Firmware updates and fixes for the new Directstream MK2

[jkrichards]

This thread is for discussing firmware updates, bug fixes and feature updates.

[Edit: -Ted Smith. FPGA 189 is available see

Firmware updates and fixes for the new Directstream MK2

FPGA 198 Antero is up in the download section of this site. It’s in the “PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 v2.3.6” package. The “How to Upgrade DSD MK2 firmware.txt” file contains the update instructions in section 2. (The instructions say the version screen should say “178-Beta SS”, but instead it should say “198-Antero”.) I just want to add that I’m not done with stomping pops, and if I (or you) find any, I’ll try to get those in the April release. [Edit: - A few updates: Use FAT32 on you…

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[Job_Jalink]

Thanks for this initiative; much appreciated!

Here’s one thing that recently crossed my mind and that might be somewhat related: currently Roon recognizes the MK2 as a Mk1/generic ‘PSA extended resolution US’. Which brings me to: is there a technical difference between the MK1 and MK2 as in how Roon recognizes the MK2 and adapts it’s rendering to the Dac?

If so, this would perhaps require a SW update and/or a renewed ‘handshake’ agreement with Roon to be ‘ready’.
If not, perhaps even better, but still it would be nice to see the MK2 being recognized by its (true?) name.

[jkrichards]

1. Better Roon integration. Waiting on status from Roon.
2. Larger text display for both volume and format. (Is this possible?)
3. update to the display settings so:
   it can allow the user to choose a default of either giving prominence to the output / volume level, or the input name and its sample rate, so that in either setting, they are easily visible across the room; and
   it can show the DS2’s pre-selected input names in full – At least on my unit, when using the coaxial input, the ‘Streamer’ input name shows up initially in large text, and then as ‘Streame’ in small text, together with the output / volume.
4. better menu navigation (back to previous level especially)
5. lifting/grounding functions from remote control
6. automatically shorting/isolating unused inputs function
7. ticks and pops issues fixing. Seems to be an issue with only some streamers / setups.
8. retune or fix the SDM as Ted explained. 6 months - 1 year.
9. enable triggers.
10. enable balance from remote.
11. enable the power on/off for each input circuit.
12. enable network updates.
13. * web interface to control settings.
14. configurable i2s.
15. bit perfect test

* NOT WORKING ON.

[falling_leaves]

Larger text display for both volume and format.

[Interested]

Hi, these ones have been flagged earlier on, but if we’re making a list of all the “to do’s” for the DS2, I’d like to suggest an update to the display settings so:

1. it can allow the user to choose a default of either giving prominence to the output / volume level, or the input name and its sample rate, so that in either setting, they are easily visible across the room; and

2. it can show the DS2’s pre-selected input names in full – At least on my unit, when using the coaxial input, the ‘Streamer’ input name shows up initially in large text, and then as ‘Streame’ in small text, together with the output / volume.

[luca.pelliccioli]

Already well discussed upgrades:

• better menu navigation (back to previous level especially)
• lifting/grounding functions from remote control
• automatically shorting/isolating unused inputs function
• ticks and pops issues fixing

[jkrichards]

@tedsmith @Paul
Is there anything in the list above that is not doable? Like larger text display of volume and format.

[tedsmith]

Most of those are being worked on.
I don’t think there’s currently a project for a web interface.
I know they’ve talked to Roon, but I don’t know the status.
I don’t know what #8 is.

[jkrichards]

Thanks Ted.
#8

Ted Smith opens up and tells all

I was referring to the attenuator switches being noisy. Before we knew that they were noisy and that that noise was there even if when the attenuators weren’t being used I was trying to balance things like THD, noise, … when tuning the SDM. Now that we know the source of the noise and have removed it from the units sent to the field I can retune the SDM to lower THD a little. No units were shipped with the bad attenuator switches.

[tedsmith]

Working on better sound quality in the SDM isn’t going to happen until the next named release, perhaps 6 months or a year from now.

[amsco15]

I would like a bit perfect test like we had with the mki.

[tedsmith]

That will be there. I’ve also added another file which can be used to configure the polarity of the I2S connections and probably also the configuration of the dual AES inputs.

[jkrichards]

@tedsmith

and probably also the configuration of the dual AES inputs.

Thanks Ted.
Yes. It’s sometimes hard to tell when it is correct.

[jkrichards]

@jkrichards

4. better menu navigation (back to previous level especially)

This is a very annoying issue.

[luca.pelliccioli]

Hopefully should be easy to fix, I suppose in my totally ignorance.

[RobH]

@tedsmith @Paul

Please add me to the list of people who would like to have the “ticks and pops” issue addressed.

I now own a production unit of the MK2 – still within the 30-day return window – that has this VERY disturbing issue.

I haven’t followed all the MK2 threads closely, but as far as I can tell, this noise happens when sample rates on selected tracks changes. Not only is the sound a horrible thing to hear, I worry about it blowing my speakers.

In my opinion, this is not minor and justifies an immediate fix.

[akro]

I understand a clock matter is involved, takes a blip to go from one sampling frequency to another

[RobH]

And is there a solution to this?

[akro]

allegedly in illusory firmware update in process last few months

[RobH]

akro: “allegedly in illusory firmware update in process last few months”

And yet I have less than 20 days to decide whether or not this is a deal-breaking issue. I’d like to think not, as the MK2 is a marked improvement over the DSD. But man… that noise is startling and disturbing.