# Firmware updates and fixes for the new Directstream MK2 **URL:** \ **Category:** DACs\ **Created:** [March 10, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755 "2023-03-10T21:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Carousel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/carousel/32/155545_2.png) [@Carousel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Carousel)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 8:09am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/241 "2023-03-20T08:09:43Z")
I played a whole bunch of 24-192 over USB last night from a Euphony Stylus ASRock to my MK2 with no problems. Only used a 2-meter, but cheaper cable. You should be OK with 15-feet. It would be the limit though normally for super high resolution files like DSD64. Maybe for 24-192 too. Experts can comment. I only down sample to 24-96 for the optical input. The MK2 does not take 24-192 via optical. Tried swapping the USB cables? ---
**Author:** ![steve.gross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@steve.gross](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/steve.gross)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 9:01am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/242 "2023-03-20T09:01:46Z")
Thanks for the suggestion. Much appreciated. FWIW, I’ve had no trouble with any other 192/24 files — either played through the MK 2 or the original DS. Just with the one file. And it seems to be reproducible — same skips in the same places. At least, so far. That seems unlikely to me if it were a connection problem. But I’m just a software guy, this hardware stuff is outside my wheelhouse. And I have a lot of 192/24 files. I do needle drop recordings of my vinyl records and put them on the server, and a lot of those are 192/24 recordings. There are a number of downloaded 192/24 files too. Also, note that the file I have trouble with does fine over USB to a different DAC — the one built-in to the amp — where the length of the cable is exactly the same. Not sure what any of this means yet. I’ll probably fool around some more with this tomorrow. First up, I think I’ll try swapping the cables like you suggested and see what that does. Then I’ll try to see just how reproducible this is, and look closer at the Roon settings for each DAC to see how they match up. I may even swap out the MK 2 for the old DS, but that involves some crawling around on the floor and I’m not as young as I once was — though I suppose that can be said for all of us. 😉 Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![gthiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f6c823/32.png) [@gthiel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/gthiel)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/243 "2023-03-20T13:07:22Z")
I updated to 198 antero successfully. I used the following configuration: OS: WIIN 11 Thumb drive:128GB Format: FAT32 Quick formatted the thumb drive then followed the instructions in the txt file. I’ve used multiple drives each having a different size, from 2-128 GB, on the DSjr and now the MK2 without failure. I start with a fresh format and eject each time. ---
**Author:** ![jll37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@jll37](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jll37)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/244 "2023-03-20T14:33:27Z")
are people hearing a sonic improvement with 198 ? hard for me to tell as my machine is only a few days old and still breaking in and with a new cable (after 2 days use, a new - used cable)… ---
**Author:** ![amsco15](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/amsco15/32/28_2.png) [@amsco15](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/amsco15)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/245 "2023-03-20T14:35:26Z")
> [@jll37](#): > > are people hearing a sonic improvement with 198 ? not me ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/246 "2023-03-20T14:41:59Z")
> [@steve.gross](#): > > Playing a track I’ve had for a long time (Eagles — King of Hollywood 192/24 ALAC), it started skipping around a bit. By skipping do you mean, maybe, small sections cut out? small sections out of order?, literal longer skips forward? longer skips backwards? I do know that the Eagles “Hotel California” SACD has a lot of spots that are above the SACD volume limits and are clipped on the album. At first, I thought it was the Mk II messing up with them, but they were clipped at the source - I had never noticed that with the Mk I. If you could get me a copy of your file I could see if I can reproduce your issue and I can look at it in some more detail to see if it too has overloads. PM me and perhaps we can work something out. ---
**Author:** ![jkrichards](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jkrichards/32/191511_2.png) [@jkrichards](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jkrichards)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/247 "2023-03-20T14:59:09Z")
Wow… Talk about keeping on top of these issues and knocking them out. Ted is the greatest! ---
**Author:** ![murrayb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/murrayb/32/196345_2.png) [@murrayb](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/murrayb)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/248 "2023-03-20T15:03:37Z")
I did not notice any change to the sound of the MKII after the update, which I had running from Thursday evening when I installed to the end of the day on Sunday. However, like someone else posted earlier, I now have what sounds like a brief bit of static / crackle between tracks about 75% of the time. It’s not loud, but easily noticeable. Did not have this prior to the update. Ted’s already posted that he is working on a fix, which will hopefully form part of the April 10 update. Haven’t yet tried the fix suggested by Brian. ---
