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I feel like a toothless hillbilly - PW DAC

I recently purchased a PS Audio Perfectwave DAC with a Bridge. Everything I read in the manual before the unit arrived would end with something like; "and just plug it in and it will automatically download the drivers and take care of the rest".

Fastforward to today: unpacked the unit and connected the USB input on the DAC to my computer. Nothing worked on two different computers. The big problem I am having is that the owners manual seems to be out of date, and PS Audio is still improving it's latest offerings....but this is very different from the way it is portrated online. For the record, I sell hospital medical equipment and electronic medical records interfaces, so I am not a twit (though I am having my doubts now). The big problem for me right now would seem to be that there are so many connection options for the PW DAC that I don't know how to just play music off my computer.

Please tell me where to start (just to play music from iTunes):

1. Twonky
2. eLyric
3. iTunes
4. USB or CAT5 cable

I will be setting up a network later (which should be a laugh), but for now I just want to hear music!

Thanks in advance,
Jeff
jeffatus
edorr
714 posts
 
Jeff, I copied the instructions I put together below from another thread. This guy had the same problem. Keep in mind that if as you stated "you will be setting up a network later", you obviously CANNOT use CAT5 and the bridge for now, and need to use the USB. In my experience, JRiver 17 is by far the most foolproof server platform. If you use the bridge and network streaming, you will need the eLyric client on your iDevice. If you use USB, stay away from eLyric alltogether!

Here are the copied instructions (again, without a network you can forget the DLNA server / eLyric / networking, and just need JRiver and USB drivers):

Install JRiver 17 on your PC
Install myRiver on your iDevice
Install PS Audio's eLyric on your iDevice

Store your music collection on your NAS, preferably as FLACs.
Connect your PS audio bridge to the network over ethernet
Connect your PC to the PS audio DAC using USB - You probably need to download and install PS Audio USB drivers for windows. Check on the PS audio site.

Point JRiver to the music directory on the NAS as your main library, and load the library.
Setup your JRiver as a DLNA server (this is an easy configuration option)
Setup your JRiver for WASAPI output
Setup myRiver to control your JRiver 17 remotely on your iDevice
Select the PS audio DAC as rendered and JRiver as source in eLyric on your iDevice

You can now play music both over the USB input and the bridge.

I know it sounds a little overwhelming, but every step I descibe here is well documented and instructions can be googled. I have gone through many permutations of software hardware, and this is by far the most robust, foolproof setup I have come across.

myRiver is more stable than eLyric, so USB may be your preferred signal path. The bridge controlled with eLyric should sound a little better though. If you cannot get the bridge to work, just forget it and stick with USB.

Good luck!
jeffatus OP
42 posts
 
Ok, full disclosure here, I had my tonsils out this week (30 years too late as its a completely different deal as an adult) and I thought it would be a great time to set up my new system.....I mean, I have time off work, some nice music and the new system would take my mind off the feeling of broken glass in my throat. Well, in didn't anticipate the amount of narcotics they would have me on so hooking up a computer server at this time is NOT a good idea. To make matters worse, I tried calling PS Audio and they had a very difficult time understanding me since I sounded like I had a sock in my throat....and I may have been sobbing at the time too. Lol.

Anyway, Mark at PS Audio sent me an email telling me to simply change the output device from PC Speakers to the PS Audio Driver. So simple anyone except a tonsillectomy recovering, narcotic taking twit could figure out.

First song I played was from Sia. I am not sure who she is but my wife likes her music and it showed the capability of the DAC in spades. I couldn't believe the level of detail I was getting from the standard iTunes tracks.....it really floored me. My wife, who usually is not all too interested in this stuff was almost speechless. I can't wait until I can finish the system off with good cables and get the server up and running (with the correct Lossless files that really should be running through then PW DAC).
foster_9
1,610 posts
 
Don't feel bad, I had a similar problem getting the W4S driver to run my usb on my dac and I wasn't even on pain medication at the time.
levy03
425 posts
 
Jeffatus...i do my best work when "medicated". don't worry man...with some practice, you will too. =)
jeffatus OP
42 posts
 
So I have had some time to level off the medication and enjoy music just playing on iTunes. Now I need to look at my options for using the bridge. The most confusing thing I keep seeing on PS Audio's owners manual is the references to tagnplay. Has this been replaced by eLyric? If it has, then they REALLY need to update their manuals. I downloaded the manual last week from their website.

I would prefer to use a hard drive and router to connect to the bridge. Do you guys have any recommendations on inexpensive hard drives I can use? Once I have the hard drive, can I just hook it up to my current wireless router via CAT5 cables? Is there any real HiFi disadvantage to going this route? It sounds like a USB connection is the preferred way to go.

Thanks
Jeff
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