I am having exactly the same noise problem as you. My MKII is connected a JL CR-1 electronic crossover then directly to a pair of Benchmark AHB2 amps. My noise began as a constant noise just before I updated to Massive. Now it is all over the place as far as levels go. Sometimes when I first turn on my system it comes on loud enough to hear from my listening position 10 ft away. Other times it is just at a very low level. Then at the end of music it ramps up and then fades with the end of the track. Aaron said they have it as a priority to fix the problem. I hope so, because Massive is a massive update but I have not been able to listen much as the noise is very annoying.
I seem to be more dense than everyone else here, as usual.
Can anyone link me to step-by-step instructions for upgrading the firmware?
Thanks,
M
Massive interjected spurious noise. If I return to 208-Antero, the spurious noise is eliminated. Any suggestions?
From the instructions included in the firmware download:
Instructions to update firmware on a PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2
Section 1: Update user firmware
To update the user firmware, you will need a thumb drive to insert into the back of the unit.
- Unzip this package and copy the image.bin file to the root directory of a USB thumb drive.
- Place the thumb drive in the USB slot on the back of the unit marked FW.
- Using the front panel Logo LED button, place the unit in standby.
- Using the switch in the back of the unit, power off the unit and then power it back on.
- The Logo LED will turn on solid blue for a few seconds.
- The Logo LED will begin to blink rapidly. It should blink around 25 to 30 times.
- The update will complete and the unit will immediately initialize.
In some cases, the unit may freeze on the PS Audio splash screen. If this happens, remove the USB drive from the back of the unit and power cycle the unit again as in step 4.
Note that if you update the firmware and leave the USB thumb drive in the unit, the firmware will not be updated again if you were to put the unit into Idle or to power off from the back panel. The unit will detect the firmware is the same and skip the update. However, PS Audio recommends that the USB thumb drive be removed during normal operation of the device.
Section 2: Update FPGA firmware
To update the FPGA firmware, you will need a thumb drive to insert into the back of the unit.
- Unzip this package and copy the fpga1_###_.bin file to a USB thumb drive.
- Insert the thumb drive into the USB Type-A port labelled FW on the back of the unit.
- Enter the menus (long press the menu button) and scroll right to the System sub-menu. Press the center nav button to enter the System sub-menu.
- Scroll right to the FPGA Load screen.
- You will see a list of valid FPGA files on the thumb drive. Highlight the one you want to load (for exmample, fpga1_198_Antero.bin, or any other load you have put on the thumbdrive). Press the center nav button.
- A status screen will appear with details of the FPGA load process.
- After verifying the image is loaded properly, a pop-up will display asking to reboot the unit.
- Press the cetner nav button and the unit will auto-reboot. You do not need to power cycle on the back panel.
- Once the unit is up, go into the menus and scroll right to the Versions screen. Scroll down to verify the FPGA image is correct for the load you selected.
- You can load multiple fpga bin files (using the format fpga1_###_.bin) to the USB drive and easily swap between them. The unit will display the first ten files.
In some cases, the unit may freeze on the PS Audio splash screen. If this happens, remove the USB drive from the back of the unit and power cycle the unit from the back panel.
CAVEATS
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For Mac users, if the DSD MK2 doesn’t recognize your thumbdrive, be sure to format it for FAT32 and not EXFAT.
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If nothing appears in the FPGA Load menu, try powering the unit off in the back, inserting the USB stick, then powering it back on and returning to the menu.
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Thanks! @Excalibur
I’d looked in the manual and the website and here on the forums and it didn’t occur to me to look in download folder. It’s always the last place, right? Thanks again.
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It is always in the last place; once found one stops looking. 
These days I hardly play DSD. Almost all I play is PCM from streaming services.
Both of the stable white noise (pre-Massive) and “spurious” noise (post-Massive) I hear throughout playing back music, regardless what the music is. I believe we cannot hear pop noises between tracks since FW 2.6.2 with its muting applied.
So, after Massive I hear the noise (which is different from before) on both of my power amps (unlike before Massive), Hegel and Luxman, when Mk2 is directly connected. I remember there was a member who reported the white noise before Massive with his multiple class D amplifiers.
I’m also curious whether Ted or other PSA engineers have a configuration on which they can replicating the issue on their development environment, because it is an essential thing for troubleshooting.
I think they cannot test the noise issue on BHK power amps, because I’ve read multiple members reported that they have no noise issue when Mk2 is directly connected to BHK amps. I guess it might consist something works as a low pass filter in high frequency (ultrasonic) band in the input stage.
I agree.
I would also like to expect a kind of accountability if connecting directly to amplifiers is not always recommended by the manufacturer’s point of view. We think it should be no problem when we find the volume control is equipped with the DAC.
In my case, imagine if I haven’t read Stereophile’s review, I had been left in the darkness with these white noise and spurious noise without any clue. It is terrible.
So, I appreciate JA very much for valuable information, as well as Ted and other PSA people for their continuous efforts in delivering great products and improvements.
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If you are connecting your Mk2 directly to your power amp, then I suggest using a pre amp will be one of effective solutions, from my own experience.
Another solution may be swapping your amplifier with the PSA BHK amps, based on other members’ comments.
My DSD Mark 2 is connected directly into BHK 300s.
I get the same noise that other people have been reporting.
It sounds like a precious testimony. You hear the noise before or after the Massive?
Is the noise the white noise or “spurious” one?
After Massive.
Here’s a portion of my report to engineering 18 days ago:
“I loaded 228.
Got an audible hiss that seem to vary in volume in time with the music.
Could’ve been more audible in the right channel maybe.
Re-powered the unit, same symptom.”
I see.
It seems I was wrong and there is no magic in the input stage of BHK amps for eliminating ultrasonic noises.
The situation of your BHK amp seems as similar to my Luxman amp as they have no issue before the Massive.
One good news from your comment is that we can assume PSA has the system (ie. BHK 300) with which they can replicate the issue internally in their premise.
I have tried DAC to Amplifier so many times and I never wanted to stay with it. A decent, and in some cases a ludicrous preamp is always preferred. The DAC agrees.
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I have not experience any of the noise described in this thread - I have my MKII connected directly to my NuVista 800 Integrated amplifier via the XLR balanced inputs. Could some be experiencing a ground loop issue?
Completely agree If nothing else a preamp is a great isolator / buffer between source and destination. Being a source switch adds to the utility.
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Integrated could be the difference. Has a built in pre amp section.
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Maybe I missed it but has anybody put their “noisy” DSD2 in another system and it was quiet there?
Or, in their noisy system, added a preamp, and it became quiet?
Not that I have any hissing issues with Massive, but in the pro recording industry, there has to be a term for this phenomenom?
Impedance mismatch? Or anything else come to mind? Just out of of curiosity can want to do some searches on google.
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Yes.
In my case, when I added preamp, no white noise, nor spurious noise audible during playback.
It seems preamp is mandatory after the Massive (at least as of Beta).
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