PS Audio releases Snowmass firmware

Owners of the PS Audio DirectStream D/A converter can now upgrade the unit’s firmware to the latest version. Dubbed Snowmass, the upgrade is the latest in a long line of ongoing firmware updates offering incremental performance improvements.

The DirectStream uses a Field-Programmable Gate Array for D/A conversion, rather than a conventional DAC chip, which has allowed PS Audio to offer owners a succession of firmware upgrades at regular intervals – at zero cost.

The result of ongoing research and development by long-time PS Audio collaborator, software engineer and digital audio guru, Ted Smith, Snowmass promises a lower noise floor, reduced jitter and improved digital filtering, thanks to improved upsampling techniques.

PCM files at normal CD sampling rates of 44,1 kHz are said to be the biggest beneficiaries of the upgrade, although Smith says the improvements are significant, regardless of sampling rate, including DSD files.

Snowmass is relevant to both the DirectStream DAC and the DS Junior pre-amp/DAC, while owners of DirectStream DACs with the Bridge II streamer also get a software update for the Bridge to improve performance and stability.

According to PS Audio, Snowmass now allows for 20x upsampling, which has contributed to extended frequency response, enhanced low-level linearity, and greater soundstage depth.

The Bridge II updated improves compatibility with Roon, Tidal, Spotify Connect and Qobuz, as well as coping with MQA-encoded files. The DS and Bridge II updates can be downloaded from the PS Audio website.

PS Audio