# DirectStream DAC MKII Beta Tester Reviews **URL:** \ **Category:** DACs\ **Created:** [November 10, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036 "2022-11-10T14:33:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 98
**Author:** ![magister0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@magister0](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/magister0)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1963 "2022-12-18T01:08:17Z")
> [@scotte1](#): > > appears to me PSA is still gathering and analyzing data from this exercise. I would think so. I just hope that after they get more data, they will provide an update/explanation for those of us who have been following the Mk II saga carefully. ---
**Author:** ![Vmax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vmax/32/19896_2.png) [@Vmax](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Vmax)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 1:53am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1964 "2022-12-18T01:53:13Z")
Sorry that was typo. I meant here not to type hear. I was annoyed with the the projection of opinions that some think Beta Testers should fit “their” mold of what matters to “them.” Instead of ignoring what they did not want to read. Telling us to go somewhere else and we did not belong to this perfectionist exclusivity club of golden gear. Trying to exclude and devalue what we had to add and not being kind and courteous to all opinions and to project a toxic environment. We are just as invested as anyone else at improving the product in both dollars and time. So I questioned whether it was worth participating or just s end the unit back. ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1965 "2022-12-18T01:55:04Z")
> [@tech-hifi](#): > > Maybe the second string components are just as good, but maybe not… We never settled for 2nd best, we instead found a different solution that was at least as good and sometimes better than the original design. Most of the parts substitution that didn’t need a layout change involved getting the higher temperature grades or automotive qualified versions of the parts. Sometime ones with higher voltage ratings or some features we didn’t need to use. The changes weren’t cheap and they weren’t compromises. > [@kzk](#): > > At any rate it raises the issue why do some and not others [have noise]? People live in all kinds of environments. There’s no way for me to hear the hum here until the AC/furnace isn’t running, the refrigerators aren’t running and the pool pump (it came with the house) isn’t running. And then I only hear it when nothing is playing in the system and there’s no TV or whatever playing anywhere else in the house. Some people have very well designed, quiet rooms and I’d expect them to hear more hum, but not much, probably not from the listening position, and certainly not when the music has started. To my knowledge no one that has one is bothered by any hum. > [@magister0](#): > > I just hope that after they get more data, they will provide an update/explanation for those of us who have been following the Mk II saga carefully. I’m not going to promise anything (and am not in a position to do so). Random people are on vacation right now, but I know there are multiple people at PS Audio reading every post here and noting the problems. Many have been addressed and more are in the bug database. Any unit that has the spontaneous mute issue will probably be asked to come back and get fixed. There were more mute-like issues not having to do with hardware than with hardware so at times it hasn’t been easy to tell the difference. Some units that went back were fine. The current production units clearly already have that fixed. That said there are probably some somewhere that for whatever reason still need to be fixed. Some of this consternation is clearly a result of not setting expectations clearly. It was never the plan to fix each and every software thing found in beta before the release went out. There will be software updates with bug fixes and also with some of the features that the DS didn’t have that we all expected the DS Mk II to have. But it’s best to take the time to coordinate those between here and there before shipping them - and I expect that we’ll call on some beta testers to try some of the software fixes before we ship that new software. I also listen to what everyone has said. I don’t work on the USB or the UI, but I still help PS Audio when I can with them. I use the feedback to set my priorities for the places to work in the FPGA for the next software release and have gotten good information from the beta process on this point as well. ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1966 "2022-12-18T02:06:28Z")
> [@tedsmith](#): > > Sometime ones with higher voltage ratings or some features we didn’t need to use. The changes weren’t cheap and they weren’t compromises. Great clarification, Ted. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![badbeef](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/badbeef/32/142_2.png) [@badbeef](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/badbeef)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1967 "2022-12-18T02:08:16Z")
> [@Vmax](#): > > Telling us to go somewhere else and we did not belong to this perfectionist exclusivity club of golden gear. Trying to exclude and devalue what we had to add and not being kind and courteous to all opinions and to project a toxic environment. This strikes me as a willful misinterpretation, if you’re talking about me and vkennedy feeling that it would help to have a separate tweaks thread. No one asked you to go away, you are reading that into it. We were actively helping others sort out the problems and everyone talking about the same unit seemed like it might help uncomplicate a complicated beta. You’ve made it clear you’re into this for yourself in an earlier post, which I get - we’re not getting compensated for participation. But I don’t understand this perception of persecution. ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1968 "2022-12-18T03:09:51Z")
> [@badbeef](#): > > Try a different USB stick I bought a couple 8gb 2.0 flash drives and when I erased and format the first stick to ExFat, it didn’t work. The second one I did not format at all brand new out of the box and it worked!! I now have 179 Antero. Great! ---
**Author:** ![badbeef](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/badbeef/32/142_2.png) [@badbeef](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/badbeef)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:13am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1969 "2022-12-18T03:13:59Z")
I got Antero going but not with 2.3.3 as expected - since it muted my unit earlier. So I’m going to have to bring mine in🥲 ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1970 "2022-12-18T03:14:30Z")
