My MKII has now logged ~200 hours of pink noise burn-in.
There’s no point in making comparisons to the MKI, as the difference is (a) large and (b) immediately noticeable, and others have weighed in with more specifics.
I’m waiting for a judgement on the incompatibility of the MKII’s usb implementation with my Aurender. Apparently PS Audio’ s implementation of USB and Aurender’s Linux OS - or vice versa- don’t play well together. This limits streaming via the Aurender N100 > MKII usb input to 96/24 resolution or less. Puzzling why the N20 was reported to work OK as noted above.
So, in the meantime, I’m turning my attention to comparing the SQ of 44.1/16 and 96/24 files from Qobuz and the Aurender’s 's hard drive delivered to the MKII via usb and Matrix I2S.
So far after one session, it’s tough to make a call. Depending on the track, my preference flips. On the Scarlet Town track ( see Qobuz playlist I posted earlier) I thought the vocals were a bit clearer going the Matrix I2S route. On Parasol Blanc 2, I gravitated towards the USB route.
I’m not yet convinced there is a difference. I think I hear a difference with, if anything, the Matrix > I2S sounding more forward and “present,” and the USB sounding a bit mellower. The analogy that came to mind is the difference between Nelson Pass’ class AB an class A designs - either of which would be easy to live with., of course.
I note that one poster heard a clear difference between Matrix > I2S and USB, In my case there is also an EtherRegen upstream, so yet another variable.
More thoughts as I listen more. But in any event listening for differences is being complicated by getting sucked into the music. The MKII is good enough to be that distracting.
It’s been a month and I think the MKII is broken in as much as it’s gonna get. The sound is simply incredible at this point, better than it ever was. Each recording I put on is like a new recording. I didn’t think some of these remarkable old recordings can sound any better when played through the modified MKI. The MKII put that thought to shame. The MKII is bringing out nuances in the music that the MKI is just incapable of. The freedom from noise and distortion from this MKII is truly remarkable. The sound from the USB is a revelation, so much better than the MKI. I can’t say enough good things about this new MKII.
I like to mention also that with the MKI, some of the DSD256 files I’ve been getting at the end of certain tracks, there is a loud pop, loud enough for me to reach for the volume control. These pops are not random, they are fix at certain tracks only and it is not that often, only once or twice with a recording and only in a few recordings, but it’s always there. With the MKII these pops all but disappeared, I just don’t hear them anymore. I don’t know if it’s related to the gapless feature some units have that cancels this pop.
Wow, all these reports of the differences between the DS1 and DS2. Just so encouraging. Sounds like the DS2 is the goods. Very much look forward to bringing one home once it’s released.
Thank you for all the beta testers for sharing your experiences so far.
I haven’t heard a recommended number. Around 300 hours is when I thought my MKII settled in. After that I haven’t noticed any discernable difference. YMMV.
Mine is still changing for better every time I turn on amplifiers to listen, just clearing 200 hours. I am hoping a bit of aggressiveness in highs mellow and mids strengthen with a bit more presence. The mids have detail but center vocalists doesn’t quite pop like modded DS yet. The low bass was great tonight best ever, that I have heard upright bass in my system. Truly in the room. All wood and strings vibrating.
For some reason, the latest FW and hardware fix made the vocal less pronounced than I remembered. Again, I’m comparing to a “unfixed” version I heard for a short time one month ago. I hope it just needs a longer break-in than normal.
I did not change my FW based on AaronM email. Which version are you using? I am guessing it tis tranformer burn in too. The lead vocalist is less spotlighted in the mids.
It could be my powercable since the one I had been using on DS prior to latest whisper i have now, left its ground pin in the P20duplex outlet. To fix that cable. I ordered a new male plug from cable company to repair that Diamond Xtreme cable that is really quite good for their price and emulate Odin II design.
You remind me that I updated to latest 2.3.3 after it came back, and I had the mid-range issue before the update. So, FW has nothing to do with it.
I would not know how much break in my MK2 because PSA had it for a while, but it is still not done with it. Right now, everything sounds great except the mid-range, like you said, needs a bit pop (your description of more emotional is on the spot). It could well be a burn-in issue. time will tell.
I may begin with no-tweaks and changing cables to see if anything can be improved today.
I’ve got 160 hours on the MKII and each instrument has its own spot in the soundstage, horizontal, depth and height. I have Magie 3.7i’s which excel with height. Micro details continue to evolve and the bass is interesting because it keeps changing in level and slam. Sometimes it feels tight and powerful and other times a bit soft and tubby. I guess it needs some more time, I was hoping it would be done by now!
I am still using 2.3.0 should I be upgrading?
Are you getting DSD 256 with the USB input? If so and everything works fine, you could pass on the update, but sometimes updating can have SQ and better functional benefits.
My MKII also sounded more mellow in the mids from the beginning, but it wasn’t recessed. It was just a tad lower on the presence of images than my MKI, but that soon went away. Now it sounds every bit as much presence as the MKI and with even better texture and realism. Voices just sound more natural and real compared with the MKI.
