DirectStream Modifications

Audio Components DACs
102
Ted Smith said

Everything is built at a price point so I do believe that you can get good value from appropriate modifications.

Ted - I agree completely. The end SE-DS product maybe worse, no significant change (+ or -), amazing, or just different. I told the RUSTy group what I was comfortable doing and what I did not want to undertake. The GWU professor choose the modifications and where he suggested to apply them.

I cannot stress enough that there are absolutely NO investors in this project aside from the principles. There is not even a remote possibility of anyone getting financially hurt. Why this fact does not assuage the naysayers I do not understand. Bottom line for PSA is that there is a distant possibility they may sell a few additional DS units. Who knows? Rick Cullen, Cullen Circuits, preformed outstanding PSA mods. Of course, he designed some of the circuits so he literally had inside knowledge.

At this point, I am just glad that the DS works: “First do no harm.” In other words, I did not screw-up mechanically. You never know until you plug it in and hold your breath.

Working inside the DS is fairly easy. There is ample real estate and the modular architecture makes for easy access. Modifying phono stages such as Jasmine, Einstein, WEST, and others was considerably more difficult. The hardest part regarding the DS was the use of a pin-vise to enlarge board holes to accept the wider girth of the tails.

Anyway, I should have some observations from the RUSTy Golden Ears by the time Diane & I return from Palo Alto on the 29th.

Today, I add in the Vishay’s (where prescribed), test, and pack up for FedEx. (I love the Oxford comma.)

NB: I will ask RUSTy if I can send you some high resolution photos of the work. It is neat & tidy and, yes, I am somewhat proud. Photos are not for posting on the Forum but share as you wish among your peers.

103

I for one will be interested to see what happens. As Ted says, much of what’s in DS was made as a conscious choice and changing some of those choices will certainly lead to a difference in sound. I remember when we first started voicing DS we found significant changes to the sound with the simple choice of resistor types (not values), among other things.

The audio transformers are an obvious place to spend a lot of money, although Ted spent a lot of time working his magic with the ones we have, and changing them will bring different, unexpected results. The power transformer is another area where one could spend much more money. Fuses, power cable wiring, all matter.

As I have written before, once something is nailed down as best a team can manage and it becomes a product, it’s easy to then take that work and do something different. You’re starting from a solid platform and attempting to build on it.

I certainly do not take offense to what they are doing and I doubt Ted does either. Obviously the warranty is void on this unit, that goes without saying. But it will be interesting to see what results their work brings.

104

Vishay resistors populated. Unit functions as factory stock. I am not making SQ evaluations at this time. I only have Audioengine 5+ Bamboo speakers at shop. Boxed up and ready for FedEx. When I get back from Palo Alto on the 29th I should have updates from RUSTy group.

105

I am not sure what the cost of these mods are. Instead of modding my DSD I will spend the money else where in my system on other things to enjoy what the DSD is capable of.

Like adding another P10.

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terryakhan said I am not sure what the cost of these mods are. Instead of modding my DSD I will spend the money else where in my system on other things to enjoy what the DSD is capable of.

Like adding another P10.

Probably a wise idea. The SE-DS, if production goes beyond the initial 6 units, cost will be very high indeed.
107

For me a great improvment was my caps. This was very unexpected at just how much it helped. My concern in this is just how was the unit voiced under what conditions. My observations have lead me to feel just the means of play back has a profound effect in SQ. so a mod may not needed or may just have a marginal impact if A state of the art means of source used. As much as I am for modding I think leveling the playing field is more important . As I have many DACS to compare the ds stands out with a particular voicing that’s non fatiguing but hyper detailed. A tough sound to achieve. Using lesser sources show many other sounds , so source improvment must be first . As much as I would like more firmwares avail let for different voicing modding the ds is low on my list .
Al

108

We arrived at this high tech company campus in Palo Alto Sunday afternoon (flying 1st Class naturally - I could get used to that).

Our extravagant bungalow is absolutely beautiful sited on campus. Shiloh loves it along with the adjacent nature walks.

Monday night we were dinner guests and I experienced for the first time Wilson XLF speakers in a private home. Power was supplied by some VTL beasts. These Wilson Mercedes Silver praying-mantis speakers freaked me out. Were they going to pounce? The owner seemed to know relatively little about his system. He did offer that it was professionally installed and all he did was turn it on. The preamp is an ARC Reference 10.

Lots & lots of money but the sound lacked a visceral quality (to me) - other than the intimidating size of course.

