I would have to say maybe smooth as in a little more analog sounding. I know many may not agree but also like when I was switching back and forth from Tidal to Qobuz. Qobuz Just to my ears sounds a little more smooth. Hope that makes sense.
3 Likes
@ msaladino22
Yes thanks.
(My DS MK1 already sounds smooth.)
Can you also tell something about the soundstage?
Depth, width and seperation of voices and instruments?
I agree with, and may have used the term smooth to describe it as well. For me in this case, it means âmore like realityâ. Real sound is utterly continuous and smooth, but you donât think of it that way until you listen to digital for a while. Digital is finally getting truly good in this way these days.
I think traditionally when the use of this term is a concern, it is that the sound is âsoftenedâ to some degree or pleasantly distorted (added analog-like 2nd or 3rd order harmonics) in a way that mitigates the harshnesses of some forms of digital reproduction.
This ainât that. There is no audible loss of anything to get the âsmoothâ quality of continuousness it brings. Also, the higher-resolution, wider, more open and deep sound you get is not accompanied by any of the dry, jacked-up datarate sort of feel I sometimes get from even very high rate PCM. That can be analagous to the latest Megapixel sensor in photography where you go - âyeah - but moâ ainât always moâ bettahâ.
I realize it can be argued that this DAC is doing that same sort of up-resolution thing but in another format, but Iâll confess that the way DSD accomplishes this is what attracted me to it from Day 1. This is doing it in a more transparent and realistic fashion, IMO.
7 Likes
Before switching to headphones last night MK2âs sound stage was opening up especially width, beyond the speakers. I never heard this through JR. Instruments and voices having a more solid place within the sound stage, much more realistic and smooth Lol said it again and this only at the 30 hour mark.
6 Likes
Agreed, @badbeef .
Going a little OCD, hearing the difference between the MKI and the MKII added to the way Iâd describe sound now. Trying to not overuse visual analogy, but it really does hit me visually, a sign that itâs big in my perception.
Solo voices with the MKI seem to start out of the soundstage from within a circle about 10" in diameter distributed like bits of sound with silence between them. They all seem to arrive at my ears at just slightly different times. The impression was once a miracle of definition and separation in the sound stage. Now, it sounds slightly unintegrated and a bit fuzzy, leaving the same feeling as a faint distracting static. And the MKI has been a terrific piece of gear among its competitors.
On the MKII, the sound starts out of the soundstage the size of a mouth, and the sound is all together, not dotted in my perception. Each word hits like a solid tonal object then flows through each note. No feeling of static or haze.
2 Likes
In other words closer to reality.
2 Likes
Fly Me to the Moon 
A bunch.
1 Like
Went to update my previous post from Friday, and include a link to it for convenience, but the forum software saw fit to delete the entire thing. I couldnât figure out how to un-delete it, so here it is repeated:
Picked up my beta unit yesterday afternoon in Boulder. At this late stage, I have to assume mine is one of the last of the beta units. It has all of the hardware tweaks that have been implemented since problems were reported with some of the early units and before I grabbed it, James ran it back to the shop to have the latest firmware (2.3.3) installed and have it run through the usual final tests.
Since weâre that much closer to what will be the final product, I decided to stress test thing and set mine up âcaveman style.â That is to say, by not consulting the user manual (user manual? we donât need to stinkinâ user manual) and simply inserting it in the stack and firing it up and using the existing remote from the PST/MK I.
I use a pink noise file on a usb stick via the PST(set to ârepeatâ to burn in new gear. Also on the usb are files in 44.1, 192/24, and 128 DSD. All played flawlessly and the correct data appeared on the DACâs display. The only anomaly noted was a brief âpfftâ burst of white noise when the pink noise file began to repeat.
With the streaming setup feeding I2S input #1 and the PST connected to I2S #2, I was able to toggle between the two sources using the remote with no hiccups dropouts. I donât know how the input auto detect was configured (didnât read the manual, yâknow). The MK II has been fed the pink noise signal continuously for over 16 hours now and is still playing. I havenât tried the usb input as yet.
My âstackâ is a sandwich consisting of the PST on the bottom, then the MK II DAC, on top of which with sits an Aurender N100h and Matrix. After being powered up for 4-5 hours the temperature taken on the top of the MKII and underneath the Aurender was 98.6 F. This morning it was 104F or so. Meaning that the MK II is situated between two additional heat sources (the Aurender alse runs slightly warm at ~96F) and is not running crazy hot.
I also do not hear any trace of a 60 Hz hum or buzz unless my ear is pressed up to the case. And even then, itâs very low level. That is to say - not an issue.
