PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player Owner's Reference Manual - page 4
Owner’s Reference
DirectStream Memory Player
4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301
PH: 720.406.8946 service@psaudio.com www.psaudio.com
©2016 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
®
There are three ways to get digital audio data out of the DMP: S/PDIF, AES/EBU or I
2
S HDMI. I
2
S is
the preferred method if you have a PS Audio DAC or any manufacturer’s DAC that can receive it.
Three such I²S interface are provided, allowing for 6-channel high resolution audio to be streamed
from DMP.
S/PDIF (and AES/EBU) are the standard delivery methods found on all transports and, while
excellent, remain a slightly compromised format.
Standard digital outputs take three separate internal clocks along with the raw music data and
combine them into one stream to the DAC. This mashup of music and clocks causes the audio to
sound flat and harsh compared to I
2
S.
A much better way of delivering the music is what I
2
S does. By transferring the clocks and data
on separate wires within the HDMI cable, the audible results are impressive. Simply use any high
quality HDMI cable between the DMP and appropriate DAC and you are transferring data perfectly,
through I
2
S. The quality of this cable matters much to the sound quality. Experiment.
A growing number of DACS and devices are adopting the PS Audio HDMI standard for digital
audio transmission because of its superior audio quality.
The front panel USB input on DMP is available for small music collections stored on USB drives.
Plug in a USB thumb drive and its contents can be accessed and played back through DMP.
While the instrument itself is capable of handling large numbers of tracks, selection can become
cumbersome if there are too many.
Tracks from the data drive are displayed in small groups on DMP’s touch screen, and navigating
larger libraries can be time consuming. PS engineering added this input as a courtesy port offering
quick access to a friend’s favorite album or track. We imagine being at a consumer audio show
and customers wishing to hear music stored on their thumb drives will find this input convenient
and excellent sounding.
DMP enjoys a new user interface that includes song titles and tracks that can be read from a
distance. Like its predecessor, the PWT, album art can be automatically downloaded for CD and
SACD when DMP is connected to the internet.
Every time you play a CD (and are connected to the internet) a copy of the cover art and song
titles are kept for you on your own private library page, accessed through our website. From your
personal page it is a simple matter to correct any of the CD or SACD’s information, change cover
art and polish your CD collection.
New user
interface
Playback of stored
data
Getting data out
of DMP
I
2
S is the preferred
delivery method