PS Audio Factory Tour - The PerfectWaves Are Coming…
I visited the PS audio factory in Boulder Colorado. I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking, but anyone who’s been waiting for a PerfectWave DAC, or PerfectWave transport, will be happy to know that the first 25 Beta samples will be going out at the end of the week.
I saw the production line for the PerfectWave products and after beta testing is completed PS audio has all the parts in place to be able to produce on average 10 pairs per day.
Because it is impossible to lay out text so it goes where I'd like to put it - next to the pictures, I'm going to have to put all the captions at the top.
The graphic designer in me is fuming, but this is the only way I can do it.
We'll start with some shots of the assembly and QC area.
Next you'll see the analog circuit board for the PerfectWave DAC.
Then some Power Play AC devices getting their final QC burn-in.
The large stack of Power Plays are all waiting for their turn on the QC table..
The last two photos are of a PerfectWave Transprot and DAC going through final check-out.
Notice on the close-up of the display for the PerfectWave DAC that the bit rate is clearly displayed on the left. No longer will anyone have to guess about whether there high definition music files are really being sent to the DAC in high definition.
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Comments
Steven,
What about sound quality vs. top of the line CD & SACD players?
I've done some listening at shows and at the PS Audio factory listening room and I'm very impressed with its performance, but since I haven't lived with one in my system I can't give you any definitive answers at this time. But I will say that at its price I'm confident it will have few, if any, competitors with comparable features or sonics.
I'm sure Robert Harley's review in a future issue of TAS will address this question in detail.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Great post. So what does PS Audio build/assemble in their China factories? I know fo sure the DLIII<
PS Audio does build the DLIII and Quartet in China (and I assume their Duet and Quintet as well.)
They're building the Powerplay, PerfectWave, and PowerPack products in Boulder.
PS Audio's more expensive and state-of-the-art products are US-made while their less expensive porducts are made elsewhere.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
What about the PS Audio Power Plan Premier? Is it made in China or in Boulder? It's one of there more expensive products...
The Premier is made in China.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
This is unfortunate because I badly want and need a premiere but feel strongly about buying American made products because of the unsustainable situation this country is now in. We have a trade imbalance of 2 billion a day…as in we are buying that much more from other countries than they are buying from us…as I said unsustainable. I have great respect for PS Audio products and last year I purchased 2 Duets, which I’m very pleased with regarding performance but I was disappointed to see they were made in China.
I don’t buy the line that it costs to much to make high end audio here because I’ve just built up an amazing audio/home theater system around Magnepan speakers and JL Audio Subs which are both built in the US and offer more bang for the buck than anything else I looked at or even considered. What does it cost to start up in China? What does it cost to properly manage quality issues? What does it cost to ship raw materials in and then finished goods here? What does it cost to alienate customers that wish to purchase products made here. Is it really worth it for cheap exploited labor? I don’t want to pick on PS Audio because so many others make there entire product line in China and I will for sure still consider those products they make here but since I don’t believe any competitor even makes a product that can do what the premiere is capable of I will have to just do without.
Sir:
I too have Magnepan speakers and was considering JL Subs. Please email me at badavy13 [at] yahoo [dot] ca to discuss.
Thanks
BLaine
I understand and respect your point of view.
In my talks with Paul McGowan I got the impression that he would prefer to make PS Audio products stateside, and in his own facility. His newest products, such as the PerfectWave are made here.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
I am wondering...
I currently have a Cary CD 306 SACD PV but I wonder waht if I plug a PWT to 306´s digital inputs ? Would I get better sound ? I am quite happy and marveled with 306 performance but also PWT is a very attractive unit, so I am just wondering.
Would CD sound improve ?
Hello Edward,
Since I have not heard your unit with the PerfectWave Transport I can't answer your question with any degree of accuracy. The best I can do is, "maybe." :)
I'd probably try hooking up your Cary to an Apple TV, Squeezebox, or Sonos first to see how I liked having a wireless music server, but that's just me...
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Dear Steven:
I just wanted to reinforce the comments on outsourcing high-end production to China. One of the reasons for my interest in the Perfect Wave products is the fact that they are made in the USA. I hope more manufactureres take notice of what Paul McGowan is doing, and of their customers' desire to buy American made product.
I contamplate buying the Perfect Wave system, but at this point I am still waiting for a comprehensive review from a reliable source before plunking down 6 large.
Reply to Sir Real
I too have Magnepan speakers and was considering JL Subs.
Please email me to discuss.
Blaine
I use a pair of the JL F112 subs. I've successfully mated them with a wide variety of speakers. They a re beautifully built and very well designed with 12 and 24 dB slopes in their internal crossover as well as a very trick room EQ system.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Steve,
Its been over a year since your post on the PS audio Perfect Wave DAC and transport. I have heard some good reports about these units and they seem to be good value like most PS Audio products. I am considering purchase of them and would like to know your opinion now the dust has settled. Thanks
The first review of the final version of the Perfect Wave system shipping to customers is up at Stereomojo.com. They seem to like it a lot.
Glad to hear Paul McGowan is still very interested in manufacturing here in the USA. As has been noted by several folks here, the huge trade gaps are NOT good for the country in the long term. I've badgered Paul about it in his forums and Paul has always been honest and forthright in his responses. Perhaps some day when his Boulder, CO manufacturing facility really gets humming he will reconsider manufacturing his less-expensive products here again as well. At one time everything he sold WAS made in the USA by Cullen Circuits in California.
http://windhaming.wordpress.com/american-made-audio-list/
Interesting list of American made audio equipment above. I found this thread because I just purchased a PS Audio Power Plant premier and was surprised to find it made in China. I'm sure the quality is fine, but I do always prefer to support my local businesses.