PS AUDIO DirectStream DAC MK2

For me personally, one of the fantastic options would be to interconnect the DirectStream MK2 with PS Audio’s PerfectWave SACD transport through the HDMI cable (I2S). Sony of course prohibits the digital output in native DSD from digital transports, but a handshake communication between copyright controlled devices, such as these PS Audios, would be the ultimate option for the best sound ever. Unfortunately, with the advent of SACD players, the I2S DSD protocols have no more use as there is a lack of compatible transports, although some DACs, like Mola Mola Tambaqui, have the I2S input.  I expect that the PS Audio’s own dedicated device, the PerfectWave SACD transport, will extinct soon too. Also, I borrowed it around 3 years ago and it was far from perfect. Not because the technical solution as such, but because the poor and unreliable operation due to the lack of craftmanship. Bad thing is that – because it is not possible to send DSD over Toslink or S/PDIF - there is always a DoP conversion. Most softwares, such as Roon, Audirvana, JRiver Media Center and Foobar, will automatically convert DSD files to the DoP standards on the fly. The theory says that the raw DSD data are not affected by the conversion and most high-end SACD players take benefit from it. Yet, it is a conversion, isn’t it? So the ability of the PerfectWave SACD transport to play DSD layer from hybrid SACD discs and send it directly to the DirectStream MK2 would be an unbeatable feature. And it sort of is, but not at the level of performance that you’d expect.