PS Audio announces MK2 DirectStream DAC

January 27th, 2023

New Technologies

The PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 incorporates many newly-developed PS Audio technologies along with easy setup and the convenience of remote-control operation. Its built-in volume control enables it to function as a digital preamp and be directly connected to a power amplifier.

FPGA

The DirectStream DAC MK2 employs a FPGA (field-programmable gate array) using PS Audio-designed software, rather than standard off-the-shelf integrated circuits. This FPGA design enables the software to be custom-tailored for high level audio performance, and the software is user-upgradeable to accommodate any potential updates.  The PS Audio DirectStream DAC MK2 converts all input signals to a high-sample-rate 50-bit version, which is then converted to pure DSD and then to analogue. The DIrectStream DAC MK2 accommodates PCM sources up to 705.6 kHz and DSD up to 256. The DIrectStream DAC MK2 is fully balanced from input to output.

Jitter Elimination

The PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 is designed to eliminate noise and jitter by galvanically isolating every input, output, ground, and power connection. It offers a range of inputs including two I2S, two balanced, coaxial, optical and USB inputs. The DirectStream DAC MK2 also provides balanced and single-ended analogue audio outputs. It features an all-new attenuator architecture for maximum signal quality at any volume level, and can be connected directly to a power amplifier or used in conjunction with a preamplifier.

Features At A Glance:

• 7x Digital Inputs: Two I2S, two balanced, coaxial, optical and USB
• Balanced and single-ended analog transformer coupled outputs
• Fully balanced design from input to output
• Galvanically isolated inputs and outputs
• Exclusive dual FPGA DAC circuitry offers superior sound quality and user upgradeability
• Handwritten code for filters, processing and upsamplers
• 100% DSD based DAC
• Upgradable via software releases
• Volume and balance controls included
• Upsamples PCM and DSD to 20x DSD rate
• Accommodates PCM sources up to 705.6 kHz and DSD up to 256
• DXD support
• Store and install up to 10 Mountaintop firmware releases
• Remote control or front-panel operation; remote can be used to operate other PS Audio components
• Plug-and-play with no configuration required
• Available in silver or black

Specifications:

• Digital audio inputs: I2S (2), Coax, XLR Balanced (2), Optical, USB
• Sample Rates:
  • Optical (TOSLink): PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz and 96kHz
  • S/PDIF (Coax and XLR): PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz and 192kHz
  • DoP64 Dual XLR: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz and 352.8kHz
  • DoP64 and DoP128 I2S: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, and 705.6
  • DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256 USB: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, and 705.6, DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256
• Analog audio outputs: unbalanced RCA (2), balanced XLR (2):
  • Output level: 4 VRMS Balanced, 2 VRMS Single Ended
  • Output Impedance: <100Ω/<200Ω
  • Frequency Response: 20-20KHz +/- 0.25dB
  • THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale): <0.1%
• Data Handling:
  • Format: PCM or DSD
  • Sample rate (PCM): 44.1kHz, 48.0kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz; 705.6kHz
  • Word length (PCM): 16b, 18b, 20b, 24b
  • Data rate (DSD): Standard (2.8MHz) or Double (5.6MHz) DoP as well as raw DSD on I2S and USB inputs
  • Input jitter reduction: Effectively 100%, residual immeasurable. No input PLLs or FLLs.
  • Input Processing: 225.792MHz
  • Signal Processing: 56.448MHz
  • Synchronous Upsampling, all inputs: 56.448MHz for 48k, 96k or 192k; 11.2896MHz for all others
  • Digital Processing S/N ratio: Upsampling > 210dB, volume control and Sigma Delta Modulator: > 330dB
  • Analog Conversion method: low pass filter DSD256 (quad rate DSD: single bit DSD at 11.2896MHz)
• I2S Digital Input: HDMI
  • Format: PCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputs
• USB Digital Input: “B” type
  • Format: PCM, DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM), or Native DSD

MSRP: $7,999.00 – Silver or Black