folks with missing cover after removal of the bridge and want to quickly fix potential noise leakage via the hole - you might try to use self-adhesive AND conductive copper tape (i did it as i was lazy to go to storage and search for that piece 
) , like this one (mine is about 2cm wide so ideal to cover hole after bridge):
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Conductive-Copper-Foil-Tape-3313/?N=5002385+3293242553&rt=rud
Thanks for taking the time to chronicle your journey.
What’s next?
Cheers.
TJ at PS Audio support very kindly offered to send me one.
Hmm. I feel like I’ve reached (probably long past) the point of diminishing returns on the DS-based digital front end. As I alluded to, acoustics are something I’m very interested in (in the classical performance world this is really key), and my large room presents particular issues. So I am likely spending the next big chunk of money on that. That’s its own project, with its own very particular limitations. It’s easy to go buy a dCS Bartok and plug it in – spending that money on acoustics (which is not hard) takes time, planning, installation, mess …
From a system perspective I feel that the changes in digital front end are going to be very small compared to a) acoustics as mentioned and b) amp/speaker. So my next gear purchase is likely a significant move up in active studio monitors (i.e. ATC SCM100).
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10-4.
Enjoy.
I disconnected the Ethernet from bridge a couple weeks ago and have gone strictly thru the Matrix Spdif for Roon and Qobuz. Much improved over the bridge.
I decided to remove the bridge from the DSSR to listen to what I’d hear. The Oppo thru I2S seemed to have a little more transparency. The Matrix on the other hand seem to lose lower end and some mid bass I don’t know why. Possibly because I’m not using an external power supply on the Spdif. I put the card back in and will repeat the experiment when I get a LPS for the Matrix.
Initially, I removed the LAN cable from Bridge II but got no audible improvement. Uninstalling the card altogether from DS DAC made the music more coherent, eliminated certain distortion from big orchestral recordings, added transparency and spatial feel to the music.
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I had similar improvements. I was also using the DS DAC’s TOSLINK input. I’m now using only one of the I2S inputs and it seems I’m getting better SQ that way. Maybe the DS just works better with just one input.
- Upon removing Bridge II, I went on to play files directly using Naim Uniti Core which doubles as music server and player. Files are played directly to DS DAC via coax cable only (PCM upto 24/192 and DSD over DoP).
- I have a 100mbps Wi-Fi repeater with 4 LAN ports mounted on the wall behind the rack. A 3ft. LAN cable used to connect Bridge II. The wall wart was connected to a socket nearby on the same circuit feeding P15 power plant which feeds everything. Disconnecting Bridge II did not help, but removing it altogether did.
- Over the past weekend, I decided to try and re-install Bridge II , but not hook it to LAN, and try to isolate the power supply of the Wi-Fi repeater. I have noticed a positive change. I will keep Bridge II installed for a few days, then test with Melco Ethernet Cable. If SQ gets downgraded, I may consider a stand alone network bridge.
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Uniti Core does not send DSD over DoP. It converts DSD to PCM (which is bad).
Regards,
Sourav
Thanks for the note. DSD played through the Core sounds better than PCM Hi-Res, which surprises me. Moreover, even after conversion to PCM, DSD files played by the Core sound better than DSD streamed using Bridge II.
I play 35% vinyl, and 65% digital. My digital playback is 90% CDs (& rips thereof) . So whatever streamer I get, it should perform very well with 16/44.1 PCM, otherwise, I am better off using the Core as a player. I am not sure if FiData servers can play DSD to a DAC via USB without noise from LAN cables and routers. EDIT: It turns out that fiData can provide a direct connection to a streamer (LAN cable) and/or a direct connection to a DAC (USB cable) However, the units are pricy!
Hi Serhan,
I completely agree with your observation. Same is in my case though technically DSD to PCM conversion is not a good thing.
I believe the reason is Uniti Core as such is a very good product from SQ perspective with galvanic isolation for SPDIF output.
These days I am also trialing NDX 2 as music streamer to DS Dac. It does use DoP to send DSD to the SPDIF output. Pretty good result so far.
Regards,
Sourav
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6 years later I must say my system back then had a lot of issues. I must say the sound without the bridge is far superior. I know this is well past the due date, but I just read what I wrote and it made me feel very foolish. 
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