Computer Audiophile

It has been almost two months since I first reviewed the PS Audio Digital Link III DAC. In the time since that review I continued listening to the DLIII in between other DACs that have come and gone. My listening sessions lately have really been fun and I've managed to squeeze every bit of sound quality possible out of the DLIII. If you're wondering how I pulled a little something extra out of the DLIII, think full resolution 24/96 & DVD-Audio.

I recently finished ripping all of my DVD-Audio discs to my iTunes library. For the longest time I thought these discs would turn into coasters to be used at the local Regal Beagle. To my surprise I successfully ripped 24/96 audio tracks off these discs. I converted the WAV files into AIFF and soon thereafter had them imported into iTunes. Since the DLIII supports 24/96 via Toslink I connected my MacBook Pro using a Mini-Toslink to standard Toslink cable. Sure Toslink has taken a lot of heat in the audiophile world and rightly so in many cases, but that doesn't mean you can't get great sound from some Toslink connections. The first 24/96 album I played back through the DLIII was Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. To be honest I was almost giddy when the first track started. The sound was great and I had a whole bunch of albums reclaimed from the depths of obsolescence.

The DLIII handles these 24/96 albums with ease and produces some great sound. All the air around the instruments and the sense of atmosphere is all audible. Listening to Metallica's Black album at 24/96 is an excellent example. Lars' cymbals have a great sense of space around them and you can almost visualize him in the recording studio banging away on his Tama kit. One 24/96 album I pulled out of the mythical dustbin is Glen Phillips' Abulum. Fans of Toad the Wet Sprocket will recognize him as the lead singer of the band. His solo career hasn't been as commercially successful, but his music is equally enjoyable. Abulum sounds very stripped down and organic through the DLIII at full 24/96 resolution. If you're a fan of Toad I highly recommend picking up a DVD-Audio copy of Abulum.

Now that I've spent a couple more months with the DLIII I am even a bigger fan of the DAC. Setting the resolution to 96 kHz on the front of the unit and hitting play on a fulle 24/96 resolution album is something you don't want to miss. If you own this DAC head over to Acoustic Sounds and pickup some DVD-Audio discs. Conversely if you own dome DVD-A titles and want to really hear them through you music server, the DLIII is a great choice. If you don't currently have the DLIII or any DVD-A titles you don't know what you're missing. Take it from me I purchased the review unit.

Link to full product review.