Sorry for my silly question, what kind of I2S and USB shorting plugs are you using? Can you post pics to let me understand? I suppose they are not like AQ caps (Donald and I removed them a few months ago finding the system had a better sound without them)
Thank you in advance.
I made my own and made them like Jkrichards overkill units with extra RF shields to ground. The instructions are in modding DS thread.
I and vince was first to try them on DS after picking Tedās brain around july of 2022. They took off after others started trying them.
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Since getting back my MKII from PSA I have now been able to spend some time listening to various albums. The more I listened the more I kept thinking something sounded off. Of course I have been without it for a couple weeks, but I couldnāt help thinking that it sounded more detailed prior to sending it in (aside from the intermittent issue I was having). So I decided to roll back from FPGA 178 to 173 and immediately I noticed an improvement. I was getting better detail retrieval, a more well defined soundstage, and more midrange bloom. I hate using this cliche, but it just sounded more musical. Now it sounds like I remember it sounding. Maybe I had a bad install of 178, which I could always try reinstalling and perhaps will, but for now I think I will stay on 173 for the time being. Firmware 2.3.3 I left alone.
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That sounds like it will be a great addition to the DS2ās features. Thanks for flagging this!
Hi @aaronm - could a simple explanation of how to power off unused inputs please be added into the manual for the DS2 once the feature is in place?
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Shorting plugs questions - please redirect if thereās a good summary I missed. I also missed any summary findings post in the mammoth: Modding the DirectStream DAC
Do you just short the empty inputs, or do you also unplug and short other connected input cables that are not in use? If other sources remain connected, do you turn them off?
Only USB and Unused i2S. Ted gave me basic options to get featured enabled.
Jkrichards thread above you can purchase.
If you build your own. Or you can wait for UI software. But we know how that goes.
To sound best after shorting signal wires you need a shield added. Start about end of June 22. It is all in the thread.
Thanks much!
Weāll look into that!
Thanks for the suggestion
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@aaronm - will turning off unused inputs become a feature within the UI?
Vince,
Here is the response I got from Jim Hillegass.
Re: Alternate Mode option does not save.
Yahoo/Inbox
Jim Hillegass jim.hillegass@gmail.com
To:John Sinsabaugh
Tue, Dec 13 at 11:32 PM
Please use the forum for help.
No help whatsoever. It annoys me as I have been updating since I originally installed in 2012. I have to search all the nonsense in the forum to see if there is anything there that will help!
This would be interesting for the purpose of this thread. The rest of the shorting plug discussion is for a mod thread, IMO.
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Yes, best to stay in the guidelines. My curiosity, which a couple of others have noted, is whether the FW/SW upgrades have had any sonic implications. All three categories have been expressedā¦ābetterā, āworseā, and, āthe sameā. These come from trusted forum ears who have, and have not, had their unit sent back. I, for one, have not had my unit back and have installed the upgrades. Since I also installed a new fuse near the same time as the upgrades, I cannot attribute changes solely to the updates. Trying my best to ignore what I think the new fuse is doing, I would describe my current sound as lacking some body and tactile realism that I thought was so present in the beginning. The MkII still is dead quiet and dynamic with excellent spacial presence. My approach will be to let the DAC, fuse, SW/FW burn in for a few more weeks and report.
I usually change one thing over a long period and I could simply have lost my base line with all the new variables. Tomorrow is another day.
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Right. This is why Iām repeating this request that tweaks and mods - if not the use of them, at least the discussion of them - be separated from the beta process.
It is difficult enough to keep track of the variables, given the various states of beta testersā units hardware and softwares.
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Ted is working on the next FW update; we may as well wait for that instead of comparing the two old ones back and forth. During break in there is no way to be sure which is better anyway.
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@Elk is that something you can help withā¦ carving out a separate thread? Just tell us where to go for DS MKII Mods and Peripherals (e.g., cables, streamers and more). That way this thread stays clean for testing.
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Go ahead and start a new thread for DSKII Mods and Peripherals. If people are interested they will post there.
You may put the stock fuse back in dit geding purposes and burn in the people fuse in another appliance?
This way you can serve both purposes and have your additional sonic joy in two, three weeks.
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The MK2 at idle draws 230mA which is about 25W. It would make sense to have a fuse that is double that. With the fuse you are protecting internal wiring/circuit board traces. Only PSA would know what the fuse rating should be. Iām not on the band wagon when it comes to fuses allowing the DAC to sound better, makes no sense unless there is a voltage drop accross that fuse.
Adding @Paul @barrys for their comments on this. 
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A bit different but would this be similar to the idea of shorting plugs back in the day for unused outputs? I know a fair number of folks that still use them. I donāt.