definitively say that is not the case and thankfully so...
sabai
2,027 posts
 
Mcondon,

I also note you have stated, "I doubt the Direct Stream will hold its value either, especially since it seems to get somewhat mixed reviews from people who have heard it or own it. It seems to need 1000 hours of break-in to sound its best ...".

Regarding DACs holding their value, can you name a single DAC that has held "its value" over a period of more than one year. Of course, it also depends on what you mean by "its value". Do you mean your purchase price, or the after market price 6 months or 12 months or more down the line, or something else?

Also, I have yet to read a mixed review from anyone who owns the DS DAC. And it is clearly stated by PS Audio -- and reaffirmed on many forums by DS DAC owners -- that break-in for the DS DAC requires 500 hours -- not 1000 hours as you have misstated.
aolmrd1241
759 posts
 
The PSA DS dac does not start to bloom into a music machine until a minimum of three to four hundred hours. I now have around 550 hours on mine and it still amazes me as to how much more I am hearing from this dac. The pike peak OS is a stunning update,and must be considered mandatory to realize the full potential along with substantial break in time. It would be a big mistake to not give this dac time to open up. The reward for persistence will be large....
ricred1
1,412 posts
 
I know price isn't always an indication of sound quality, but I don't understand why it's a shock that the Bricasti M1 sounds better than the Direct Stream...it should, it cost 1 1/2 times as much. When I purchased my Direct Stream my dealer told me the M1 sounds better, but it was out of the price range I allocated for a DAC.
I have a pair of Aerial 7Ts and love them. I heard a pair of Raidho C3.1 and they are the best speakers that I've ever heard. If I could afford them, I get them today. I just went from a Parasound A21 to a Jeff Rowland M525 and the differences are pretty significant. Again, not in all cases, but usually when you spend more money the SQ increases. There are some that don't think the incremental increase in SQ is worth it, but I do. Enjoy your M1!
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