From: gregpen@crash.cts.com
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: D/A Converter Test: PS Audio vs. Counterpoint
Date: 12 Oct 92 05:13:22 GMT
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kucharsk@Solbourne.COM (William Kucharski) writes a mixed opinion about the
PS Audio Ultralink:
Ultralink:  Nice, but a bit of a soundstage "bloom" with a forward character
            and loss in soundstage depth roughly corresponding with the amount
            of side to side expansion.  The highs seem a bit rolled off as
            well.
----------

This may seem to be a case of the "system compatibility" problems (as noted
many times before, high-end systems are picky and may or may not work well in
certain configurations).  This appears to be the case.

My experience with the PS Audio Ultralink was very positive. My reference system
consists of Martin Logan Quest speakers coupled to the Mark Levinson 23.5 amp,
using Kimber interconnect and speaker cables; Cardas cables were substituted in
and out for comparison purposes. Preamp (if one can call it that) was the EVS
Stepped Attenuator (heh). Interconnect runs were 1/2 meter; speaker runs were
8 ft. runs of Kimber 8TC. Kimber PowerKord was the primary power "Kable" (neat
stuff, that AC cable!). Transport was Theta Data II with Kimber coax digital 
interconnect.

A Audio Research DAC (20bit Ultralink) was used for "reference" purposes; the
ML 30 is a rare component in San Diego.  

My impressions of the PSA Ultralink were very positive: Soundstaging was clear
all the way to the rear (Water Music -- Harmonia Mundi) of the hall, where I 
could pick out the "boxiness" of the venue! It was very striking, almost 
reminiscent of my listening sessions with the Duntech Soveriegns.
The presentation of the midrange was not too forward, instead, coming from the
same plane as the Quests, as if I was looking at one giant speaker.  Some folks
like to "look into" the music, and thus prefer the more distant soundstage
presentation.  On the other hand, some prefer the "music-in-your-face"
perspective where the music is thrown into your lap.

Massed strings
were not steely or congested. Listening through the ARC unit made the strings
more "silkier" or "rounder" in relative terms, but I think it is due to the ARC
tube output stage.  PSA's unit had a slightly analytical (hyper-detail) 
presentation that did not detract from the music but could become a problem in
already-analytical systems (such as Threshold preamps, Classe' amps, Quad ESL,
and Amrita minimonitors, etc)

Bass performance was a bit lightweight, IMHO, but that is probably because of
the amp/speaker interface.  My personal tastes are biased towards "slam" and
articulation. The Ultralink lost some of that slam.

Interestingly, the ARC handled sibilants sloppier than the Ultralink.  I 
would think that the ARC would have performed better in this aspect. The S sounds jumped right out at me through the ARC (in recordings that had sibilants). 
This was less noticable with the PS Audio. I don't think this is due to the
apparant HF roloff that Mr. Kucharski noted; the Ultralink had a nice "air"
around strings, cymbals and percussion.

My overall impressions of the PS Audio within the context of this reference
system are positive in terms of absolute soundstaging (where the ARC is about
the same!) and high frequency extension and "air." 
Midrange was slighly analytical; while piano keys didn't "jump" out at me, I did
feel that the music was slightly being "lifted" into my face. Hmm.

Would I purchase this? For $1995? Yep. First off, it will kill most competition
below this "price point" in terms of price/performance ratio. At higher price
levels (aarrghh.. wish it weren't so.. and sometimes it isn't!) you get better
subjective sound quality in incremental quantities.

-just another view..

Greg Penetrante
-gregpen@crash.cts.com