Yes.
Also check this out.
at about 10:40
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it was not attractive to me, but thanks
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Interesting feedback, thank you for sharing -
We had about 5 audio buddies, who are well seasoned, capable ears, and all have very respectable systems do a comparison of stock MKI, APS mod MKI (not the level 4 flagship, but just below) and a brand new MKII on very resolving systems. In all cases the MKII bettered the others and was consistent with all parties (although the group struggled in a db matched AB to really say the differences were āsignificantā). But when some spent time with the direct streams in their systems it was clearer.
We also compared streamers in the AirLens, MBII, and Lumin U1 mini and a few others. In this instance the preference was AirLens > MBII > Lumin in all cases. And in fact, and this was really odd, the group resoundingly preferred the MBII over the Lumin, which I was actually shocked by.
I think a real bang for buck for those stepping up to some really nice gear is the Directstream MKI with the MBII that can be had used for around $1500-1600. That MBII streamer with the synergy it gets from the MKI pairing bettered most streamers I have heard in the sub $1,500 range and even the $2,200 Lumin when paired with the DS MKI. LOTS of BANG for BUCK in that combo!! But as usual, there is of course better for a cost 
We hope to get the APS Flagship Level 4 MKI in for review, I think that will be a good time and really round out our Directstream auditioning and reviews.
Either way we cut these apples, the PS Audio Directstream DACs and Streamers are some of the best in the market at the price points in my experience and humble opinion. I think what PS Audio products offer the consumer, from what I have heard and experienced is just a really well balanced presentation, not drawing any attention to itself and just doing everything really good.
Of course I never say a product is ābadā or āperfectā as they are all just tools to accomplish a job. And, if we use those tools right, and in the context they are intended, we can do some really great things. And if not, and the synergy is not there, well, then that just is what it is.
Cheers and I hope you have a GREAT week and happy listening.
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Iām using my MKII with APS transformers via USB input (long fiber optic USB extension into Audioquest Diamond) Do you think Iād hear any improvement getting adding the Airlens? Iām using Jriver on my Mac with local storage and donāt do streaming services.
Jriver and Mac Mini is how I started playing files. Itās a revelation how much better just any delicated streamer sounds in comparison! The amount of noise Macās and Mac Miniās generates into the signal is a really a travesty.
Iād agree here as wellā¦ The AL is a superb streamer, and the synergy with the Direcstream dacs will make it REALLY hard to beat at the price point.
And the jump from a ānoisyā Mac to a stand alone streamer of almost any reasonable price point will be an improvement. IMHOā¦
You are leaving a lot on the table if you are playing digital from a Mac Mini. Iām very familiar with what you can get out of it because I actually do a lot of listening on my Mac Mini M1. I do sometimes like to watch videos and thereās definitely some decent content on YouTube and other VOD services that Iām willing to listen to because itās usually live music that isnāt published. I use it enough that I even went ahead and replaced the original power supply with a linear power module and also discovered along the way that the AQ Jitterbug FMJ had a shockingly huge effect on reducing noise and opening up the sound (more than the power module). That said, even with all these tweaks, itās still far from approaching the sound I get out of my Innuos Zenith Mk3, which I use to stream music from my NAS as well as Qobuz. The tweaks definitely removed the harshness, but increased resolution has been elusive.
I recently got a second relatively low-cost linear power supply to feed power to my wireless router and ethernet switch. This produced an easily audible improvement in the sound I got from my streamer but didnāt really seem to do much for my Mac Mini. I similarly notice a lower degree of variance between my USB cables on it, so that indicates to me that it has a pretty high noise threshold. Hearing these differences is expensive though: my next tweak is probably going to be inserting a Muon Pro in between my switch and my streamer. The differences Iāve heard in switching over my network gear to linear power has thoroughly made me realize how horrifically noisy all of it is.