Directstream Mk 2 observations

I totally agreed with his analogy. Hardware / Software compatibility will all things connected to it. Much bigger scale for Microsoft, but same results: not 100% compatable.

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Thank you for trying that. I hope that a resolution can be found for you. This does help me to understand why I have not had the issue.

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Other $8k DAC makers have other issues. That’s my point. It might not be ticks or pops but it could be other compatibility issues or just the fact that it’s not the sound you want. You ignored the rest of my post and just decided to pinpoint one thing that you did not agree with. There will always be a compromise somewhere. I have yet to find a perfect component that will handle everything and will always sound amazing regardless of what you pair with it. Audio is all about synergy and because I’ve decided that the MK2 is the sound I’m looking for, I have to be OK with the imperfections.

For example, when I had the Rockna Wavedream, it sounded great but it was a bit dry and the decay was a bit short. Was there any hissing or ticking? No. But I would have to compromise or pick other components in my chain to accommodate for its shortcomings. Similarly, the MK2 has the sound that I want but I also will need to accommodate for its shortcoming. However, I haven’t had any issues with my system so I wanted to give another perspective given that you have been quite vocal at your disgust with where the MK2 is. The vocal minority is always very loud so it’s good to have some balance on the other side.

I wasn’t ignoring the rest, but when you say it’s unfair to expect a small company like PSA to be able to make compatible products and then compare to Microsoft, that seems completely irrelevant as a comparison to justify that suggestion to let off the hook. That’s all. If every comparable-size $8k dac maker has compatibility issues, then that would be a relevant comparison

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I was bringing Microsoft in the picture because even as big of a company as Microsoft cannot guarantee 100% compatibility with all products. You’re right. A small company like PS Audio cannot even compare against Microsoft
so why are you expecting Microsoft compatibility?

You are missing my point. Computer operating systems are infinitely more complicated than audio dacs. Night and day difference. Plenty of dacs out there in the market do not suffer from compatibility noise issues of the type discussed in all of the threads on mk2. That is the relevant comparison

OK so if you believe that there’s no connection at all, please address my other point. That there are other shortcomings from other DACs and as an audiophile, we all make adjustments for them. If you’re happy with your other DAC that does not suffer from compatibility issue, please leave this thread because you’ve been harping on this more than I believe most people care to read about. Others have been quite helpful trying to diagnose the issue for those who do have this problem. I don’t really understand what you’re trying to achieve here.

What I was trying to achieve was simply pointing out something in your post that didn’t make any sense. Nothing more. As to deficiencies of other dacs, well that’s completely open ended and of course not all other dacs are perfect, duh, beyond that not sure what there is to say about that.

I think it’s BS to give PS Audio a pass here with the excuse of “can’t be compatible with everything”. I’ve own enough PS Audio equipment to know it is just poor/lazy engineering. Even with all PS Audio system I hear noise. And reading a report from a member visiting PS Audio own listening room, he/she heard noise from PS Audio own speakers, which aren’t very efficient. Paul himself claimed that noise is OK, as long you you don’t hear it at listening position.

DSD MK2 was definitely a big let down for me, I enjoy my system so much better with Gustard R26 at fractions of the price.

Moving from PS Audio gear to McIntosh and Luxman you can literally see and hear the difference in engineering, attention to details of those two brands. Even Schiit audio gear I have is better engineered and is noise free. Both from self and from the speakers.

PS Audio needs to take these things more seriously and not release poor engineered products with poor quality control.

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I didn’t want to create a controversy. I just want to get a solution to a problem. I certainly understand compatibility issues, buy I have have had several other DACs in my system and although they all sounded different, which you could call a compatibility issue, none of them had a noise problem This is what I find unusual. I do love the sound of the MKII I think the noise problem is unique. Other folks have also experienced the problem although not as severe and usually with no preamp just going direct to the amp. Yet when I did that the noise was gone. Go figure.

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That is certainly not what I meant. Just that not everything is 100% compatible out of the gate. Their design and the ultrasonic issue is known. Sucks that it happens. But as long as they are working on fix, they are not getting a pass. if they say oh well, then I would certainly say they should not do that. Again with the Microsoft issues they are famous for, its usually reversed. The vendor that has the drive has to make it work with windows. PSA cannot do that. I know we keep hearing it, but the next release is around the corner.

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Now I think you need to explore potential issues with the connection to the JL Audio kit and the operation of the crossover.

My (admittedly insufficiently informed) gut tells me your issue has not been narrowed down to a MK II deficiency-only problem.

I would start by making sure you have identified and accounted for all potential variables in your signal chain, including, but not necessarily limited to, connections/connectors, kit, firmware and settings.

FWIW/good luck.

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In my experiense McIntosh cares more about physical appearance than sonic performance. They tend to build boat anchors. I have had the opportunity to compare their amplifiers directly to those of other manufacturers and they did not fare well in the comparison.

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i dont understand why you are on this forum. If you are so frustrated with PS Audio, you should not purchase their products. And then no need to bash them on this forum, and sharing what you were told some other person heard
 “poor/lazy engineering”??? really.

I have NO noise issues with my PS Audio system, and enjoy it immensely daily.

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There are plenty of people who don’t have problems and won’t post here so it’s very possible that this issue is kind of fringe. I sent my mk2 to 5 different people with all different systems and did not get any noise complaints. Let’s stop feeding the trolls who don’t have a mk2 and don’t intend to buy one.

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standard reply here
tell you what you’ve ignored rather than what they know

+1 And there is no better example of this than the $2k (or whatever it costs) cover box that has absolutely nothing in it but allows you to hide another mfg’s component in it, ha.

That said, audio is subjective and just bc I don’t like Mc - for anyone who does, go for it and don’t worry about what those who don’t say

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I have MKII and had an Emotiva AV-PreAmp to start with. Amps are Nuprime Evo 1 and Piega Coax speakers. Streamer is a Sonore opticalRendu using USB cable to the DAC. I never had any issues with noise. I upgraded my system with a BHK Pre, because I was so happy with the sound quality of the MKII. The MKII works perfect and smooth since day 1.

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Yes, there is just wait for the new FPGA code as an option. If the problem is still there, then I would backtrack to earlier FPGA code versions to nail down when it started, so as to be able to report this to PSA. Could still do that while waiting too. Let us know if you do not have any of the earlier versions. There are a few of us with archives from testing support done.

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I only comment when I thought they were given a free pass for some of the issues that members are experiencing here. Audio enjoyment is subjective, so McIntosh vs PS Audio vs Luxman vs. X aside, the basic assumption should be that the equipment should be silent, and when a CEO openly admitted that it’s OK to have some noise, that set the bar pretty low for the company products. That’s all I’m saying, is that PSA could do themselves a favor by raising that bar, especially considering other manufacturers can do tube amp/preamp just fine with no noise at all.

I’m sure we all are enjoying our systems, as we all should be. If you have no noise, good for you, that’s not everyone experience. I certainly did not, and that’s a fact
 not bashing on anything.

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