Country of Origin
Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" November 2020 iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, Ventura 13.3, 40GB RAM), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Origin, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 switch, Sonnet Pasithea DAC; Active filter: icOn Gradient Box 2; Power amplifiers: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos, Goldmund/Job 225 on subwoofer; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Phones: HifiMan Susvara, Meze 109 Pro; Loudspeakers: sound|kaos Vox 3awf + sound|kaos DSUB15 on Carbide Audio footers, Audio Physic Codex, Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, LessLoss Firewall for loudspeakers, Furutech NCF Signal Boosters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat
2nd system: Source: Shanling M3 Ultra into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe; Preamp/filter: Vinnie Rossie L2 Signature and icOn 4th-order/80Hz; Amplifier: Enleum AMP-23R; Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini or Acelec Model One + Dynaudio S18 sub; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF, Akiko Audio Corelli; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Audioquest Fog Lifters; Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win10/64; USB bridge: Singxer SU-2; Headamp/DAC: iFi iDSD Pro Signature; Headphones: Final D-8000; Active speakers: DMAX SC5
Upstairs headfi/speaker system: Source: smsl Dp5 transport; DAC: Auralic Vega; Integrated amplifier: Schiit Jotunheim R; Phones: Raal-Requisite SR1a; Active DSP speakers: Fram Midi 120
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Zu Submission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: $2'749 for USB regenerator PSU, $3'149 for DAC
The announcement hit with the force of a sledgehammer. Actually, more like a feather. Few noticed. So here's a rinse 'n' repeat. Regen. It's German for rain. With Soundaware you can make it rain when in their world, the word is short for regenerate; USB in this case. Go in dirty, come out clean. For their best dry cleaning, look at the $2'749 PA1-REF above. Come in USB 2.0 or 3.0, hit a buffer with low-noise oven-controlled crystal oscillator…
… then high-speed RAM then another buffer with OXCO. Power by super capacitors. Spit out regenerated USB. "The RJ45 is true Ethernet. Once the PA1-REF/PA1-NU connect to a computer while being set to Ethernet, your PC/Mac sees them as network interface cards. This is for a Roon Core/Bridge connection. You may even power a 5V/3A component with super-capped clean power via standard DC5525 socket. The 4-pin locking output is for this forthcoming DAM-1 DAC."
Prototype DAM-1 without 'PA1 engage' button or dip-switch I²S pin configurator.
Should your budget stress, the $549 PA1-USB below eliminates the RJ45 path, auxiliary power and super caps. Otherwise it's the same song. Go in dirty, come out clean. Should you want RJ45, think $759 PA1-NU also below. Also in these news was Vinshine Audio representing Soundaware through a dedicated site. Same trusted Singapore team, new kit beyond Denafrips, Jay's/LHY and Kinki/CHoco Sound. Happy days. I stated it many times over the years. If one connects an iMac to a USB DAC, runs Audirvana Origin/Studio as music player and outputs to an intermediary USB reclocker, one can enjoy audiophile music-server quality sound with more convenience than headless decks; for a lot less. It's why I'm still/again on a 27" iMac. If one doesn't need our 300Ref's basic network player functionality, SD card reader or clock sync, the PA1-REF focuses solely on jitter and noise-stripped aka regenerated USB. So do the two smaller boxes.
