Thank you!
“Someone posted reviews promoting APS (note, not discussing mods). Okay, I guess @Elk doesn’t care.”
We are a great deal more free wheeling than most forums. As long as posters are considerate and kind, they are welcome. I know, it is a wild concept.
We have had wonderful success with our commercial brethren. Consider the Iconoclast thread and Galen’s contributions in the thread and elsewhere.
I try to use a light touch, preferring to let the users work out their own difficulties. When I do step in I attempt to be fair and not to take sides.
I mess up horribly at times but I think overall the forum chugs along very nicely - despite my efforts.
Thanks for doing a great service for the forum community.
Actually it’s because of your considerate and effective attention that the forum moves along so smoothly. Please know that care and attention is appreciated.
Thanks Elk. Keep performing your job as/when necessary.
I’m curious what DACs have been compared to the latest APS modded DSD MkI.
Also does anyone know what would happen if an APS modded DAC ever needed repair? Would it have to go back to PS Audio or APS?
I have made comparisons to Denafrips new Terminator, Chord Dave, dCS, PS Audio PMG, Esoteric N-01XD, Bricasti M3 and Holo May KTE among some others and I feel none of them were better sounding.
APS told me they can repair everything except the LCD screen and Bridge card. They have a one year warranty on their DACs.
Worst case scenario would be to purchase another stock unit for parts. They can be had for under $1k.
There is some kind of certificate/security issue that is incompatible with my iMac and the browsers I use. I have never been able to access the site or overcome the issue. Please post here if you figure it out. TIA.
Your second link just worked for me! 
Computers and today’s security? Fighting off hackers is a full time task. It seems to make things harder. It must be something with your system. The second link was a tinyurl link. I have had to use it in the past.
I guess if the screen went out that’s something PS Audio would be able to repair, if there’s still parts available.
Those are some some fine DACs you were able to do a comparison with. Thanks for the reply.
Just weighing my options for DAC upgrades.
Buy a new DAC or do another upgrade on my DSD MkI which I’m still thoroughly enjoying.
I spent an hour on the phone with my internet provider today. The issue I’m having is their security setting through the modem and not my pc. The rep stated that reducing the level of security would put me at risk of all the usual invasions and did not have a solution.
I suspect the setting is too conservative, but that would not be my decision to make (obviously). Ask 'em if there is a way for you to set an exception of the site’s url. That might be an option if you can get into the router settings.
This google tool will show if there is an issue with a website.
That’s why I use my own modem and router.
Today I checked and ran a bunch of url utilities for APS website and none of them showed any problems. No black list, spam or malicious activity. Your ISP is not being truthful with you if they are in fact blocking that website.
Try flushing your DNS cache. Google it.
You could just use and setup a google DNS server in your router or PC settings to find out.
Google DNS servers:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
Hello Allears,
Like to see if a master clock 10mhz input can be implemented on my MK1, where an external master clock eg Mutec Ref10 is connected via BNC.
The MK1 will disable it’s internal clock and take instructions from the Mutec.
Some dacs on the market carry this feature.
Do feel you can get this done?
Reading all the information here from Ted Smith, I don’t think it would be possible or even beneficial. Maybe contact APS to see if they can help.
I have never heard much improvement from using an external clock. I do hear improvements from using a DDC like the Denafrips Hermes. Also if you want to hear a large improvement in sound quality especially in the bass region give APS new Vocm buffer a shot. It looks like they are selling them to qualified technicians now and are offering PS Audio forum members an additional 10% discount. This made a huge improvement in my DAC.
The Directstream Mk1 uses a 22.5792Mhz oscillator. This is 8x DSD64. This oscillator is designed to allow it to be “pulled” a small amount away from its standard resonance frequency so that it can be adjusted to match a synchronous input signal that is a little off.
If the DAC’s oscillator frequency can’t be changed, then there is a risk that samples will need to be dropped or added if you are using a synchronous input (any input other than USB) and the source device’s oscillator frequency isn’t EXACTLY the same (or an exact even multiple). This is a problem that the Denafrips DACs are known for since Denafrips uses fixed frequency oscillators and attempts to deal with source clock frequency mismatches using deep FIFOs.
An external clock might help if it is used for both the DAC and the source, but in the case of the DS Mk1, it would need to be 22.5792Mhz or at least an even multiple of this frequency, and adding the ability to use an external clock would be pretty challenging.