Hi Scotta, Have you tried changing the operating system of the SD Card? I loaded Moode and the Red took a leap forward in terms of SQ.
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Moode looks interesting. When I have a few hours to burn I am going to play with it.
Thanks!
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Already have it loaded on a card just need to get it installed. It appears to be USB or I2S output only.
Has anyone out there with a DS MK2 and something like a Roon Rock device (Nucleus etc) tried comparing simple USB to the MK2 vs. putting a Holo Red in between with I2S over HDMI to the MK2? Maybe with or without any direct USB connection from the server to the Red?
In my previous comparisons with a Pi4 running various programs and sending to the MK2 via USB, I settled on just using a USB cable to the MK2.
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Thanks for the suggestion.
This might be beyond my technical level of technical expertise, but I will look into it later.
I am sure some generous souls lurking here can provide assistance when the time comes.
Moode works with Roon as an endpoint. Interesting. would like to hear what others think of that as well.
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Itās also not a fuse, and yet the hyperbolic lather over the last few years over fuses of all things (and yes, I too hear how they can be better in my own system, so call me a fuse nut) makes the observations about the Red so far (except the first from @shankha) seem like nobody really knows for sure if it might just maybe be better than an old BridgeII! Really? After all the years since the BII was introduced? In my case Iām frankly tired of a 4-box (plus cables) solution that Iām using now to get high rate digital to my DAC. So itād be nice to have a one box (no external PS needed or, worse, āyou can add one to make it even better!ā) high rate capable solution at a reasonable price that - some 5 years after the Bridge II came out - actually sounds better without having to use a jewelerās scale to make that judgement! 
Iāll find out for myself whenever mine shows up, I guess.
I have been following this part of the thread. I made this call so long ago even before any modes I did to my traded in MKI. I found the bridge to sound way more compressed than an external streamer. I started right at the top with my Sonore and it clearly outclassed the bridgeIIā¦sold it. Now with the MKII its obviously a diff. animal all together. I found that the newer industrial Pi based streamers from Stack and Holo sound just as good with the MKII as the Sonore. I am really surprised that you find the BII to sound better.
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Iām not sure I said that. My current streaming solution is better than my BII (when I was using it). I wouldnāt otherwise have gone to a new streamer. 
My comments are specific to the feeling of a lack of enthusiasm by more than one or two on the change to the Red (which I donāt have yet). A bit of an oddity, to me anyway, compared to the almost life changing proclamations made on this forum regarding any number of more trivial changes (yes, there is a small bit of friendly humor here). As I said, Iāll find out for myself.
With the MKII, USB is just as good as I2S, and DDC no longer needed so the setups are easier. way less cables and boxes. What people are seeing is streamers are all getting really good around the $1000 mark. No longer need to spend $3k to get a top of the line streamer any more. Like most things in tech its moving forward. Again I am talking about stand alone streamer. When you get into the all in one solutions where the DAC has a bridge or even an integrated with DAC option then its a different ball game.
Me for one have tried a few tricks here on this forum. I have not had the success others have had with some. Some yeah they worked.
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Exactly! Thatās why I figured five years after the introduction of the BII, finding something considered better by most folks should be relatively straightforward.
What have found at the up to the $1K mark to be said device, if itās not the Red?
Yeah there are plenty. Sonore, Red, Manu, the used Stack I had (its 1350 new). But may many around.
Yeah, but I think most of these keep me in multi box land. Hopefully the Red will be the ticket.
Silent Angel Munich M1T?
I have one
Very happy with it
Doesnāt get mentioned much here
I thought it had some sort of external power adapter?
Wall wart or optional LPS at additional cost.
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The Silent Angel Munich M1T comes with a pretty decent external SMPS. Other LPS solutions are optional.
Although USB on the M1T only goes to DSD256, compared with DSD1024 for the Holo Red, the big benefit for a PS Audio customer seems to be no requirement to decipher a cryptic manual to use I2S over HDMI. Just plug in an HDMI cable between the M1T and the PSA DAC. Though the M1T is limited to DSD128 over HDMI vs DSD512 Native and DSD256 DoP with the Red.
Another big benefit for non-Roonies is that the M1T has its own app for streaming and can scan in NAS folders to its memory. Go for the 8GB model for big libraries.
I would not actually call the Red a streamer. It can be used as an endpoint or as a DDC.
So happens, that is all I need too given the lack of a PS Audio bridge for the MK2 DAC.
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Thanks!
Thereās now a more expensive version too.
12 posts were split to a new topic: Problems with Roon and My Nucleus+