DSD MK2 Aftermarket Modifications

[Zombie]

@dchang05

Even with side-by-side comparison, there are too many variables involved. For one thing, PMG at first few weeks sounded too sharp in my system, and I was not hearing the dead-silence background I am hearing now. PMG took over three months to sound superb; much longer than both MK1 and MK2 that I used to own. Better pairing of cables, power cords, and platform/footers resulted in drastic SQ improvement too.

My evaluation of two components usually took days or longer to reach a conclusion. My initial impression, if they were close in SQ, was often wrong.

OK… Out of curiosity I revisited this exact comparison in my system for over three weeks. My opinion as well as all the others who has heard these two DACs here side by side has not changed. I still feel the king is the new Limited Edition MK2 hands down. This PMG is 4 months old and has had plenty of burn in time. The PMG is a great sounding DAC direct from PS Audio without any mods. The only difference now with this PMG, is that the built in streamer is now more robust without so many issues from a new firmware upgrade however I’m not convinced this built in streamer is not causing sound degrading issues.

See this post from Darren Myers back in October 2022 about the MK2 in the DirectStream DAC MKII Released. thread.

@DarrenMyers

DarrenMyers PS Audio Senior Analog Engineer

While it’s true that there will never be a component that satisfies every persons unique preferences when it comes to feature sets and UI (I happen to massively prefer the MKII UI and no thanks on putting noisy streamers in top flight DACs)…

This DAC is blowing my MIND when it comes to SQ. It has taken my system to a level I never thought was possible - from a digital or even an analog source. There is a gut punching confidence with this DAC that hits you with an absolute immaculate top to bottom coherency and tonal “rightness”. The palpable 3D imagining, layering, and noise floor “blackness” is intoxicating. I’m swimming in a dimensional room of sound with a big smile on my face over here and everyone that I have shown my system to since installing it has pretty much flipped out, including Chris.

Ted has hit it out of the park on this one people. I’m serious.

I cannot wait for people to hear this masterpiece!

@DarrenMyers

DarrenMyers PS Audio Senior Analog Engineer

(I happen to massively prefer the MKII UI and no thanks on putting noisy streamers in top flight DACs)…

Maybe he changed his mind about this however I agree about the extra noise.