Any Regrets in Upgrading from the MK1 to the MK2?

Ted Smith Signature DAC. This has been Ted and Paul’s target for the best DAC Ted could design, no holds barred. It’s been in the works a while.

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Not a Stock Mk I. But with the AirLens, the galvanic isolation of the Mk II shouldn’t have that much benefit, it’s meant for noisy streamers.

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Have they hinted at the price of this DAC when it is finally introduced?

Last I recall anyone saying anything about price, it was expected to be somewhere in the upper teens to about $20K. But that was a while ago.

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Wooo, too rich for my budget. :face_with_spiral_eyes:

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It’s within my budget, but I know it’s going to be a long wait before Beta time. It doesn’t matter, since my MK2 is performing so well that it’s making me forget about the TSS. The resolution and musicality of the MK2 is simply astounding when you maximize it’s performance with ultra quality source and cabling. It’s about the best digital I have ever heard.

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Ditto here.

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I’ll third that statement. :wink:

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That’s a great question!! I suspect the AirLens into the DS2 would be quite a decent upgrade again over the AirLens into the DS1. I can’t do an apples for apples comparison, but my experience has been:

• partnering up the Lindemann Limetree Bridge 2, a galvanically isolated streamer, with the DS1, gave a significant upgrade in sound compared to the streaming via PS Audio’s Bridge 2;
• there was a bigger again increase in sound quality moving from the DS1 to the DS2 with the Lindemann;
• swapping out the Lindemann for the AirLens into the DS2 really lifted things up considerably.

Looking back at this, I expect the AirLens into the DS1 would be a great value for money upgrade!! Hopefully you might be able to hear the DS2 into the AirLens to work out if it’s worth the leap :smiley:

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This is my set up.

FWIW, I have found the AL to offer an incremental (not “night and day”) improvement over the BII Ethernet card.*

That said, the AL remains in the system and the BII is in a box.

*My lack of the use of hyperbole should not be construed as criticism. The AL is a solid piece of design and it has replaced the BII in my system.

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I appreciate it when anyone here chooses not to use hyperbole.

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Very happy with upgrade from MKl to MKll…I use both PST and AirLens…no problem issues at all for me…

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I think I thanked all of you individually but if not, I appreciate all your answers.

Let me ask my question this way; other than losing the big beautiful screen, are there any other downsides in switching from the MK1 to the MK2?

Only if you were a fan of the Bridge. But both it and that larger display generated a bit of internal noise, so there’s that to consider.

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I upgraded from the MK1 to the MK2 with no regrets. I use mine with the PST and AL and I think it sounds great. I have always preferred the sound of vinyl over the years. However, I find myself primarily playing CDs and streaming more since adding the MK2 to my system. I just love how my system sounds with the MK2!

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I traded my Mk1 for a Mk2. Absolutely no regrets! I love it.

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So far we have 0 regret vs. 1 million happiness on MK2.

Not only I am in the happy group, I have so much fun from tweaking and cable changes as MK2 reveals everything. Not that I did not hear it from DS before, but MK2 is at another level on sensitivity.

I just added a few isolation plates from my storage, and I was pleasantly surprised they could still make futher improvement on SQ. This is fun. :man_dancing: :wine_glass:

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To the original question: Having a modded MK1 and tried a friend’s MK2 in my system, I can’t imagine anyone regretting upgrading to the MK2----except for money spent.
But if money is not an issue, I’d ask what you’re waiting for?

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Can you explain what isolation plates are? :thinking:


It is a 1“ thick black board that came with my old stands. I put four Duro70 rings under. I placed the PST on top with my usual metal column supports. I did the same with Lumin U2 streamer. Here are pictures. The SQ was more focused with better soundstage:

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