Many but not all. I do not find it to be true that removing the Bridge 2 changes anything soundwise.
Amen. If people here can hear a difference in cables but can’t hear the difference when removing a noisy card, I have to wonder what they think they are hearing. Because removing the Bridge II made a bigger difference in my setup than any cable ever has.
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Actually I was extremely pleased with the sound using the bridge in the beginning. It’s just when you remove it and experiment with other options and find the DS can be way better.
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Thanks for revisiting some of these ideas. Plan to give the ifi 9v a shot with the Matrix…plug it into my P12. Matrix will be fed from a fanless linux roon core, using a supra 2.0 usb cable that I’ll use, and will give a cheapo OneConvey HDMI 8K 2.1 cable a shot to get I2S into DAC sr. Wouldn’t have much of a need for the bridge at that point, so will just remove it for a bit and see what I get.
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I love hearing these kind of statements. I bought my DS without bridge because I have a F load on terabytes of disk in hi res. It just feels like I stumbled across the correct decisions…somehow no fault of my own. 
+1.
I don’t buy into the cable thing, my system (Sugden/PMC) doesn’t seem to appreciate fancy cables.
Pulling the bridge however, I can hear and it’s not going back in.
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Want to buy a B2? 
I bought a bridge 2 with my DS. It produced periodic clicking and popping noises…sounded, like playing a dirty record. PS Audio was great. They told me they were aware of the problem from other reports. They sent me software updates to try but they didn’t help. They sent me a replacement B2 but it had the same problem. Finally, i returned the B2 for a refund. Maybe if a B3 is released I’ll try again. I have to say that my system with the Innuous Zenith 3 and Phoenix, DS, Krell amp, Audioquest Niagara 1200 Audio Research preamp and KEF Reference 5 speakers sounds spectacular. Since the price reduction on the Stellar Powerplant 3 I’ve been toying with trying one for 30 days but I’m pretty happy now. Funny that no one on this thread has mentioned the clicking and popping problem with the B2 since, according to PS Audio, it is a known problem.
I had some of that with DSD tracks so I’d downgrade to 192/24. Never had an issue with FLAC and the B2.
Yeah I found the same thing. I’ve also removed the B2 card and it’s not going back in. 
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What you need to do if you are going to run the Phoenix and the Matrix is unplug the Matrix. Use the clean power from the Phoenix. I have been running it this way for several months now and it is gorgeous. That bloating you and your wife are hearing is that.
Thanks. Never thought of that. I would have assumed that the Matrix wouldn’t do anything at all without power. I’ll try it.
It is built to run from the 5v of the USB.
Please let us know what you think after unplugging it…
The Matrix will sound better if you use a quality external power supply vs using USB power…what ever the source.
Now I’m confused. I’ve been using the Uptone LPS 1.2 power supply. But if I unplug the Matrix from a/c power as suggested, the power supply won’t be part of the equation and won’t make a difference. Am I missing something?
The power is already as good as it is going to get from the Phoenix. Trust me, I have been doing this for months. Unplug the Matrix and listen to that bloat go away.
Then you can use I2S or AES3 for a better input to the DSD.
Please let us know how it sounds.
Flip,
I appreciate the advice. I’m now listening to the configuration you suggested, zenith-Phoenix-unplugged matrix-ds. I definitely like it better than the powered Matrix configuration. Haven’t yet compared it to the Zenith-Phoenix-DS (no matrix) or Zenith-Matrix-DS (no Phoenix) but plan to do so and post an update.
I
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I stopped using my Bridge II months ago when I determined that Matrix I2S powered by an Uptone JS-2 was the better way to go even though I was losing the second MQA unfold in the Bridge. Today I removed the Bridge II and agree it is a big change for the better. It turns out just having it in the DSD was masking detail. Now I’m getting a better sense of air and dimensionality, soundstage is enhanced and the bass is tighter and better defined. All things pointing to the successful removal of another source of incremental noise in the system in my experience.
All I can say is that if you are not currently using Bridge II, remove it and listen to determine whether you don’t end up liking your DSD better. And it’s free!!!
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Very Cool! I was pretty sure that you would.
In past posts, I2S and AES3 beat out the USB input by a fair margin. Bootzilla did a poll quite a few back if I remember correctly. I prefer AES3 in my system.
This way you lose that bloat AND you get to use a better input.
I love the Phoenix>Matrix(unplugged) combo. Now I just need a better source to feed them.
Happy listening!
@brownsf What do you mean by bloat? Sounds like a veterinarian term for a sick cow?
Bloat is a form of indigestion marked by excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Immediately after cattle consume a meal, the digestive process creates gases in the rumen. Most of the gases are eliminated by eructation (belching).
BTW matrix has not belched yet. Even whe drinking cold brews While listening
When I run matrix off USB it sounds two dimensional and less defined bass and less imaging space between instruments. What LPS were you running.? Also what USB cord and cable to DSD?