**Author:** ![jkrichards](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/jkrichards/32/191511_2.png) [@jkrichards](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jkrichards)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/249 "2023-03-20T15:10:58Z")
No sound improvement here here with 198. The MK2 is already a great sounding DAC. Listening to it last night, I could not believe the spacial detail of each instrument and the large open stage. Also we discovered that the best sound is with the output voltage that Ted has set it to (3.76v). We moved our volume down to 96 (3.76v) and it sounds perfect. We did this because our transformer raised it to 4v. No need to waste time trying to make it 4v in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![steve.gross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@steve.gross](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/steve.gross)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/250 "2023-03-20T22:15:17Z")
I’ve played around a bit with this today. First, I copied the file in question to a USB thumb drive, plugged the drive into the front on my PerfectWave SACD Transport, and played the track through the MK 2 using an I2S connection. I get the same “skips” in the same places each time I play the file this way. The first skip is just over 20 seconds into the recorded playback, and there are a couple more later on. Sorry about the lack of vocabulary, but I just don’t have the words. I struggled to find a better way than “skip” to describe it in my first message, but alas. So, instead, I recorded the playback from my speakers, and put the recorded output along with the original file into a Zip that I’m happy to send a download link for to Ted if only I could figure out how the PM thing works here. Sorry, I haven’t been here long and really don’t know my way around. If someone could point me in the right direction, I’d be grateful. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/251 "2023-03-20T22:17:13Z")
click on his name in one of his posts you will see a window show up, click Message on top right of this pop-up window This presumes computer browser use For phone, blue button to left of the number of his replies in this thread ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/252 "2023-03-20T22:19:47Z")
I don’t believe you can attach a file in a PM. ---
**Author:** ![steve.gross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@steve.gross](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/steve.gross)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/253 "2023-03-20T22:20:16Z")
Thanks, but maybe I need to be authorized or something. The only thing I see in the top right of the window is a button that shows me all the messages he posted in this topic. Am I doing something wrong? ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/254 "2023-03-20T22:20:28Z")
It’s probably best to PM Ted and ask him how he’s been sharing files with forum members. ---
**Author:** ![steve.gross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@steve.gross](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/steve.gross)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/255 "2023-03-20T22:22:13Z")
I can send him a download link that he can use to get the file. I just need to figure out how to PM him. I seem to be struggling with that part… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/256 "2023-03-20T22:24:30Z")
Ahhh… you may need an assist from @Elk. As a new user you have limited functionality. ---
**Author:** ![steve.gross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@steve.gross](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/steve.gross)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/257 "2023-03-20T22:27:25Z")
This is what I see when I click the picture: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/6/5/6592ec39d3e580f6c109a849f3aab30a41aa9eab.png) ---
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/258 "2023-03-20T22:30:06Z")
Yup, that’s what I thought. Hopefully @elk can expedite your ability to PM. There are some rules about new users. I don’t know them all, but I do know about this one that limits your ability to directly contact forum members. I can’t remember the period of time that you normally have to wait before you can. ---
**Author:** ![steve.gross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@steve.gross](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/steve.gross)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/259 "2023-03-20T22:48:59Z")
OK. Thanks. In the meantime the files are ready. As soon as someone gives me a way to send the link to Ted I’ll be happy to do so. ---
**Author:** ![akro](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/akro/32/177145_2.png) [@akro](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/akro)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755/260 "2023-03-20T22:49:32Z")
this is what I see when I click his name… @vkennedy61 note probably applies regarding what you see as a new user ![PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/2/5/253714e36c8906ddf1840f18eb2a63b75cf71465.jpeg) [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755.md?page=12) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/firmware-updates-and-fixes-for-the-new-directstream-mk2/32755.md?page=14)