Ground Lift & Shell Lift - Experience with DS MKII?

Audio Components DACs
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If there were a universal best configuration I would have implemented it and not even given the options :slight_smile:

The thing is that it can depend on the individual cables used and sometimes not in a subtle way, for example, if the shields on the cables are grounded on one end and not the other. It can also depend on whether a cable is connected to a not currently used input.

Allowing the user to set a different lift/grounding configuration for each separate active input could be quite confusing, but if we can think of a good way we might consider it.

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Roger that. Would it be possible to change the ground parameters via the remote? I know this was discussed but do not remember if could or could not be implemented.

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Hmm. We do have an unused button or two… It may be too late for this release, but I’ll check to see if we can come up with something.

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Sorry Ted. I wasn’t clear. I guess what I was really asking for is whether there’d be a way to save each Input’s configuration, inclusive of what everything else is set to relative to that Input? Something like

I2S1: Lifted, all other Inputs not lifted, Output Shell lifted, Output Ground not lifted
I2S2: Lifted, all other Inputs not lifted, Output Shell lifted, Output Ground not lifted
USB: Not lifted, all other Inputs not lifted, Output Ground Lifted, Output Shell not lifted

for example? IOW all parameters for all Inputs’ and Output’s chosen configuration saved per Input.

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That WOULD be pretty cool and allow for better comparative listening and the use of the optimum setting in one’s system…

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I went back to have USB input grounded again. What I found with USB lifted, the sound is a bit warm and polite after a couple of hours of listening. When I grounded the USB input, the sound is more vivid. The Omega USB cable may have blocked all the noises already, to ground the input brought a bit spark into the music with min. digital noise. I am sure in a different system lifting the active inputs could be better. That is why I still have I2S 1 lifted for PST.

With this setup I do need to lift both output and shell. I had this setup at begining so maybe I just used to the sound. I may change my mind tomorrow of course.

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Happy cake day, Tony!

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Grazie, Luca! Wow, 11 years. It’s tough getting old… on the forum. Sono un vecchio! :joy:

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Hi golfer friend, what usb cable where you using before comparing all these expensive ones?

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I had a Silnote Epirus Elite Reference USB before, but I was mainly use I2S link. Silnote was very good for the price but it could not compete with Stealth T and Shunyata Sigma.

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This is a strange thread that seems to be missing the point of electrical isolation / grounding…

However, the readers of this tread must be aware of a few things not mentioned in the thread (sorry if I´ve missed it)

I think electrical isolation is a good thing. I had it on the USB-input on my Arcam D33 DAC designed ca 2011/12. Ted has raised the bar, isolating all connections. That said this thread is full of people complaining on not getting full effect, or gets added unwanted brightness.

Proper electronic isolation do not give full effect without proper grounding of high frequencies via draining it out of the equipment. You should get rid of brightness, it should add 3D, depth, flow, provide a sense of ease etc. I therefor write a few points with the intention of providing some more understanding of electronic isolation and grounding.

The way it is done by some users in this thread, you might isolate your dac, but hinder the dac from getting rid of high frequency noices that previously was sent from the dac via cables to other parts of the stereo. A small portion might have ended up in the power cleaner that usually drains all noice it can pick up to the earth ground.

A few thoughts

A) Changing ground takes time. Switching on off is hardly noticable. Any change should be evalutade at soonest 30 minutes after a change, with a maximum effect not expected prior to 24hrs. Stopping a lot of jitter and high frequency noice via electrical isolation can give a fast change and easily heard change, but the grounding part takes time.

B) Changing a cables ability to pick up noice and transfering it to a dac, does not make a stereo set up immune to ground noice.

  • The DAC it self should also be grounded via something that sucks the noice created within the DAC out of the DAC (Entreq/CAD/others-boxes or minor sticks such as Chord GroundAray or Ansuz Sparkz can do the job)
  • The DACs power-cable should direct incomming noice via the power cables ground cable away from the DAC (Audioquest Storm-series power cables does this)
  • The rest of the stereo, including speakers and power regenerators might benefit greatly from grounding inputs/outputs or chassis (power plats should be grounded in the chassis) connected to an external grounding box.

The subject of electrical isolation and transferering high frequency noice via electronics and cables are closely related to the topic of grounding hifi in more ways than just putting the power cable in a grounded wall outlet.

This was my 2 cents to help getting rid of that “brightness” people write about in this thread. The DAC Mk II should in theory improve sound when isolation is used, but it is more to it.

If even one owner of the new dac gets better sound after reading this, I´m more than happy.

PS: Do not forgett to listen with the same ground in your body as your stereo, then things start to bloom even more…

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Just more experienced not older, able to dispense wise advice to audiophile newbies like me! Congrats!

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I agree the change of ground/lift takes time, the sound is a bit different on the next day sometimes.

I want to make sure I understand your point. You mentioned power cord to the DAC should have shell grounding activited (I use AQ Dragon Source), or are you saying all inputs and outputs should be grounded because MK2 has done all the isolations needed already?

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Happy Cake Day @tony22! :cake:

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Happy Cake Day for making 11 years! Tony, that’s amazing frankly.

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I was thinking about all of the crazy Tony has read on the forum over eleven years. It would probably make a great bathroom reader.

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Thank you both! I’ll say in all these years I’ve never seen a forum with by and large a nicer bunch of guys. We’ve lost a few, and there have been some real cliffhanger moments, but mostly with Elk’s help all’s worked itself out. The early days of PWD and PWT were fun. I can remember first hearing them in my system and wondering “is it possible this can someday sounds as good as my (then) analog?” Paul and PSA have been good to me over all that time. I give a lot of credit to Paul, Ted, and (RIP) Arnie and Bascom for keeping PS Audio as a brand that can continue to punch above its weight.

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Happy

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day @tony22

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Thanks Serhan!

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Happy Cake, Tony!

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