109

I too have listened to the Wilson alexia a few times now. The imaging was not great nor the sound to my taste . I think they are more of statement speaker than what really is great audio. They were very clean from top to bottom but they do not melt into the room at all. And because they tow in the sweet spot is only dead center. Owning ultra highend and knowing little about it is fine as long as that person is happy. We all own things and use it to a low potential . Just look at our pc setups. Office 365 in my lifetime I will never use it for what it really is. But inown it !!!

al

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alrainbow said For me a great improvment was my caps. This was very unexpected at just how much it helped. My concern in this is just how was the unit voiced under what conditions. My observations have lead me to feel just the means of play back has a profound effect in SQ. so a mod may not needed or may just have a marginal impact if A state of the art means of source used. As much as I am for modding I think leveling the playing field is more important . As I have many DACS to compare the ds stands out with a particular voicing that's non fatiguing but hyper detailed. A tough sound to achieve. Using lesser sources show many other sounds , so source improvment must be first . As much as I would like more firmwares avail let for different voicing modding the ds is low on my list . Al
Al

I totally agree with you , I have been playing with my PC setup, on your recommendation I added the HD Plex Linear supply. This made a big improvement.

Not one to leave well enough alone I got a couple of 5 V batteries ($30) that are used for charging cell phones. I used one on each SSD, in addition I found some relatively inexpensive shielded SATA cables ($17 vs $450 for the Paul P stuff)) and the improvement was nothing short of dramatic. I went from great sounding to absolutely involving sound were i could not sit still.

Listening to some of the older Beatles music I could almost smell England in the 60s, it felt like it did when the Beatles first came on the scene. I had never experience this with any system before.

Also note this is all with the PWD and Bridge, one day I will try the DS again to see if it is actually better than the PWD. The source makes and incredible difference.

I think this phenomena is what is at play in the situation with Michael F bringing Analog source files on USB to RMAF. Causing Paul’s system to sound better than ever. I think there is a great deal of improvement that people can make for reality low cost but getting good PC with Win Svr 2012 and AO.

magicknow

111

I was invited back for a 2nd listen to the Wilson XLF>VTL Siegfried Series II amps>ARC Ref 10 Pre system. He uses a Core Technology SE-1 Music Server (never heard of it) & an EMM Labs DAC2x (heard of it but never seen nor heard one). There was no analog source.

System was very impressive but failed to make me feel involved with the music.

112

Back from 10 extraordinary days in Palo Alto. They were SF Giants crazy!!! Red everywhere. Shiloh had a blast.

Update on the RUSTy Group DS-SE: Just before leaving for Palo Alto I sent the DS-SE to RUSTy in Washington, DC. It has been playing nonstop the entire time that I was away and continues to do so as I write this. I am rather proud to say that the DS-SE has preformed flawlessly - so, I did not break anything + the unit has survived FedEx to DC and subsequent transport among the RUSty Group members.

At the moment the DS-SE is at a GWU lab and being packed to send back to me from some additional work. Just got the schematics emailed to me Thursday of what is wanted. The changes/additions should not take more than a day and then Shiloh & I will drive the DS-SE up to DC for a long weekend of listing with the Group. Keep in mind, I have yet to hear the DS-SE on a real audio system. The shop just has AudioEngine A5+ speakers.

Fingers crossed…

113

And two weeks later the result is…?

114

And now two months later the result is…?

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st50maint said And now two months later the result is.....?
As many Forum members already know, my points in RUSTy were generously bought out at the end of the year. I built 18 DS-SE units including the prototype. Further development & builds will be consolidated in the Greater DC Metro.

Part of my buyout precludes me from further comment and/or discussion regarding specifics of the DS-SE. No doubt you will be hearing something in more of a main stream format. Last I heard was Axpona.

My days continue to be filled with OEM cable builds and Auralic VEGA DAC/ARIES BRIDGE installs in beach McMansions - of which we have no shortage.

116

Well, as expected, that’s the end of that.

Return to regularly scheduled programming…

117

I just would not be too sure or smug about that…

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Shilohdog said I just would not be too sure or smug about that....
Might this quote ("These units were scheduled for the DS-SE upgrade by The RUSTy Group.") in the following Audiogon ad change your opinion?

Audiogon ad re: this topic

119

Looks completely and absolutely dead to me.

Especially as the Audiogon ad is placed by birddogthecat - who just happens to be someone we know well here. (Hint: there is a dog theme to his avatars.)

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Elk said Looks completely and absolutely dead to me.

Especially as the Audiogon ad is placed by birddogthecat - who just happens to be someone we know well here. (Hint: there is a dog theme to his avatars.)


I’d love to hear the results of the “autopsy” … what was improved, what didn’t work, etc. I’m sure there are lessons to be learned.

121

Yes. but it appears highly unlikely that we will hear.