Hello
I am considering a digital director for my Premier DAC and was wondering what level and type of sound quality improvements I can expect. Thanks.
Added Question!!!
How many digital inputs can you use with the Digital Director? I have the Pro ISL USB, Renderer and the i2S modules…Can I use them all three?
You will hear a next leap in performance.
The isolation it give clearly gives the premier dac another notch higher.
I got myself a premier digital director to pair with a Discrete Dac. The same isolation clearly brings the level up for either Dac models. Alot of folks out there missing out what the digital director can do.
Now digital director is permanently integrated into the Palisade Dac. It’s a tell tale sign.
I added a DD to my Premier. It was a startling improvement, introducing clarity.
One caveat, I use predominantly Renderer V2 and TOSLink, and a side of the regular USB. If you you only use the ProISL USB input, the difference might not be as impressive.
Know, also, that when adding the DD, all the digital inputs, built in to the Premier DAC are disabled. When I ordered, I was able to choose an SPDIF module to make up for that.
If you, like me, plan to stick with the Premier DAC, it’s a very worthy add on.
And the Director also adds the DSP power required to run the more advanced digital filters which result in a more natural/less processed sound. In practice this means less harshness and broader listenability with a wider range of recordings. The lower noise floor that the Director brings to the Renderer leads to greater musical detail.
The Digital Director uses a processor that is 8 times larger than the processor in the DAC itself. This allowed our designer to create software that is 8X larger. Most importantly it is 8 times more resolution. The presentation has significantly more information, noticing things in your recordings that you never heard before. Yet it is smoother with greatly improved realism. This is true of all inputs. The electrical noise isolation from all sources is extraordinary. The only connection between the DAC and the Director is a fiber cable.
A further very audible improvement is the upgrade from the ISL fiber cable that was originally supplied, to the AOC fiber cable that has much lower jitter and draws less USB power. See the info on this page. https://msbtechnology.com/support/about-msb-fiber-connections/
Here is a short video showing how to remove the ISL SFP modules and install the AOC https://youtu.be/ZbeEvjwS_Is
Here is where to buy an AOC cable. https://www.fs.com/products/74607.html?attribute=10633&id=2101152 Please buy the 7 ft version or any longer length. They can also be coiled up and tucked under your rack if you prefer. There is no problem with coiling them up because it is laser light. There is no interaction due to inductance.
Thank you for the post and the good information. Please ask any questions.
I added a DD to my former Reference DAC (before moving to the Cascade) and the improvement was stunning. The DD has four slots so it can accomadate your three input modules. No debate. Just go for it.
Exactly the same here. DD is a substantial improvement.
After installing DD, does the quality of cables connecting from music sources still matter any more? (e.g.: I2S cable from streamer, network cable from network switch, etc.)
Much less with a DD installed. The format you pick will also be more flexible as the isolation it provides is superb. What ends up arriving at the DAC is a clean isolated signal that has very little to do with the initial incoming data.
Thanks Daniel. DD is my next target.
I expect to see some coming in through trade in for Palisade DAC’s, let me know if you are interested in a refurbished unit and I will let you know when it becomes available. Color preference as well?