I now know how Marvin Barry felt when he first heard Marty McFly playing Johnny B. Goode.
“I found that new sound you were looking for”.
We’ve had the PS Audio DirectStream MKII DAC for a few weeks now… our new setup is:
MAC/Qobuz/Roon/BACCH4Mac Intro*/USB/Regen LPS/MKII DAC/Dennis Had 300b Amp/ GE Triton Reference Speakers.
OMG/ I’am only sleeping a few hours a night, The Mrs. wants me to play more songs, we watched all the games this weekend (no TV sound, it would have cut into our music listening time LOL).
All we can say is this is the sound we were looking for!
Thank You, your efforts are greatly appreciated @tedsmith@Paul
Update on my hissing issues when going straight from the MK2 to an NAD C298 (Purifi Class D Amp). Yes, engaging the analog attenuator on the amp to drop 20dB on the input helps. I can turn the DAC up from 35 to 60 for example. But keeping a preamp in the loop… I have a PSA Stellar GCD handy… seems better for SQ if not for budget, with the MK2 output turned up to 100.
I also tried going straight from the MK2 to a smaller NAD C268 (Ncore Class D Amp) as well as to a PSA Stellar S300 (ICE Class D Amp), with the same results. Except that the S300 does not have an attenuator. I am curious if anyone out there has an S300 handy and can test with a MK2 whether there is something weird locally by me or not. Is quiet jazz overwhelmed by hissing with the MK2 connected straight to the S300???
In the meantime, I bookmarked some of the other suggestions, like the inline attenuators @vkennedy61 mentioned.
I am tired of swapping out amps and cables for now and rather do some listening! This is now really enjoyable with the MK2. Really great soundstage for example. I am interested to hear what @tedsmith is cooking up with new firmwares too.
Note: Tracks I am using at present for A-B listening:
Anouar Brahem - The Astounding Eyes Of Rita [PCM 24-44]
Ted and Paul’s video on MK2 is fascinating and educational. I have a better understanding of the improvements from MK2 over MK1! All MK2 owners should watch it!
The greatest improvement in my system was from playing DSD256, the dark warm sound with MK1 disappears completely, and these files sound fabulous now. MK2 simply processes them faster and better.
DSD 256 is the least of the improvements that the mk 2 presents. Red Book CD is spectacular as is every format. Don’t restrict your listening menu to hi rez and DSD of any rate there is so much music already in your library that you have never heard. By going with the mk 2 and also picking up the Stellar Phono Preamp I have so much music in both my record collection and digital library that I am hearing for the first time!
No argument there. I forgot I added LHY-SW8 network switch in the streaming chain which contributes to the improvement from streaming including Hi-res. files. (This is strange but playing files from SSD improved too).
I just came back from dropping my DSD Mk1 off at FedEx, it’s on the way back to Boulder. The Mk2 is sounding so natural and the sense of musicians and instruments being in the room is even more realistic than with the Mk1, (which was no slouch). Thanks Ted!
I recently went through an interesting, self-inflicted troubleshooting session on my MK2.
Things worked fine for a while when playing audio from roon or jriver, but after restarting them any time I played anything, I would only hear lower-than-normal volume coming from my right channel.
After retracing my steps and eventually noticing that I had accidentally turned on preemphasis when I was messing around in the MK2 menus, I disabled that, and everything was fixed. Both jriver and roon play from both channels at normal volume, once again.
Preemphasis is staying set to off from now on.
Edit: Firmware 2.3.6 FPGA 179 in case this helps @tedsmith
Thanks for the comparison. I have the Mscaler - TT2 with other good stuff. Very happy with the pair. I don’t think I’d switch to the DS2 I found the software swapping a Pain. Just me
Anyone able to give me an advice about menu navigation on MK II?
How can I go back from a sub-menu? I’m not able to go back for example from outputs settings grounded/lifted to the previous level up. Each time I have to wait a few seconds until reappears initial status showing volume and restarting from the beginning the navigation.
I was reading the new manual and the bottom of page 1 under Power Cables It states “It is also recommended that you connect your new DirectStream MK2 to one of PS Audio’s award-winning AC power products such as the P3, P5 or P10 Power Plants”
Not sure if that should be updated to P12, P15 or P20 Power Plants. Thanks
I just finished watching Paul’s very informative interview with Ted. Now I have a question concerning the galvanic isolation in the MKII. If all of the inputs have galvanic isolation what will be the advantage of using the AirLens? For example I am using the USB output of my Nucleus directly into the MKII. I have no detectable noise and the sound is glorious. Can Ted or Paul explain what the advantages would be in using the AirLens in my system.
It’s a good question and the answer is that the extra isolation found in the AirLens won’t be a big advabntage (if at all). But, it’s still a great way to get data off the network.
