I’m guess that balance control will be in a future upgrade. But that’s just a guess.
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I hope you are right. I know with the mkll the balance can be controlled from the unit but it is just so easy and convenient from the remote
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What’s your opinion regarding MK2 USB or I2S inputs for DSD256 playback. Which do you think would give you the best SQ?
I have tried both quite a bit. I personally can’t hear a difference between the two.
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That alone has made the MK2 a much better DAC than MK1, and it also makes me wonder if AirLens’ I2S output is a great advantage over other streamers when it comes out.
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1 week tomorrow with a MK II in its sealed box behind my couch! It seems unforgivable!
1 week tomorrow with a Statement on the rack, pure joy!
Within a few days, after almost 200 hours of burning in, I’ll share my usual chart of numbers about my first impressions… then it’s the turn of the “beta” DAC.
I’m not in a hurry and this situation is so pleasant, hour after hour, song after song! I have the privilege to taste each minute. What a beautiful end of the year!
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you are turning into a digital guy! Welcome to the club.
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That would be the question to use MK2 USB for DSD256 or Airlens I2S DSD256 from NAS or streaming. I’ve been told that SQ seems to be the same.
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@tedsmith @aaronm Mk II Menus (Firmware 2.3.5) compared to Manual Rev A-1
Trigger Delay: Listed in manual (pg 7) but I did not find it in the menus
Found in Mk II Menu but not in the Manual (default is BOLDED)
- Pre Emphasis: Off/On
- Audio Output submenu items
Ground Lift: Grounded/Lifted (how is this different than Input ground lift?)
Shell Lift: Grounded/Lifted
RCA Balanced: Off/On
Any information about the undocumented settings would be appreciated.
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Not all features in the UI were well tested before the release, Trigger delay is one of them. Among the others are Dual AES (XLR inputs), configuration of polarities for I2S, selectable default display on the UI, bigger font for display…
Preemphasis: CD’s have a preemphasis option (which some early CDs used). But not all rippers kept that information and there’s no standard for I2S or USB transmitting the preemphasis flag and not all players, sources provide it over AES3, S/PDIF or TOSLink. Also, some non-PS Audio I2S devices seem to trigger PS Audio’s I2S preemphasis indicators. A UI setting helps to clear some of this up.
Ground lift is an option on all digital inputs and the analog outputs.
Shell Lift is an optional lift for the Shell of the XLR audio output. That’s separate from lifting the ground signal.
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Re: HQPlayer… a little help please
We are really enjoying Roon / HQPlayer / iFi Zen Steam (waiting for an AirLens) / MK II DAC in PCM, but can’t seem to get the settings right for DSD.
Possibly a screenshot of the setting could help us.
Thank you,
Steve
PS / Ted great job with the MKII DAC!
In Roon, did you set up the Zen for DoP?
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@Steve08226 Here are the screenshots of my HQPlayer settings. I am using the DSD output mode instead of PCM, though, so I am not sure how much these screenshots will help.
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Thank you!
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Yes, thank you
Bought my PS Audio Gear from Kevin, (via Igloo Audio)
My DS Dac arrived DOA and found him helpful getting a new one shipped.
Threw in a power cable for my trouble too.
He under an NDA? 
Couldn’t get DSD to work through HQPlayer.
We can get DSD without HQPlayer … Roon / iFi Zen / MKII DAC
Thank You,
Steve
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Without HQPlayer DSD sounds bright on our system.
Any explanation anywhere for what “ground lift” and “shell lift” do?
Ground lift disconnects the ground of the input or output from the ground of the system.
Shell lift disconnects the shell of the XLR connector from the ground of the system.
The effects that these may have on the audio quality depend greatly on the rest of the system, especially the interconnect cables. Often lifting the ground will break a ground loop, that may do nothing, get rid of a little hum, or make a huge difference in the background or pace of the system. On the other hand some interconnects need the ground on the source hooked up for best shielding performance.
We made the default to not have the grounds lifted to best match the behavior of the DS. If things get weird with a particular ground lifted simply stop lifting it.
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