I havenât done any critical listening yet, and will let the DAC continue to burn in while I monitor function and play with the usb input in addition to the I2S.
2 Likes
Now for the update.
The MKII has been playing for ~36 hours without a drop out or silence.
Temperature is steady at ~104F as described above.
Tried the usb input last evening. No issues switching inputs between usb and the PST on I2S.
Once the unit is burned in more, Iâll turn my attention to SQ with and without the Matrix.
For grins I compared the SQ of usb to I2S by playing a CD on the PST through I2S and the same CD playing on Qobuz through usb. This was not critical listening at this point, but I couldnât hear a difference.
So far, this MKII has been flawless (knock wood)
7 Likes
What usb and I2S cables did you use?
Howard - a bit confused what you mean by this. Do you mean âthe Redbook res file of the same album played on Qobuzâ via the Aurenderâs USB out?
I have a collection (thanks to Al). Iâm going to post system details in âSystem Photosâ later today.
1 Like
Just checking to see if youâre comparing apples to apples here. I stream via AQ Dragon I2S. I have a Premium Transparent USB cable i will compare same file with later to see if there is a difference.
Good to know. Iâll just hang out and wait to see what they come up with. All new units not experiencing update issues is a good thing. The last thing you want is to get a bunch of production units out in the field only to have then go silent the first time an update is loaded. So taking the time to make sure they are actually fixing the problem and not just band-aiding a symptom is the smart way to go.
I wasnât ready to do any critical listening and was mainly interested in testing the input switching functionality, so while I was at it, I grabbed a David Grisman Quintet CD (44/16) I had and loaded that in the PST. The PST was connected to the MKII via I2S.
I then queued up the same CD (same resolution) on Qobuz via the Aurender. Normally, its usb output feeds a Matrix and from there to the DAC via the second I2S input. But because switching between I2S and usb inputs was potentially problematic in some units, for this test I bypassed the Matrix and ran the Aurenderâs usb output directly into the usb input of the MKII.
So, yes. In this down and dirty comparison a run-of-the-mill redbook CD played via the PST>MKII was equal in SQ to the same resolution file via Qobuz>Aurender>usb>MKII.
Hardly definitive at this point, but definitely encouraging.
2 Likes
Thanks @kenyz and the ever-articulate @badbeef, youâve expressed my experience with the MKII better than I can! I have an early beta without any of the issues some have suffered thru, and can only say my system has never sounded better, especially with FPGA FW 178 (and the original user FW 2.3.0).
Every once in awhile Iâll encounter a familiar track where the voices or strings sound a bit distorted (Iâm not sure if âsibilantâ is the appropriate term). This has not happened often, and most recordings sound more musical than with my slightly modified MKI. For now I will attribute this to the more revealing nature of the MKII (or my brain playing tricks on me).
I also could not update the FW using a USB 3.0 thumb drive, and had to turn the place upside down to find a 2.0 drive. The resulting sound was well worth a messy apartment.
1 Like
I realized it might not be clear from the system description Iâll post later, but the Matrix>DAC HDMI cable is AQ Dragon. PST > DAC is RAL. USB cable from the Aurender to Matrix is Cardas Hi-Speed.
So, as far as cables, the quick comparison I just did was PST>RAL>MKII vs Aurender>Cardas> MKII.
I also have a Wireworld Platinum Starlight in the inventory. Readers should stand by for a garage sale if things work out the way I hope they will.
7 Likes
Many thanks @vkennedy61 for doing these intensive tests and working with Jesus on this issue. Did the new firmware for the MKII bring some changes to the USB configuration? I am really looking forward to the native DSC solution using my Rendu and the MKII. 
I am not part of the beta program, but I have placed an official order for the MKII at my local dealer.
4 Likes
Thought I would start sharing my thoughts as I just received my Beta unit this past Friday.
Current Setup is:
FR-30 Speakers>Synergistic Research Active X Euphoria Speaker Cables>BHK-600s>SR Euphoria XLR Interconnects>Holo Audio Serene Pre-Amp>SR Euphoria XLR Interconnects>Holo Audio May KTE>AQ Dragon HDMI>Denafrips GAIA DDC>AQ Dragon USB>Aurender N20
Subbing out the May DAC for the MKII (No GAIAâŚjust Aurender N20 to MKII via AQ Dragon USB and XLR to the Serene). Out of the box, the sound is quite small in scale and less dynamic than the May DAC
but still balanced. Definitely needs time to break in (planning on 100 hours).
I have a low white noise âhissâ from the FR-30 tweeter when using the MKII that isnâtâ there with the May DAC (with or without the GAIA). Anyone else have this?
Iâll share any changes midway through burn in.