2. pc-audio
  3. 1334347848

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 The big problem I am having is that the owners manual seems to be out of date, and PS Audio is still improving it's latest offerings....but this is very different from the way it is portrated online.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
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
TagNplay and Elyric are the same. Most consider USB compromised. If you had the DAC MK II update, because the signal will now go through the digital lens via USB it should be very close if not the same quality as the Bridge. Most people involved would claim the Bridge is superior and the preferred way to go. If you don't upgrade the USB route is not as good as the Bridge method. This is one of the main advantages for some to upgrade to MK II status, that and of course the MK II sounds at least twice as good as the original. I've listened to both at the same time in my system, and there is no doubt in the superiority of the MK II upgrade.
jeffatus OP
42 posts
 
Do I need JRiver? Isn't that kind of doubling up with the eLyric? Do they work together?

I have eLyric loaded on all of my devices. It has the music loaded into its library.

I have my computer connected to the router via CAT5. The PW DAC driver is loaded on my computer.

The PW DAC "sees" the network, but it doesn't look like the computer does (though I am not sure on that part).
jeffatus OP
42 posts
 
Score one for the hillbilly's, I got it working. I honestly do not know if I could re-create what I did, I just know it now works!

Now I need to re-download my entire iTunes Library to the lossless version and upload all of my CD's....I actually think that part will be easier than the network stuff I muddled through.
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
Congrats!
Have fun ripping your CDs. Best of luck.
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
388 posts
 
I know you didn't ask, but let me also put my vote in for the Mark II upgrade. I ran into a dealer that was selling them for $700 and that was some of the best money I spent on my system. I liked the PWD before, but this created wildly better sound... although I primarily use the USB connection to stream audio from my computer to the DAC.
More to discover