This maybe a newb question, but we know the DSD uses FPGA for its programming, is that the same as when you read a DAC is R2R (ladder)? As in can they be upgraded or is it pure hardware?
Using an FPGA is āmerelyā an implementation detail. You can use one (or not) in almost any DAC. A lot of the time an FPGA is used as an upsampler which is appropriate for virtually any DAC implementation. Doing a PCM to DSD conversion is also a potential use for an FPGA. Whether the resultant DAC is field upgradable is a marketing and/or engineering choice. Many of the DACs using FPGAs out there are upgradable, but the companies that use them donāt release software thatās specifically designed for sound quality enhancements, instead the upgradability is exclusively used for new features, etc.
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As always Ted, thanks.
I just found out that the trigger functions on the MKII are not operational. Future software update. bummer.
Darko:
I had some long discussions with John way back in the day about the original DS. Unfortunately his comments in that blog post show he still really doesnāt understand the design and how it works. On jitter, balanced audio and volume control his brief descriptions are all somehow significantly wrong. Itās a pity because I really like a lot of what he contributes to the music/audio-lovers field.
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Howdy All
Iām working on the ticks and pops, but I canāt reproduce any here with either the PST or foobar2000, JRiver MC, etc.
Could some of you who have reproduceable ticks and pops send me private messages with your reproduction descriptions?
I only want issues from FPGA version 179. 179 fixes a few issues from 173 so if it doesnāt reproduce with 179 it doesnāt help me.
Iāll need to know if the problem is 100% reproducible, whether it always sounds the same or varies in loudness, etc. Iād like to know if you remember having the same problem with the original DS or not.
Iāll need to know what your source is. If itās a PST Iāll need to know if you are playing a CD, a CDR, a DVD, DVD-A, DVD-R, DVD-RW, from the USB stick, ā¦ [Edit: Oh, and the version of the PST software.]
If you are playing with JRiver MC, foobar2000, etc. Iāll need to know if you are using the Direct X, kernel streaming, WASAPI, ASIO, etc. and how you have the track transitioning set. E.g. are you using cross fades between tracks, etc. how big are your audio buffers, etc.
Iāll also need to know if you are simply falling thru from one track to the next, or if you are skipping to a new track, or if you are using some kind of seek (say by clicking on a seek bar, etc.)
Iāll need to know what sample rates the first track and the second track are.
It would be good to know how any other configuration parameters are set as well.
Feal free to ask questions, etc., but letās keep it to private messages so I can keep the various issues separated and make it easier for me to track.
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Ted,
I am awaiting the return of my mk 2. It is supposed to be delivered on Monday the 16th. Once I get it back I can do further testing. I found that when I have the mk 2 directly driving my BHK 250 amp that when I do anything on either the PST or the PWT such as changing tracks or pausing and restarting I hear tiny ticks. The interesting thing is with the BHK preamp in between the DAC and the AMP I do not get those ticks. I never tested USB with the amp direct connected. I can do so when it gets back. I was using Redbook CD with all the attempts. I can try swiching between Redbook and SACD also. All disks were commercially pressed.
I have one of the old PS Audio Nuwave Phono Converters (NPC). For those who may not know, this is a phono preamp with a twist. It has a built-in A-to-D converter, and it can output a digital stream to USB or I2S. At its most detailed setting, It can convert the analog signal to double-rate DSD, or 24bit PCM at 192K.
This evening I ran an experiment where I set the NPC to convert the signal to DSD 128 and sent that digital stream over i2S to the MK2.
The first thing I noticed was that the volume from the MK2 was lower than the analog signal going from the phono preamp to my Anthem AVM60 preamp. Once I equalized the volume, I ran several A/B comparisons and found that the DSD signal was āsofterā or missing some treble information. Some might say less edgy. While the sound was quite pleasant, I prefer hearing more detail than the softer sound that I got, so I plan to leave it playing without the MK2, but Iām glad that I did the experiment.
Lastly, it is my belief that the burr brown A to D module in the NPC is the cause of the softness because I get plenty of detail from the MK2 when streaming otherwise.
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When comparing two different sources it is important to match the level within 1/2 db. If not any differences can easily be interpreted as the louder as sounding better. The output of the NPC via digital outputs is much lower than the analog output. I too own an NPC and use it to archive my records. I am adding an SPP to the system tomorrow and intend to keep the NPC for the A to D. My recordings are going to sound even better.
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After a power glitch, no sound out of MK2, power cycle did not help. It requires a factory rest to get it back to work
I got the NPC because I needed a phono preamp and PSA was closing them out at the time. I had every intention of digitizing my collection, but I just couldnāt bring myself to fiddle around with a computer and the record player, and the software, so I never bothered. Now, every album I own is available for streaming digitally. This is a further impediment to digitizing my collection. Instead, I just play my albums on my turntable when I am interested in having the physical and sonic record-playing experience.
I do plan to pick up an SPP in the near future, but I need an airlens first. Once that is in my system, I will be turning my sights on the SPP.
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I enjoy working with the NPC and the Vinyl Studio Software. I have achieved amazing results to the point that people would not believe I made the disks from records. No ticks or pops! I used to use the Playlist editor to datafill the tracklist and added cover art so When I played them in the PWT or DMP they looked just like commercial disks! I miss the playlist editor so much I was so disappointed when PS Audio Removed it from the website!
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Would you please describe the power glitch?
Thanks!
the MK2 connects to a P10, the P10 lost power while the MK2 was on. therefore, the MK2 experienced a sudden power lost.
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Turning the Mk II off with the back panel power switch is a sudden power loss. Iāve had many more power glitches here in the last couple of months than I remember for a while. If the Mk II is still up after a power glitch itās best to turn it off with the rear panel power switch and turn it back on. The analog card mutes when the power gets too low to protect the DAC and your speakers. You can reset that safety switch with the rear panel power switch.
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The good news is that you were able to recover and enjoy your weekend with awesome music. Enjoy!
Iāve been saying this for two months!
Those comparisons donāt exist yet (at least that Iāve seen), even with presumably well over 100 Mk2ās in the wild now, with 100 units at least for about 2 months (I believe initial customer release of 100 units was over two months ago (they call it beta, but it was full price sale - ie, release to customers)).
Either the only people who buy Mk2ās are those who donāt buy anything but PSA and are all coming from Mk1 or DSJ, or the ones who have compared to other serious dacs (not mk1, millions of comparisons to that here) are taking an āif you donāt have anything nice to say, donāt say anything at allā approach, because surely if the Mk2 were beating other serious dacs in head-to-heads weād hear about it here if those people are on the PSA forums. I donāt see such comparisons involving Mk2 elsewhere either, fwiw, but surely here is where Iād first expect to see them, given the overwhelming preference of most here for PSA, as is to be expected given itās the companyās forum.
This isnāt a criticism, more of a spur to hopefully flesh out some comparisons from the bush
I suspect few have made such comparisons, and those who have are either not members of the forum or are simply not interested in discussing their conclusions publicly.
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Seeing that the MKII has galvanic isolation we decided to run a comparison test.
Qobuz / Roon / Streamed to iFi Zen Stream / MKII DACā¦
VS
Qobuz / Roon / Mac Mini USB direct to / MKII DACā¦
The Mac mini sounded better.
With the MKI the streamer sounded better.
Just my thoughts,
Steve
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