® Owner’s Reference Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Instructions for use PerfectWave DAC II 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com ©2012 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Table Of Contents ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC Introduction iii - iv Getting Started 1 Quick Start Guide 2-12 - Unpacking and Connections Register the Unit Connectinog the PWD Control and Operation Sample Rate Filter Phase (Polarity) Remote Control Dimming the Display The Bridge Checking the Version Number of the Firmware - Cleaning 2 2 2 4 5 5 10 11 12 12 12 12 Troubleshooting 13 Warranty 14-15 Service 16-17 Notes 18-20 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.
Introduction ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Important Safety Instructions Read these instructions Heed all warnings Follow all instructions WARNING. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. Clean only with a dry cloth. For the Piano Finish Top refer to the instructions on page 12 of the Quick Start Guide. Do not place flammable material on top of or beneath the component.
Introduction ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Welcome The PS Audio PerfectWave™ Digital To Analog Converter (PWD) is a state-of-the-art D to A processor, preamplifier and media center. The PWD accepts PCM Digital Audio data and converts it to high-performance analog audio that can be fed directly to a power amplifier or preamplifier. Your PS Audio PWD represents a major advancement in the art of recreating the musical event.
® Getting Started Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Installation Considerations LOCATION A good location for your DAC is in a cabinet or on a shelf at an easily accessible height. The receiver for the remote is located to the left of the Touch Screen. A direct line of sight will ensure optimum operation, as the IR receiver in the PWD has a relatively narrow range of view.
Quick Start Guide ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Unpacking and Connections • • • • Register the Unit Carefully unpack the unit. Your new PerfectWave DAC comes wrapped in a soft organic cotton bag to protect its beautiful finish. Use the included cotton gloves to remove the unit and place in the chosen location. The piano black top cover has a protective plastic film. Remove this film. Connect the PWD to your digital sources using the appropriate connections.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII CONNECTING TO A DIGITAL SOURCE There are four methods of connecting the digital inputs of the PWD: Through the home network, SPDIF, USB and I�S. The home network option is the best sounding option and requires the addition of the optional PS Audio Network Bridge be installed. SPDIF is a serial digital interface available as an optical source (TOSLINK), coaxial source (RCA) or balanced source (XLR).
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII and achieve 6dB more gain or choose the single ended RCA outputs for lower gain. RCA or single ended inputs will be the typical inputs as many preamplifiers, surround processors receivers, integrated amplifiers and power amplifiers have only this standard type of input. Plug either the RCA or the XLR outputs of the PWD into a line level input on the preamp, integrated, Amplifier or Receiver.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Should the PWD need to be rebooted, use the rear panel power switch. SELECT THE INPUT The first step is to select the input you wish to play. The input select is on the far right hand side of the touch screen. Touch the input selector icon (or use the remote) and the input selection list appears. Scroll through the list and touch the input you wish to play. The screen reverts back to the main screen and the selected input is displayed.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII audio dependent on your source material and the program you're using. Some programs, like iTunes, will always resample the audio to the highest sample rate allowed by the driver - in the case of the PWD it is 192kHz. Use a program like Bit Perfect, Amarra or Pure Music to bypass the iTunes restrictions to get native sample rate performance. The PWD will memorize the last setting chosen for the input you are on.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII arrive at the same time). The issue from an audibility standpoint is then how much group delay is audible and acceptable? Research has shown the ear is relatively insensitive to group delay distortion of several milliseconds for low frequencies (less than1kHz) and insensitive to +/-0.5ms over the 1-5kHz band.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII 2. Filter 1 MP APOD. Minimum phase Apodising filter. Low pre-ringing, minimal group delay, minimized post ringing, good phase vs. frequency, sharper filter cutoff. 3. Filter 2 MP SOFT. Minimum phase soft knee filter. Low pre-ringing, minimal group delay, minimized post ringing, good phase vs. frequency, soft cutoff. 4. Filter 3 LP APOD. Linear phase Apodising filter. No group delay, perfect phase vs.
Quick Start Guide ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Filter 2 MP Soft Filter 3 LP Apod Filter 3 LP Apod 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com ©2012 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Quick Start Guide ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Filter 4 LP Soft Filter 5 MP 1/2B Phase (Polarity) Touching this control on the front panel touch screen (or the remote) will invert the absolute phase (polarity) of the audio signal. This is the same thing as reversing the loudspeaker inputs, placing + to – and – to +. Phase reversal happens on many recordings, sometimes even within the same CD or DVD.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Remote Control to see if the CD track gains a bit of proper perspective. If it does, chances are good that it was recorded out of polarity. 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com ©2012 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
® Quick Start Guide Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Dimming the Display The unit will automatically dim to adjust to light levels in the room. The display can be turned off by pressing the button labeled “DIM” located at bottom right of the remote. When you are in the DIM mode, the screen will come back on when you touch it or press a remote key. To turn the DIM feature off, press "ON." The Bridge The PWD can become far more than a high-performance stereo DAC.
® Troubleshooting Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII USB – PWD not recognized, or no sound via USB To play music from your computer into the PWD via USB you must have a driver installed that communicates with the PWD. On a Mac computer with OSX or Snow Leopard the drivers are already available and the unit should be automatically recognized. You can then go and choose the PS Audio USB driver to play to by going to System Preferences->Sound and select the PS USB driver.
Warranty ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII TERMS AND CONDITIONS PS Audio provides a 90 day manufacturer’s warranty on all new PS Audio components. PS Audio offers an optional extended 3 year warranty in exchange for completing a valid product registration. This optional extended warranty is available for new products, when that product is registered through PS Audio with the serial number and name of the authorized dealer or distributor that sold it to you.
Warranty ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII Transfer of Warranty This Warranty is for the benefit of the original purchaser of the covered product and may be transfered to a subsequent purchaser of the product. 1. Miscellaneous Extended warranty policies: By registering this product, via mail or internet, within 90 days of purchase, the warranty period will be extended to 3-years from the date of purchase. 2.
Service ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII If you require service in North America Obtain an RA number In the unlikely event there is a problem with your PS Audio component, please contact your dealer, distributor, or the PS Audio corporate research center to discuss the problem before you return the component to our facilities for repair.
Service ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII worldwide. Service for PS Audio products outside the United States is handled through your country’s distributor or dealer. 1. Obtain a Return Authorization Number (R/A number) and shipping address from your dealer or distributor’s Service Department. 2. Insure and accept all liability for loss or damage to the product during shipment to the dealer or distributor’s Service Department and ensure all freight (shipping) charges are prepaid.
Notes ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com ©2012 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Notes ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com ©2012 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Notes ® Owner’s Reference PerfectWave DAC MKII 4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com ©2012 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
