DSD MKII Ticking sound

Got my DSD MKII a week ago I have not listened to it a whole lot, I am using it with a PST, WW platinum starlight 48 HDMI.
I am getting those soft ticks I read about somewhere in this forum, during music playback on SACD’s only, anyone else have this? A fix?
I do not hear this with the Stellar Gold DAC, so I think it is the MKII
Thank You,

Got my DSD MKII a week ago I have not listened to it a whole lot, I am using it with a PST, WW platinum starlight 48 HDMI.
I am getting those soft ticks I read about somewhere in this forum, during music playback on SACD’s only, anyone else have this? A fix?
Thank You,

I listened for the ticks when I played SACDs the other day and I did not hear them. You refer to them as “soft” ticks. Do I need to be close to the speakers to hear them? Are they audible in between tracks?

No I can hear them from my listening seat, I guess I will contact PSA, since I would not be able to live with it

These are ticks between tracks?

Watch out for those ticks…Lyme disease you know! :rofl:

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I too have experienced the ticking playind DSD via i2s from the PST. I returned mine for service as it is very mechanically noisy. I also mention the ticking playing SACD and locking up. The real interesting thing is playing DOP DSD files via i2s on my PWT does not produce the ticking!

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I bought my PST used but still has some warranty, the Stellar Gold DAC did not have this issue, so I feel it is the MKII, I guess I have to email them directly since I got no response here. @jamesh

We have Barry and Ted looking into this now. Seems to be something with Massive. A little strange as it wasn’t a problem with the beta Massive but final release got the bug. More info to come.

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Thanks James for the quick response. The MKII with PST is really cooking my books

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Thank you for the update. I also had made a report to PS Audio about these popping noises between the PST and DS DAC Mk 2 when playing an SACD. I received both units in December. Wanted to let you know this was going on before I upgraded to the Massive. Appreciate your prompt action in looking into this.

What do you mean by cooking your books?

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I posted a week ago about the ticking sound from newly received mk2 with latest firmware. Very repeatable after a couple of SACD tracks (DSD64), no issue playing back CDs. When it starts it sounds like playing a dusty or scratchy vinyl. Only way to stop it is to stop the DMP and play again, or shuffle through inputs, but after a couple tracks the ticking sound will return. I am using DMP via I2S, never had this issue with DS. Reviewed by Morris from PS audio and engineering team, the unit has been returned back to PS audio for repair. I am curious what is causing it (bad chip, thermal issue, or firmware related).

BTW, I am back to DS, even with a few days with Mk2 in the system, I can report that the sound quality is very different. I always felt DS is a bit layback and thin compared to my vinyl playback system, the mk2 is certainly a big step in the right direction, a richer, bigger and more dynamic sound. I look forward to have mk2 back in the system.

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This type of experience is the best for confirming an upgrade/system improvement.

When you go back to your previous baseline/normal and say to yourself, “Nope, I want to keep what I was enjoying in the system.”

Thanks for the update.

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When I first noticed that “used vinyl” sound, I ask myself, is this not bug but a feature, a truly vinyl playback experience? but after a while, I am convinced that I can enjoy the music, but I just cannot ignore this ticking sound that pops from left and right randomly, which is not as natural as the crackle and pops playing back an old vinyl. I decided to call PS audio and report back…

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I have the same “vinyl” ticking noise when playing SACD on the DMP over I2S to MKII. The noise is not there when I play normal CD’s. Can confirm that this noise was not there with the Massive beta version, it came with the Massive final version.

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It is a metaphor in a way, like the sound is cooking in a good way

You are liking it much better than the Stellar Gold? I saw your earlier posts in that thread that you were auditioning it.

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At first listen, I want to compare it one more time

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Last night at dinner my wife and I listened to two SACDs and neither of us noticed any clicks. Now I have purposely not told my wife about the clicks so that she would not be biased in what she hears. I did not hear any clicks even though I listened for them, and my wife did not mention hearing any clicks. My audio system is in the same large room as our dinning area is, however, the dinning area is not where we sit when we are doing critical lessening.

This causes me to wonder how noticeable are these clicks and does this mean that having the clicks is system dependent ( i.e. if you use a premap you do not hear the clicks ) or is it unit dependent ( some Mk2s have he clicks and others do not )?