Directstream Mk 2 observations

[tedsmith]

Like this?

Ground Lift & Shell Lift - Experience with DS MKII?

I am playing around with the available Ground Lift and Shell Lift settings. Rigth now, everything is set to “lifted”. It will require some extra listening hours, but I was just wondering (pure curiosity) what is your general experience and on which settings have you finally settled? How do you describe the difference? I think my system should be generally free of electrical noise and hums, because my external streaming device (Sonore opticalRendu) is using optical ethernet and already perfectly…

[brian.fitterman]

Well look at that… I think I remember that but it fell off my feed before I got mine and forgot about it. thx

[jmart]

What’s the latest firmware? The donlod page gives me 2.3.3

The MKii came with 2.3.6?

[brian.fitterman]

Yeah mine did too. 2.3.6 is correct. PSA has not really given an explanation why that version is shipping and the web page has diff.

[dchang05]

If I remember right, my last “favorite” setting was lifting both HDMI and ground other inputs, lifting output, and ground shell. But heck I have been drinking so much Mai-tai in Maui I would not trust my memory. One more day on the beach then we are flying home, and I will miss Maui for sure. But I cannot wait to hug my audio system again; especially the MK2.

[leenelson]

I had planned to A/B compare the Mk1 to the Mk2 as well after the 2 had a little time to settle. I tried not to listen critically for the first couple of days but I thought I noticed a difference right away. After a week I did not feel the need to bother hooking the Mk1 up again even though that would not have been difficult. My guess is you will not need to worry about the A/B test. I think your wife may be disappointed.

[driftingbunnies]

Does anyone know how to dim the screen from the menu? I’m unable to find my remote at the moment.

[jmart]

So I will say that the first 15 minutes of listening had very small differences coming from the Jr. Definitely seemed brighter overall. No ground lifting. No A/B testing yet. Also, the whole system was cold at the time anyway. Have had it running for an hour, will take another listen.

Current setup
Nuc>EtherRegen>Sonore Sig Rendu SE>Matrix>IIS to MKII

[luca.pelliccioli]

Following vkennedy rule “less is more”, try without the Matrix, directly USB out USB in. Which USB cable do you have?

[jmart]

Yes I will very likely do that, thanks. I wanted to go straight in with all variables the same except the DAC itself.

USB is a WW SS 7. HDMI is RAL.

Still very early of course.

[luca.pelliccioli]

Patience is a virtue! Enjoy.

[straightwire]

Per your input, and Luca’s, and Ted’s, I tried lifting the ground on my only input (PST I2s via Dragon) and I’m liking it. Need more listening time later but has the characteristics of lifting all the other stuff. So, for now, lifting away seems to be the better path.

[jmart]

I’m also getting some really loud pops when a song starts up on Roon. It is pretty random but it’s loud and worrisome. I do hear very faint clicks every time a song starts up but I heard this with the Jr as well.

Never heard these loud pops before though…

I feel like ive read about something like his happening to others?

[brian.fitterman]

when I turn off DSP I get that about every 5 or so songs. Like a needle drag. I have always got the slight pop on DSD, but not like this. I turned back on DSP (conv. filter) and it does not happen. I believe another forum member is working with Ted on this.

[jmart]

Yeah, when I turn off upsampling to DSD256 it stops for me.

[luca.pelliccioli]

Which I2S are you using, #1 or #2? I’m preferring #1 (lifted) feeding the PST with Dragon, #2 (grounded) unused and with a shorting plug, USB (lifted) feeding the streamer with Pink Faun cable, all the other inputs grounded…

[jmart]

I started with II2#1, but recently changed to USB (WWSS7)to see if there was difference.

Didn’t really hear a big difference yet. But again still quite early.

Overall I’m definitely hearing better soundstage.

[Carousel]

PS Audio explained 2.3.6 a bit back on the thread: directstream-mkii-dac-production-launch-start-up. Chip shortages meant that they needed to use a different display chip for more recent production. No DAC performance difference if you have .3 or .6. Presumably once there is a real firmware update, we will all get a common one with a higher number.

[Lkdog]

Keep us posted.
With my DS Mk1 the experience varies in correlation to the quality of the recording. Great recordings sound amazing. Good recordings sound very good. Average recordings sound decent. Bad recordings sound bad. Can’t dress up a pig. The source material is critical.

But that would be the case for any DAC.

[jmart]

The popping happens with DSD256 even if it’s not upsampled. Turned upsampling off and played native dsd256 file, loud pops at the beginning. @tedsmith