I usually see PS Audio recommending fat 32 for formatting. Try that and try that on the drive that didn’t work and give it another shot. It most likely will work fine! Glad you got 179 loaded! ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1971 "2022-12-18T03:22:09Z")
What I don’t understand is I got the first USB stick to work with uploading 2.3.3 and 178, but it won’t do this 179. It was a 32gb 3.0 flash drive. The one I got now that uploaded the 179 is a 8gb 2.0 flash drive. ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1972 "2022-12-18T03:23:14Z")
Welcome to computers. They are pain in the arse. ---
**Author:** ![badbeef](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/badbeef/32/142_2.png) [@badbeef](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/badbeef)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1973 "2022-12-18T03:26:40Z")
I remember with the Jr and DS having to (just to be safe) erase/reformat the drive in between if it wasn’t working. And/or being sure to empty the trash and eject properly. Sometimes that would help. Doesn’t seem like the 2 is as fussy, since you can have multiple files on the root level and it can sort them out. ---
**Author:** ![Palouse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/palouse/32/93521_2.png) [@Palouse](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Palouse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1974 "2022-12-18T03:27:06Z")
> [@vkennedy61](#): > > Welcome to computers. They are pain in the arse. And you can’t live without them! ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:36am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1975 "2022-12-18T03:36:56Z")
After the 179 upgrade, everything is working like before. The sound seems to be better too like it’s a little thicker and more complexed sounding, but that could be just in my head after something has changed, and the system fully warmed up. It was sounding so good already i wouldn’t think it could much better. ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:40am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1976 "2022-12-18T03:40:08Z")
@waymanchen11 What would be your recommendation be to a person doing their first software update? Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 3:52am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1978 "2022-12-18T03:52:07Z")
I would say just follow the instruction that comes with the downloads, and if your USB memory stick do not work, get this one from Amazon and don’t format it, just load the root files onto it and it should work. ![IMG_6090](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/1/3/130f79e45b3a82dd559ff48f6e87356ecf40a21b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 4:14am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1979 "2022-12-18T04:14:31Z")
Yes I agree that is screwy! ---
**Author:** ![paul172](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul172/32/308402_2.png) [@paul172](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/paul172)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1980 "2022-12-18T04:34:35Z")
> [@vkennedy61](#): > > There has been very low participation by PSA staff in this thread. Is there an internal forum that PS Audio employees share their findings within the company? Well stated tho Vince! You are the ideal beta tester. You seem to throw everything you can at the MK II. > [@mkpirulo](#): > > I received my unit Nov 22 have not had any issues so far but I’m only using [PST](https://www.psaudio.com/products/perfectwave-sacd-transport/) for an input. This is big. Seems like a majority of beta testers are only using a PST that doesn’t really test the different inputs or demand higher sampling rates. I would guess the primary device the MK II DAC is designed to support is the PST so not to many surprises compared to non PS Audio devices. Regardless I’m not a beta tester and I appreciate your time @vkennedy61 ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 5:16am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1981 "2022-12-18T05:16:34Z")
> [@paul172](#): > > Seems like a majority of beta testers are only using a PST that doesn’t really test the different inputs or demand higher sampling rates. I would guess the primary device the MK II DAC is designed to support is the PST so not to many surprises compared to non PS Audio devices. ? No actually. I designed it without having a PST at all. Primary device? The FPGA knows about two devices, they cover the 3 I2S inputs and the 5 AES3|S/PDIF|TOSLink style inputs. The hardware for inputs is an extension of the DS’s with enhancements from the TSS. I designed it to be a superset of the DS’s features which already included quad rate DSD. The Mk II also does 705.6k PCM which the DS didn’t. I regularly use the Matrix to run the highest resolutions supported on each input and switch between them a lot, at times interleaved with the inputs from a DMP (and now PST). I like quad rate just for the fun of listening and also for testing, I also have several XMOS development boards and worse kludges for other inputs. There are many sources at PS Audio and at the houses of some of the employees who took the device home for listening/testing. Getting quad rate working over USB took about as much work as I expected, more than they expected 🙂 I would have liked to have a PST and high rate USB available earlier in my work, but the FPGA uses the same hardware and software input processing as the DS so there wasn’t much risk there. I think you might be barking up the wrong tree. Tho I am looking forward to the USB updates. ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 5:25am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1982 "2022-12-18T05:25:30Z")
> [@paul172](#): > > Is there an internal forum that PS Audio employees share their findings within the company? I don’t know quite what you might be asking about. The company encourages people to share issues they see and work together to find good solutions for them. There are regular meetings with wide attendance (when I was there many times precovid the whole company got together regularly.) There are also weekly engineering meetings and a separate Mk II / TSS meeting so I don’t have to sit thru discussion of other products. They use a variety of tools to keep track of bugs, ideas, progress, issues and look at them as a team at least each week. ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 5:31am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036/1983 "2022-12-18T05:31:22Z")
What Ted describes is pretty much standard across most technical teams, this shouldn’t come as surprise. You can’t develop a technical product haphazardly. I’d be surprised if they didn’t use a Scrum framework to manage their work. [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036.md?page=97) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/directstream-dac-mkii-beta-tester-reviews/31036.md?page=99)