Firmware updates and fixes for the new Directstream MK2

Audio Components DACs
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Thank you🙏

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Chalk it up to W. Edwards Deming and the Quality Circles concept, embraced by foreign manufacturers, most notably Toyota. Unfortunately some US manufacturers discounted the concept, most notably General Motors. Seeking best practices and properly implementing them can pay significant dividends.

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Good news indeed.

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In the 'nineties Texas State government was encouraging state agencies to form committees based on and to discuss and implement Total Quality Management. Executive departments across the state blocked and hovered in fear over what was being discussed and transpiring. Luckily for them there was a change of leadership at the top and it quickly was power-washed into oblivion. And state government slid into a new low that I don’t believe it has risen from.

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So sad, but not surprising as it seems our pride blocks progress.

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Pride, and the retention of power and money above all else, mission be damned.

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Toss in a dash of self promotion.

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GM entered joint venture with Toyota at their Fremont plant. From the lessons learned from Toyota they overhauled their manufacturing system and created Andon lines in all plants and verification stations throughout assembly to measure outgoing Quality on control charts . Most of their vehicles Trucks in particular improved.

I remember memo my dad showed me that someone did a spoof announcement of the NUMMI start up. It stated the joint venture was to be called the called the Toylet. A Toyota Chevrolet combination. It also stated that it was rumored GM top leadership has had their heads in the Toylet for years.

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Did not know, so even GM can learn and embrace new ideas! A good thing.

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Except during inclement weather…:wink:

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I worked five years in Qa leadership at GM truck group. Our Tahoes, Yukons snd Escalades led industry in first Quality delivered. They are aldo one of the few vehicles that stay on the road ad rack up 300 to 500 thousand miles regularly. I have owned three. None of mine ever went back for warranty service. My first one had 165k when I traded and original brakes only oil changes. The last two same story.

I do remember occasionally we would catch a dual yukon and Tahoe badged truck we used to call the Yuhoe on the care line which did final audit we alsio test Drove 25 random trucks per shift and did a dynamic chassis test on a vibration inducing profile. Any problems discovered in the Global customer audit we would double check vehicles ran that shift in the rail yard to ensure no dealer escapes. So GM took quality serous in manufacturing. But if the design is hosed you can fix thst in manufacturing.

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Good to know. I was thinking more in terms of the Roger Smith era, especially the 80’s when US auto quality was more or less in the ditch, and Deming was all the rave.

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I just received my DS MK2 today and had a short listen to it; it sounded very good with wider sound stage and depth, there is also more airy.
I like to know if future firmware can be upgraded with wifi or needs a USB drive like DS1.

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There will be Wi-Fi (and/or connected Ethernet) updates in the future. The first update will have to be with a USB stick.

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I think I read about putting a USB tail/dongle out the back of the MK2 and leaving it attached so you you could pull it up and hook a drive to it for the updates. Is this an ok thing to do or will quality take a hit, etc? Mines coming soon and hopefully we get the Wifi tools soon too.

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It shouldn’t make much of a difference in sound quality. And, as you mention, you won’t need it forever.

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Thanks Ted. The current version in my unit is 2.3.6, is this the latest?

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2.3.6 of the UI code is the latest UI code. The FPGA in your unit is almost certainly 179-Antero. (You need to press the down arrow next to the display on the version screen to see the FPGA version.) The new FPGA should be on the web side any moment (but stuff happens, so today or tomorrow?) There will be a notice when it happens.

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Didn’t Paul say April 10th? Or was that for UI?

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I have version 2.3.6 and noticed I get static and then clicks/pops through my speakers when my Apple TV box is involved. If the Apple TV remote is used to quickly scroll through the apps the above noises occur. However, I will send back the MK1 and live with the static/clicks/pops because the MK2 presents a fantastic musical experience between tracks!