When folks are talking about display noise are they saying audible noise from the display itself? Or noise that gets into the output of the DAC?
Michael
I only use one input, at present optical. I need a nice large volume display. The Mk 1 DS senior is perfect for me. I was hoping to get an improved system with Mk 2s. Three or four of them!
Are there other DACs with volume displays that work for you other than the MKI?
If youâre looking for a DAC with a nice large display, a friend just got a Topping D90SE, which is replacing his DS Jr. The display is excellent for long distances. I recently heard them compared.
@67Checker⊠donât laugh! My wife asked me why I had a pair of opera glasses next to me when I was listening to music. I sit 6 ft away from the Mk2 and they come in handy.
I have thought about getting a set more than once. Yeah, when there was a lot of discussion about noise earlier on the MkII I asked my wife where her stethoscope was. She asked why, I told her and then got the âYou guys are nuts!â responseâ„
probably the one thing we can all agree on.
It wouldnât surprise me that these days there could be alternatives to the Mk 1 or Mk 2. Iâve so far bought into PS Audio gear, I like the Mk 1s and the whole concept of Tedâs design. I also like the regenerators and the BHK power amps. One problem I have with dacs is that if I seriously want to try any new dac I need three of them, not even the UK distributor, who Iâve known for a decade or so, would let me have three at a time. I could certainly get his single unit to double check that in practice it is, or is not, audibly quieter than the Mk 1. It might be the case that the manufacturer of the Mk 2 screen makes a larger version which is pin compatible with the tiny screen thatâs currently used (so itâd be possible to machine the front panel to take a larger display. Iâve never noticed the noise that the existing Mk 1 is meant to generate).
Elk, Iâll almost certainly be changing my current DEQX digital crossover/equaliser to their new version. My current version includes three Burr Brown dacs which I donât use - I use the three coax outputs to three DS Mk 1s. In a few weeks time I hope to get one of the first new DEQX crossovers - these are now 4-way and include ESS Sabre Pro dacs - Iâll try those but have got used to Directstream sound (even the hiss!) so can try the coax outputs with my Mk 1s.
If you are running an active system you owe to yourself to try out an Okto dac8 pro. Very inexpensive, great overall design (with a nice large display!) and extremely low noise. Also has several input/clocking options so you can run computer-based DSP on the AES inputs which is a unique feature.
Michael
much prefer the small screen, do most listening with screen light offâŠcertainly no one ever said the screen and light improved the soundâŠ
I too listen with the screen off but need to see it whilst changing volume.
Thanks Michael. There are indeed lots of alternatives, for example I have an RME device thatâs multi-channel. Iâm after the best sound that I can get and am impressed by my DEQX crossover and multiple Directstream dacs. The DEQX crossover gives me the ability to create an active system and to choose which dacs I use. When I got my system together I was worried that not having a fast central clock might cause obvious problems (few dacs outside of the pro community support clock input) but Iâve not noticed a downside to no central clocking (I didnât suggest it to PSA as theyâd never do such a thing).
I am a little afraid to post this since I do not want to start a major argument. I use my preamp to control what volume I have ( the Mk2 is set on 100 ). The volume display on the preamp is readable from about 10 to 12 feet.
Changing the balance âout of centreâ is shown in the display of the Mk2 just right of the wifi symbol.
Not much detailed, but nevertheless.
A web or phone application would certainly help to provide greater granularity for demanding users.
Something to be incorporated in the manual and the additional features wish list.
Hmmm. . . nor sure that is the case on my DSD but Iâll check later. It sure doesnât show you any information as you are making adjustments in the lower part of the screen which might be helpful.
Iâm sure web or phone applications would help many.
Edit to add: yes, the little icon is up there when balance is anything but centered. As soon as balance is activated the display goes dark however when you have the display in the âoffâ setting.
Interesting finding today. I switched my usb to auto last night, as well as the hdmi inputs. I only use usb. I listened for a while last night⊠all good. I let the playlist from my streamer repeat as Iâm still burning in massive.
This evening I couldnt get anything to make sound. Each time I restarted my streaming app or the streamer, the mk2 would lose usb connection, then turn the usb connection green after an appropriate amount of time.
I went to dac setting on the streamer⊠dac not detected. I switched the usb to âonâ from auto. Music started up after another dac restart.
Just a data point I suppose. I canât seem to use auto on for usb.
What youâre running into is probably within the range of expected issues you might see if auto power is enabled and is unfortunately kind of the nature of the way USB is implemented in Mk2. Rather than just disappear, Ted explained that when the active USB connection is switched off, the computer or the streamer will start seeing the passive bootstrap of the USB chip as a device. To the streamer, it may appear as if you had plugged it into a different device. On some devices, the amount of churn this causes is sometimes more trouble than itâs worth.
Thank you for that!
And here I thought getting up to flip a LP was exhausting.