Very true. Thanks, fellas. My own ears hear no difference though I do seem to be favoring one. I’ve had it about two days.
Do you ise both i2S ports? Can you use a shorting plug on the inactive 1. To me the shutting off operation of the unused port 2 sounded a lot cleaner. But I do realize my system is quite revealing of the slightest changes nd my hearing a somewhat sensitive to higher frequencies. When i was younger tube rectifiers always bothered my hearing with annoying 60 Hz buzz into the air.
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That is good news! When I first compared, I could not hear much difference either.
However, after two days of comparison between the I2S 1 and 2 inputs, they do sound a tiny different in my system. The challenging thing is to pick a better one. one has more details and sounds cleaner, and the other one sounds more relax and with better rhythm. The difference is tiny but listening to them more I can confirm the difference on every switch.
Is it possible that the small variance in assembling causes the SQ difference? I believe so, and each unit may just sound a bit different and each input too. Some may just sound the same.
But listening to the way I did was not enjoyable, and it is something one should not worry about.
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I do have a shorting plug for it. I’m favoring 1 (would this be the one with better rhythm?) but since 2 is better for cable separation maybe I’ll just hook to that for a week and forget about it.
For me 1 sounded a lot clearer and not muddied. I value hearing into the soundstage. I want Orchestra unamplified to sound that was. It sounds more natural. But anyone can have their own preferences and still be right.
This point could be mute soon (no pun intended). I believe it was Ted’s intention to have open inputs turned off on the MK2 release but will now be a future SW change.
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We posted transformer sweeps of all transformers used in both the DS and the MKII in the Modding the DS topic.
Just purchased a MKII so I can evaluate the new nickel transformers my son is designing and building for me. Should be interesting 
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I have been evaluating the new transformers that were custom built for my DS.
I have one word to say… Awesome.
I posted the sweeps and measurements over at the Modding the DS topic:
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It doesn’t make sense that one of the HDMI inputs would sound better than the other. If it does, maybe it’s because that input isn’t completely broken in yet.
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I have both I2S inputs in use so break in shouldn’t be an issue. Vmax heard a drastic difference between the two, I heard an exceedingly small difference, but it’s not something obvious for sure and it was not something I could tell right the way.
When I switched last time, I did not enjoy I2S 2 as much for the next two days, but I could not pinpoint the issue. So, I switched back and right the way I liked it better. Could it be I was more familiar with the SQ from one? But if that is the case then there is a SQ difference between the two.
Not many things make sense in the world and here is another one.
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They are separate independent circuits on a printed circuit board. Which meanslayout and proximity to other components which emit RF wil affect them differently. It is easy to hear differences between I2s1 and i2s2 in both MK1 and MK2 DACs. If the circuits did not interact or create noise would Ted design the MK2 with capability to power off i2s1, i2s2 or USB independent of each other?
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WOW guys!! I just finished reading the entire thread up to this point and I must say… What an awesome discussion!! I absolutely love the fact that the actual engineer/designer of the product is so active on a thread like this!!
That alone makes me want to bite the bullet and upgrade to the mkII and later on, consider maybe modding it.
So, a big shout out to everyone for all the great input, thoughts, teaching and general awesome thread!! And no bullying or other inappropriate behavoir is awesome as well!!
Thank you all, especially you Ted!!
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“Welcome to the party, Pal”.
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Welcome aboard and bring your wallet! Too much temptation from too many great advices was what I found.
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FYI… I setup a pol in the marketplace about some helpful info on the MKII. 
Okay that makes sense. I think I’m using the I2s1 on the DSD MKI, I’ll have to try the other input and see if I hear any difference. But if the other input has never been used I would think it would need to be broken in, would it not?
Which input on the DSD MKI did you think sounded better?
One is better really evident if 2 has a shorting plug and also shorted USB. I always used 2. But had switched to 1 so both mine had. Thousands of hours. UsB is noisest for me both Mk1 and MK2.
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Thank you! Glad to be here!
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Hahaha… yes, I see that too! Thanks!
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