The Phison PD2 DAC/Preamp

[Mivera]

Sonny have you gotten any feedback from Sebby in the UK on the PD2 yet? Or has it still not been delivered yet? He's using it in conjunction with the Nord NC500 based amps. Maybe he can share impressions on this thread if you ask. He will be using it with HQplayer upsampling to quad DSD, so should have great feedback to offer.


http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4691825

 

[Mivera]

I found another PD2 mention from Ed over at Sound Galleries. He has an upsampling server just like mine using Roon/HQplayer to upsample PCM to DSD. It will be interesting to hear his take on the PD2's DSD capabilities with HQplayer as well.


http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...ter-direct-stream-digital-roon-and-mqa-28359/

 

[Mivera]

Great news guys. It's been decided that Sonny is going to handle the North American market direct now. To remain loyal to my existing clients, once ready, I will send out replacement units to demo. If my clients are impressed after the demo, I will give a full cash refund for all of the Phison products.

 

[Purité Audio]

Sorry to hear that, I have just placed my order for a PD2 and the 120 power amp, should all be here just after Munich.
Keith.

 

[Mivera]

Sorry to hear that, I have just placed my order for a PD2 and the 120 power amp, should all be here just after Munich.
Keith.

It's nothing to be sorry about. Sonny and I just have different visions on how things should be done. You will be very impressed with the combo. Let me know if you want a server.

 

[Mivera]

And yes my server still will be available for free demos for all PD2 owners who want to get the best out of their PD2's. I can ship internationally to any region on the planet.

 

[Thomas savage]

You got a server build to go head to head with our Lord and founding farthers thread? Would be nice to see it.

 

[Mivera]

You got a server build to go head to head with our Lord and founding farthers thread? Would be nice to see it.

Give me till June 1st. It may be ready earlier, but I refuse to promise dates I can't deliver on. That's just bad business. So if it's ready earlier, it will be a surprise

 

[Thomas savage]

Give me till June 1st. It may be ready earlier, but I refuse to promise dates I can't deliver on. That's just bad business. So if it's ready earlier, it will be a surprise

Well I'll look forward to seeing excellent products from you, benefiting from you having complete control over the whole process

 

[Mivera]

Wel I'll forward to seeing excellent products from you, benefiting from you having complete control over the whole process

Thanks, yes it's impossible to reach audio nirvana when you have too many bottleneck's in the way

 

[Mivera]

To extend my appreciation to the team at Phison, I decided to offer a 25% discount as well as free international shipping for my server to Phison PD2 owners. Contact me for details.

 

[Mivera]

Now that the new Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC with the ESS 9038 Pro has been released, let's hope Sonny adopts my idea of building a single DAC board with both the 9038 Pro combined with a similar 1 bit DAC to the T+A DAC 8 DSD for the next DAC board upgrade. If he combines that with the Ethernet interface I've been hammering down his throat for the past 6 months, the competition will have something to fear

 

[Phison Audio - Sonny]

Question is:

It Will be more expensive than the es9018 which in single pcs cost 65usd. Will it be worth the extra money, because to keep the price down many will make cheap housekeeping .

 

[Mivera]

Question is:

It Will be more expensive than the es9018 which in single pcs cost 65usd. Will it be worth the extra money, because to keep the price down many will make cheap housekeeping .

If you have to raise the end price of the DAC by a couple hundred bucks to compete with the competition, it might be worth it There's even $500 Chinese DAC's that use dual 9018's. I know my clients would be happy with just the 1 bit section alone. But you have dealers and biased reviewers to please.

 

[Opus111]

It Will be more expensive than the es9018 which in single pcs cost 65usd.

I reckon it would take extraordinary chutzpah to maintain the price now they've admitted its far from transparent (despite the exemplary numbers). Which they've done by saying the new one 'smokes' it.

 

[Mivera]

I reckon it would take extraordinary chutzpah to maintain the price now they've admitted its far from transparent (despite the exemplary numbers). Which they've done by saying the new one 'smokes' it.

If you know of a better SDM DAC chip please share.

 

[Opus111]

Better in terms of measurement or sound?

 

[Mivera]

Better in terms of measurement or sound?

Both

 

[Opus111]

You're designing a next generation DAC and looking for suggestions? If so consider that according to your own philosophy of converting all to N-speed DSD (where N is 4 typically or perhaps higher?) you're not in fact using the majority of the silicon real estate on the ESS chip, rather only the resistor network on the back end. So given that you'd not be looking for a whole DAC chip, just the output stage. Or am I missing something vital?

 

[Mivera]

You're designing a next generation DAC and looking for suggestions? If so consider that according to your own philosophy of converting all to N-speed DSD (where N is 4 typically or perhaps higher?) you're not in fact using the majority of the silicon real estate on the ESS chip, rather only the resistor network on the back end. So given that you'd not be looking for a whole DAC chip, just the output stage. Or am I missing something vital?

If you read the previous posts the purpose of the ESS 9038 chip on the board is for people who don't want to use a PCM to DSD resampling engine prior to the DAC for PCM. With both a 1 bit DAC section, and the 9038 pro on the same board,
there will be 2 options for DSD, and up to 3 options for PCM if used with upsampling PCM to DSD.

Native DSD:

1: Direct into ESS 9038

2: Direct into 1 bit discrete DAC

PCM:

1: PCM direct into ESS 9038

2: PCM upsampled to DSD with HQplayer into discrete DSD DAC

3: PCM upsampled to DSD with HQplayer into ESS 9038.

There can be a button on the front panel to switch between the 2 DAC's.