The MK1 will never be able to receive another Ted Smith update ever.
Since all the hardware issues have been addressed, there is no longer any need for firmware updates. If it’s not broken no need to TRY and fix it with software. This thing sound awesome just like it is.
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So be it.
I don’t think the MKI will sound as good as a MKIi BUT ones like the one @paul172 is selling on marketplace is an amazing bang for the buck. If I was in the market for a dac and did not have the funds for a MKII I would be all over it.
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I’ve heard the MK2 vs my MK1 and at the time the difference was not worth the upgrade IMO. Since then PS Audio has updated the firmware and from what I heard made the MK2 take a sonic leap forward. If I were to keep the MK1 I’d probably send it to Jk Richard’s to do the MK1 ultimate mod. That brings it closer to the mk2 and some believe it outperforms the MK2. I can’t confirm that but the price of the mods and the MK1 is still way below the MK2 so yes imo it’s a bargain!
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I believe other factors were paramount in ending the Mk1 software upgrades. True, bugs were fixed during its history and many if not all were resolved. But, there was a new kid in town, the Mk2, and the limitation of the single FPGA in the Mk1 became an impediment.
Ted had to rewrite code to gain space for later and better software upgrades. Hence, the Mk2 has double the storage with two arrays.
The cool takeaway is that there were free improvements, as apposed to new charges or models, all during its long product cycle. It was fun to own and stayed in my stable longer than any other digital component.
I would be all over a used Mk1 with Edcor trannies and maybe some other mods. Nothing comes close in this range.
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Hi Everyone,
I love all the comments in the last few days. When we did the DAC it Out event. I knew that all the budget DAC lovers for the most part never heard the MK1 PSA DAC and NO ONE including me had ever heard the MK2 or the hype surrounding it over the MK1. There were only 3 of us that had owned a MK1’s including the owner of the MK2.
I wasn’t surprised about it “beating” all the DAC’s unanimously even though we didn’t have a MK1 there to compare with the MK2 as I’d mentioned before.
But I’m happy with an 11 year DAC design that smokes all the latest chip contenders and “Johnny come lately” DAC’s that have come out in the market since 2014 (?).
Of course there are “better” DAC’s for way more money. But then is there a real ROI against the MK2 ? Probably. But I don’t have the means to find out. But to those who do. All the power to those folks. I’m not jealous (ok……maybe a little bit).
I regrettably missed the opportunity to trade in my MK1 for a MK2 at the price of the original MSRP MK1 ($5k ?).
But I hate the fact that they killed the big display. They could have made a slick bigger touch screen display and didn’t. That for me is a big fail for an $8k DAC. Screens don’t harm the sound quality folks !
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Many find screens do harm sound quality on DACs as well as other equipment
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Including the DAC 1’s creator.
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My understanding is nickel trannies are The Way. Take a Pass on the Edcors. BE aware J.K. can be rather “temper-mental.”
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The ability to disable them is nice.
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Me too. I like the aesthetic of the MK I better than that of the MK II.
Agreed. I got the JK nickel transformers for the Mk2 and was happy with the improvement, along with the subsequent software upgrade. Getting the same for the Mk1 would be great.
I was suggesting that the more readily available used units with less expensive mods,
like the Edcors upgrade, are a great bank for the buck…like Paul’s.
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I left that out of my post. Post JK nickel transformers the MKII was a leap ahead.
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Indeed they are, but for a bit more…
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My experience with APS was wonderful. Very professional and quality work. Very happy.
I can tell you for sure my APS Signature Series plus sounded a lot better than the new MK2 I had with the APS transformers. I’m not alone on this as all of my friends also agreed. That’s why I sold the MK2. The MK2 was good however with the MK2 it seemed the instruments and vocals were not focused well. They were there just not pinpoint and real sounding like the SSP. I also like the bigger screen and the fact that the XLR AES input can do DSD128 unlike the MK2 that could only do DSD64. Also I ended up with extra funds at the end. 
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That is for sure. It made my MK2 sound much better however the SSP sounds much better to my friends and I.
I’ve been thinking about sending my upgraded DSD MkI back to JK Richards for the Signature upgrade , vs selling it and taking the money I would’ve spent on the upgrade and buying something else, but it sounds like I’d have to spend quite a bit more to better the Signature MkI.