Has anyone experienced loss of Album art on their DirectStream after they installed the Red Cloud update? This is not a major issue, however, I enjoyed seeing the album art to what I was listening to through Roon using the Bridge II. Ever since the upgrade, all I see on the DirectStream screen is the PS Audio logo. The Bridge II has the latest update too.
Did you remember to keep the SD Card inserted into the back of the Directstream after updating to Red Cloud? Cover art won’t work without the SD card installed.
The DS manual says (page 7 of the version currently available for download) to remove the SD card after a firmware upgrade, which is fine if you don’t have a Bridge installed. Not good advice for Bridge owners who want to see artwork, though.
Paul, that section of the manual really should be updated.
Philip saidHas anyone experienced loss of Album art on their DirectStream after they installed the Red Cloud update? This is not a major issue, however, I enjoyed seeing the album art to what I was listening to through Roon using the Bridge II. Ever since the upgrade, all I see on the DirectStream screen is the PS Audio logo. The Bridge II has the latest update too.
I’ve posted earlier that often MQA art either doesn’t show or takes 1-2 minutes.
Tidal art does not consistently appear either. If you play an entire album the art comes with the first track and disappears with the second track. Life is too short for me to care beyond that point.
I find that the artwork is flaky with Roon, and suspect that it is an issue with my usage: I often put the DSD in standby for the night without stopping Roon. The next morning I “turn on” the DSD then unpause Roon, and no more art after that. Restarting both the DSD and Roon in that sequence fixes the artwork issue.
This behavior also seems to afflict the Next/Previous function on the remote. At least one way to stop it from working is press Next on the DSD remote several times fairly quickly: after that, no more Next/Previous function. I believe it also stops working when I “turn off” my DSD without stopping Roon, as above.
I usually have the display off anyway, so I’m not too concerned about the artwork, but I would like the Next/Previous issue to get fixed some day - it’s very useful for critical listening.
magister saidThe DS manual says (page 7 of the version currently available for download) to remove the SD card after a firmware upgrade, which is fine if you don’t have a Bridge installed. Not good advice for Bridge owners who want to see artwork, though.
Paul, that section of the manual really should be updated.
Good point. Whilst it’s been mentioned many times in the forums that the album coverart is stored on the SD card, I don’t see that fact mentioned anywhere in the owners manual. The OM should be a one-stop definitive reference without needing to rely on forums for important operating information. It should also be mentioned in the troubleshooting section of the OM…"“If no album coverart check that SD card is inserted”.
Regarding the manual.
My brand new DS DAC (december 2017) came with a 2014 manual and a letter to “Dear PS Audio Owner” that had an SD card in a little baggy stapled to it. I had no idea what the SD card was to be used for since there was no mention of it in the manual. It was only after I joined the forums and did some queries did I find out the album art depended on it. Updating manuals seems to be a dead art form.
It is not surprising the manual is outdated as it is primarily software documentation. I have yet to meet a programmer who enjoys preparing documentation. 
Manuals and specifications are not PS Audio strengths; they would rather work on improving their offerings. But the manuals and information should be up to date, at least as to major features and functions.
I worked for a USA supercomputer company. They had a 2 or 3 person department called technical documentation. They were all degreed EE’s who liked to write (my wife was one of them). None of the software or hardware engineers had to do a bit of writing all they had to do was to attend monthly meetings with the technical writers and be available for questions and sign off on documentation.
This was many years ago, but that function could now be handled very easily by a freelance technical writer. There is no excuse for shipping product with an outdated manual and maintaining an online link to an outdated manual.
rodrigaj saidRegarding the manual.
My brand new DS DAC (december 2017) came with a 2014 manual and a letter to “Dear PS Audio Owner” that had an SD card in a little baggy stapled to it. I had no idea what the SD card was to be used for since there was no mention of it in the manual. It was only after I joined the forums and did some queries did I find out the album art depended on it. Updating manuals seems to be a dead art form.
We don’t send out units with older manuals as a habit. I’ll bet your DAC had been sitting on a dealer’s shelf? If you send us the serial number we can tell. Unless, gulp, it came directly from us and then I am lost for words.
Paul -
Here are all of the id numbers in the back:
APW-DSD_USBBR
PWS-A1-7L116764
116764
Purchased from TMR in CO 12/17/17
The manual has the following information:
Copyright 2014
Service
15-061-01-1 RevA
Yup. As I suspected. It is a brand new unit but it was manufactured some time ago (though obviously not in 2014 as the copyright date suggests). Dealers often purchase blocks of new kit and then it sits in their warehouse until sold. The only downside to this can be something like the manual, which is why we try and keep updated manuals available for download, though as Elk pointed out, we’re still not perfect by a long shot. We rarely change copyright date.
I appreciate there is at least a manual. Many manufacturers of varying products now only provide a “quick start” if that, with a link to reference/download an on-line manual.
Paul-
Thank you for the clarification. Looking forward to Octave!
Will there be an RedCloud update (without the issues)?
Today i swapped back to Yale and noticed a more punchy sound.
I think i will stay here for a while.
RedCloud sound a little dull to me compared to my reference an Audio Research CDP.
I've to rectify my previous post.
Just loaded RedCloud again and the SQ is so much better than Yale.
I made the mistake to compare RedCloud at 90 volume setting to Yale set at 100.
It turns out that my Pre likes a higher input level from the source.
Setting DS volume control to 90 gives me a lifeless sound.
Don’t know why.
@ Ted could this a mismatch from the output impedance of the DS to the input impedance of my Spectral pre (15K)?
The output impedance of the DS is a pretty flat approx. 280 Ohms (balanced.) That should be fine with just about any preamp.
To me it’s amazing how different (including how different the level of engagement) very slight volume changes make. Every recording has an ideal volume where the frequency response is flat to the ear/brain. With acoustically recorded sound this is often a fairly realistic level. What bugs me is that that level is too high to listen to for long (with most recordings.)