PS Audio PMG Signature 512 DAC

PS Audio PMG Signature 512 DAC

At the heart of the PMG Signature 512 DAC is a breakthrough in digital audio: the PureStream DSD512 engine. Running at a blazing 22MHz, PureStream upsamples any incoming PCM or DSD signal to a native 8X DSD stream—far beyond standard formats and completely free from PCM conversion or decimation. This ultra-high-resolution DSD stream is then passed through our SpectraWave 64-Tap Sequencer, which time-aligns and refines the signal with surgical precision, lowering noise and distortion while preserving every musical nuance. From there, it flows directly into a simple, elegant analog low-pass filter—no complex conversion stages, just pure music.

The 512 doesn’t rely on off-the-shelf DAC chips. This is a custom-designed platform built from the ground up to achieve what no other DAC has: sonic transparency with SINAD better than -100dB and vanishingly low output noise. Multiple ultra-stable reclocking circuits, galvanic isolation between all digital inputs, and full separation between digital and analog sections ensure jitter-free, noise-immune performance. And yes, the PMG Signature 512 also features our renowned Digital Lens technology, ensuring that incoming digital data is perfectly reorganized and reclocked before ever reaching the PureStream engine. Every effort in its design—from input to output—is focused on preserving imaging, tonal richness, and musical truth. One listen, and you’ll know: this is unlike anything you’ve heard before. The PMG Signature 512 DAC is not just a component—it’s a revolution in digital audio.

Design

Designing the PMG Signature 512 DAC was never about meeting expectations—it was about redefining what a digital source could be. This is a radical departure not only from traditional PCM-based architectures but also from conventional DSD implementations and off-the-shelf chip solutions. At its core is our all-new PureStream DSD512 engine, a proprietary design that upsamples every input—PCM or DSD—to a native 8X DSD stream. That stream is then refined by our SpectraWave 64-Tap Sequencer, a precision digital filter engineered to eliminate jitter, reduce noise, and preserve every nuance of the music. The result is pure sonic truth, passed into a fully balanced, direct-coupled analog output stage. With galvanically isolated inputs, a built-in high-performance streamer, and precision analog volume control, the PMG 512 is not just a DAC—it’s the heart of a no-compromise reference system.

Application

The PMG Signature 512 DAC is as versatile as it is revolutionary—and a major step above even the finest DACs we’ve ever built. Use it as a standalone directly into your power amplifier, thanks to its ultra-precise analog volume control, and experience purity, dynamics, and realism like never before. At its heart is PS Audio’s latest high-definition streaming module, fully galvanically isolated to eliminate noise and preserve absolute musical integrity. Whether paired with the PMG Signature Preamplifier for the ultimate reference system or run solo into your amp, the 512 delivers sound that is breathtakingly clear, natural, and alive. This isn’t just high-end performance. This is a whole new benchmark. The PMG Signature 512 DAC is music, uncompromised.

Technology

Think of the PMG Signature 512 DAC as the ultimate destination in digital audio—a no-compromise centerpiece for the most revealing high-performance systems. Whether your setup is purely digital or a hybrid of analog and digital sources, the 512 redefines what’s possible from a DAC. Built around our PureStream DSD512 engine and SpectraWave 64-Tap Sequencer, and featuring a fully balanced, direct-coupled analog output stage, the PMG 512 delivers sound with breathtaking realism, depth, and musicality. It supports I²S for a perfect connection to our top transport, and includes a world-class galvanically isolated streamer. Replace your DAC, your streamer—or even your preamplifier—and prepare to be stunned by the transformation. Rich. Pure. Effortless. The PMG Signature 512 DAC is the product of over fifty years of innovation and the first to carry the name of our founder. It’s not just the best DAC we’ve ever built—it’s the best DAC we know how to imagine.

PS Audio PMG Signature 512 DAC Specification:

• Analog Conversion Method
  DSD Ladder DAC at 5.6, 11.3 or 22.6MHz
• Digital Audio Inputs
  Inputs: I2S (2), Coax (2), XLR Balanced (2), Optical, USB
  Sample Rates and Formats: Full support for PCM and DSD including DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, Native DSD
• Data Handling
  Format: PCM or DSD
  Sample Rates: PCM up to 705.6kHz; DSD via DoP and Native
  Word Length (PCM): 16b, 18b, 20b, 24b
• Analog Audio Output
  Connector: RCA single-ended or balanced, XLR balanced
  Output Level: 4 VRMS Balanced / 2 VRMS Single Ended
  Output Impedance: 100Ω / 200Ω
  Frequency Response: 20-20KHz ± 0.25dB
  THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale): <0.1%
  Output Stage: High-speed op-amp with discrete buffers
• USB Digital Input
  Connector: USB “B” Type
  Format: PCM, DoP v1.1, Native DSD
  Transfer Mode: Asynchronous
• I2S Digital Input
  Connector: HDMI
  Format: PCM or DSD (DoP and raw DSD supported)
• Power Requirements
  Input Power: Auto Voltage (120VAC / 230VAC, 50/60Hz)
  Power Consumption: 25W
• Unit Weight
  21 lbs [9.53 kg]
• Unit Dimensions
  14” x 17” x 4” [36cm x 43cm x 10cm]
• Color Options
  Black / Silver
• Shipping Weight
  30 lbs [13.6 kg]
• Shipping Dimensions
  20.5” x 24” x 10” [52cm x 61cm x 25cm]