Best new version for XP?

[minzyman]

Ok, this is solid stuff. Let me process this, experiment a bit and report back. Thank you for the lengthy response.

By the way, is there anyone here in the SF Bay Area that owns one of your Phasure dacs? Any dealers that have them? I'd really like to hear one and maybe hold an event with my group (BAAS). I heard that you sent one to Chris Conniker. True? I know Chris well and definitely trust his judgement.

/Lee

[manisandher]

Hi Lee. I'm assuming you've read my thoughts on the NOS1 (original) vs. the Pacific Microsonics Model Two here http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1549.0?

I've got a couple of potentially really important caveats to my thoughts though:

1) I've always been aware that my Model Two was one of the earlier ones, used as the in-house demo unit by PM for a couple of years. But I've recently learned that my unit is actually a pre-production unit. Some people believe that the later 'Euphonix' units sound better than the earlier PM units. However, Dave Peck (production manager at PM, now at Avid) assures me that my unit meets all the PM2 standards... and his measurements confirm that my particular unit has state of the art ADC and DAC performance).
2) I don't have a Mykerinos card, considered by some to be the best way of interfacing a Model Two to a computer. Nor do I have a Lynx AES16. Rather I use either a Weiss AFI1 firewire unit (upgraded with a linear Paul Hynes PS) or an RME AES-32 PCI card. I've done extensive tests comparing the 'direct' ADC->DAC path with the 'indirect' ADC->computer->DAC path. I'm convinced that the PM2 itself set to 24/192 is pretty much completely transparent. However, I'm not sure that either of my AES interfaces are completely transparent.

With these caveats in mind, my thoughts in the aforementioned thread stand 100%. The NOS1 is a better DAC than the PM2. Not just my thoughts, but the thoughts of others who have compared the two at my place also.

Oh and by the way, cut out the cr*p about marketing. If you knew Peter, you'd know that he's not like that. And of course, it's totally against my interest to be potentially eroding the market value of my own PM2!

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I have three Zalman TNN300 PCs. Two with Gigabyte cards (with an E8600 and an i7 - the latter a total bugger to fit and get working in the TNN300!) and one with a Asus PQ5-EM (with an E8600).

Mani.

[PeterSt]

Thank you Lee.

There's one in the Bay Area, but not "accessible". A few are underway though, including one for Chris indeed.

Peter

[praphan]

Hi

I am one of those Phasure NOS owners who also use Berkeley Alpha DAC extensively as well. I think most PC audiophiles run Alpha through Lynx card.

So the combination of Juli@ inside NOS1 will give different sound than Lynx plus Alpha. Personally I listen to music more from NOS1. NOS1 makes me more involving in music with other things being the same from cable to amps to speakers. Both are good DAC but it is just a matter personal preference. But surprisingly almost all of my audiophiles friends who audition my  NOS1 said that they hear the details that they have never heard before. Still it is very musical.

I will post a more analytical comparison when I get my NOS1 upgraded and fix my compatibility issue. Those who read my previous post all knew that NOS1 has issue with Gigabyte mobo.

On the sales pitch, I think I know Peter. He doesn't have to push the sales of NOS as the order is already beyond his production capacity. His stringent demand for quality makes it hard for him to OEM his DAC to contract manufacturer. Even it can be outsourced, the price for such stringent QC would make the price point even more outrageous.

Praphan