# Modding the DirectStream DAC MKI **URL:** \ **Category:** DACs\ **Created:** [December 7, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680 "2015-12-07T20:31:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![chris5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@chris5](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chris5)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/186 "2020-11-06T16:43:18Z")
Should you choose silver solder over standard 60/40 solder for transformer replacement? ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/187 "2020-11-06T17:03:17Z")
@tedsmith, what would the current capability need to be for the 12V supply? ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/188 "2020-11-06T17:09:52Z")
I’ll look up the part number for the power connector on the analog board later today. You won’t cause harm to the DS if you don’t hook up the analog supply to the DS’s switch, but if you don’t turn off the analog before the DS (and power the DS on first) you’ll be putting DC thru the output transformers. That won’t hurt anything, but the sound might be muffled for a hour or so. Do make sure that either the analog supply is isolated from it’s power supply, or that you plug the external supply into the same outlet as the DS. Ignoring workability differences with differing solder, silver solder or at least lead free solder will probably sound better. The analog board uses less than an amp. ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/189 "2020-11-06T17:25:11Z")
Also, note that it isn’t easy to replace the transformers if you don’t have rework experience. The vias and pads in the DS boards don’t have thermal reliefs, it’ll take some heat both to solder and to unsolder. It’s probably best to clip the pins on the current transformers (probably destroying the transformers) so you can remove the pins one by one, then use solder wick, a solder sucker, etc. to clear the holes, and then good technique to solder the new transformers in. You could accidentally lift the pads off of the board and be in trouble (and hurt the sound.) If you don’t understand what I said, don’t try this mod yourself. ---
**Author:** ![eldrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eldrick](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/eldrick)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/190 "2020-11-06T17:28:58Z")
Ted, I’m a little confused: - Does this upgrade apply to the Directstream DAC, or only to the PerfectWave Directstream DAC? - Does one need two of the transformers, as the images seem to show? TIA ---
**Author:** ![donkt150](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@donkt150](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/donkt150)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/191 "2020-11-06T17:30:40Z")
Thank you for the valuable information Ted. ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/192 "2020-11-06T17:40:07Z")
> [@eldrick](#): > > - Does this upgrade apply to the [Directstream DAC](https://www.psaudio.com/products/directstream-dac/), or only to the PerfectWave Directstream DAC? > - Does one need two of the transformers, as the images seem to show? ? There are only the PerfectWave Directstream DAC and the PerfectWave Directstream DAC Jr. [Edit - the Jr doesn have transformers 🙂] Yes there are two transformers, one for each channel. ---
**Author:** ![adimon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adimon/32/178064_2.png) [@adimon](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adimon)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/193 "2020-11-06T17:48:51Z")
Shipping costs to europe for 2 XS4400 is 150 dollar 😡 😠 🤬 ---
**Author:** ![chris5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@chris5](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chris5)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/194 "2020-11-06T17:49:35Z")
Ouch! Still, by all accounts it should be worth it. ---
**Author:** ![adimon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adimon/32/178064_2.png) [@adimon](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adimon)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/195 "2020-11-06T17:51:54Z")
Sorry i’m lying ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/2/6/260bce72278bb4ad45c44b02bb142437e05780a9.png) ---
**Author:** ![tedsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tedsmith/32/96626_2.png) [@tedsmith](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tedsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/196 "2020-11-06T17:52:47Z")
The DS analog board power connector is the TE Connectivity 350428-1: [https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/350428-1/29371](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-amp-connectors/350428-1/29371) Near the bottom of the DigiKey page are the Mating Products that you could choose from. ---
**Author:** ![jazznut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jazznut](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jazznut)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/197 "2020-11-06T18:01:55Z")
Thanks Ted, the fact that and the way how you communicate this is perfect! Everyone of us should know quite exactly what he’s getting into. ---
**Author:** ![eldrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eldrick](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/eldrick)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/198 "2020-11-06T18:04:48Z")
Even more confused. I have a Directstream DAC - the most current version. On the web site, it shows as the “Directstream DAC” - no PerfectWave. Transformer upgrade, or not for the current DSD? ---
**Author:** ![WATChad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/watchad/32/47483_2.png) [@WATChad](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/WATChad)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/199 "2020-11-06T18:17:56Z")
Read the front of your unit, dude. It will say Perfectwave Directstream DAC. ---
**Author:** ![danofesherintheuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@danofesherintheuk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/danofesherintheuk)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/200 "2020-11-06T18:22:42Z")
Eldrick, Ted says there’s only one dac. I’ve four of them. Under the screen they all say Perfectwave Directstream DAC, on the rear they say Perfectwave Digital Analogue Converter and there’s a lebel that says PW Direcstream DAC. As they say, ‘you pays your money and take your choice’. ---
**Author:** ![chris5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@chris5](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/chris5)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/201 "2020-11-06T18:34:02Z")
…That’s just greedy… Do you keep one specially for the weekends? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jazzbirder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@jazzbirder](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jazzbirder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/202 "2020-11-06T18:52:22Z")
Could provide a step-by-step instruction guide to remove the two old transformers and install the two new xs4400 transformers ? I am not a great tech person ! Thanks for your expertise ! ---
**Author:** ![danofesherintheuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@danofesherintheuk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/danofesherintheuk)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/203 "2020-11-06T19:01:10Z")
Well, Chris5 (five being one more than four), you ask a good question. I need three for the active system. I bought the 4th as a spare but recently found a good use for it when I bought the download version of Temporary Circumstances. You see my digital crossover doesn’t understand DSD, so, I fed the DSD to the spare Directstream and then fed the analogue into the digital crossover. It sounded very good proving that the ADC in the digital crossover is really good (I use it also to play vinyl). ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/204 "2020-11-06T19:03:10Z")
> [@jazzbirder](#): > > Could provide a step-by-step instruction guide . . . @jazzbirder, if you don’t have a lot of experience with this I’d say, based on Ted’s explanation, you may want to consider very carefully doing this. I know how to do this stuff, and to me it seems a little risky. Sounds like the Xfrmr contact pads on the PCB can lift if the desoldering and soldering are not done properly. That would really mess things up. ---
**Author:** ![eldrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eldrick](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/eldrick)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/205 "2020-11-06T19:05:59Z")
Well, so it does - I never noticed. However, in my defense, the only place that “PerfectWave” is visible on the web site is in the images of the DAC – no text on the web site calls it that. I guess the titles on the box are from the Previous DAC. [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680.md?page=8) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680.md?page=10)