Modding the DirectStream DAC MKI

J’nut, here’s the actual output of the DAC with a 0dB 1KHz sine wave file input, over USB. The first is with DAC volume fixed at 92. The last is volume=100. Note that I had to tell Windoze to go full volume as well.

PS- I do have the XS4400.

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That is a rip off to install the two transformers for 700 Euro. My technician will only charge me Cdn$120 for same day turn around.

Do you have confidence to take out and put back the analogue board yourself?

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I also just paid 175 € or $ if you will for doing the whole soldering job incl. putting out and in again the board. 700 seems a rip off.

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23 usd :no_mouth:

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Hi there,
Who is your technician in Canada ?

My tech shop in Canada is Whitby Audio, Ontario
Charged around 100 cdn to do the swap of transformers 1 day turn around.

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Another maybe important hint for some is, that in case your setup’s voicing etc. is put in a nutshell, you should be aware that either of those changes - although better overall - may change everything in terms of micro tonality and you have to re-tweak and -voice the whole thing (if you know and have options to do so). If your setup is just roughly voiced, you may not notice this too much.

But that’s just business as usual. Audiophiles who spent years to make their setup perfect, shouldn’t expect, that they won’t have some work to do, to achieve this again after such changes, especially if they already have such problems after a firmware upgrade.

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I ended up with an extra pair of xs4400 transformers, Can’t recommend the upgrade strongly enough, it is quite a remarkable shift… PM me, I’ll be happy to give them away, recipient pays shipping…

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Exceedingly kind!

It’s been a few months now having upgraded the output transformers, I’ve been exceptionally happy I did so, today I disconnected the PSU feeding the audio board and replaced with the MPAudio PSU SLS-HPULN PS and transformer, another significant improvement to the sound. What an amazing DAC. Thanks Ted, Paul and the PS Audio Team :smiley:

Cheers
John

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I can imagine what you mean by the change that was too much…but it would be interesting to read…can you tell your experience?

The most immediate shift in my system was the presentation of depth and scale, specifically the layering of instruments front to back. I have a small dedicated room for listening (<200 ft2) and scale has always been a challenge to develop; upgrading the transformers was a step forward to that goal. I found no shift in tonal balance, instruments were cleaner and more discrete in space. I was a little nervous disassembling my DAC but it was really quite easy. Knowing my limits, I enlisted user WCTaudio in GA to perform transformer exchange and I, like many others, would point interested users his way.

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Thanks and sorry, I misread your initial post…thought you have tonality problems after the change.

@Johno, how did you install that in the case? It all fits? :thinking: Do you have any more pics showing other views of the installation? It looks great!

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@Johno

Superb looking power supply and transformer! I looked it up. I presume the transformer has to be custom for USA due to voltage input needs vs 230v Europe.

If you could give the parameters and hookup info you did from the input rail and connections this looks killer.

Richard

Please can you explain “another significant improvement”?
What is the influence of the MPAudio PSU SLS-HPULN PS mod in detail?
Thanks

Finally all parts arrived and I found the time to mod my DS. But lets start from Sunlight. So far for me all updates went well and in the right direction, and Sunlight followed that course. In my system it extended the frequency spectrum on both ends but the major part was that the stage moved closer to me, like from a third raw to a first raw, which gave me a more intimate presentation. At the same time I changed my power distributer and a few power cables and left the system for burn in. After everything settled down, Sunlights openness and detailed presentation helped me to point out other small mistakes in my system like a tiny little hum from a ground loop coming from my AV system, which is also connected to my stereo. When listening to The Doors, Riders on the storm, first time I realized how the Ray (hammond organ) and Robby (guitar) interacted with each other. From 3D to PRAT. Then the MPaudio arrived, after it was installed and the correct phase for the transformer was found, I did some listening. Again the frequency spectrum open up on both ends. The subs moved obviously more air and the treble had more energy and detail. I had 2 Mundorf MCap Supreme 15 muF laying around and tested with and without them in parallel to the output and it improved one step further. I also changed the IEC inlet to a LeGo Ag (without filter). Only drawback, the PRAT was gone so I left the DS running a few days until the Edcors arrived. The installation went without issues and I also tried to install Furutech XLR connectors, but they do not fit on the PCB. Ordered now Cardas XLR and Mundorf silver/gold wire. Anyway the DS worked again, but right after the installation, voices sounded not correct, so I left the DS for burn in for 6 days and listened today again. Now the low bass seriously moves more air and is very controlled. I can fell, how the bass drum is played. Also the upper bass has more impact and speed. The treble is perfectly balanced, very open but no more digital sharpness. Everything is better separated with its one aura, but the PRAT is back and the interaction between the musicians is obvious again. Voices are better, but not 100% yet, I guess it needs a few more days of burn in.


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I doubt, it is the same, but I am also not aware of the original source.

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I verified again and depending on where to put the ERS, there’s enough gap. Do you mean to put it vertically around the transformer‘s top down to the upper end of the iron like a fence? Am I shielding the transformers from the digital,board then or the opposite?

But if you mean to put ERS horizontally between the digital board and the transformer, this doesn’t work as the transformer reaches over the digital board.

It’s fascinating that while we’re talking of shielding what’s already inside the DAC from each other, others put even more in :wink:

The ideal is if the ERS covers the top of the transformer with no gaps (like a blanket.) But having seams isn’t really a problem. The goal is simply to keep any possible digital board RFI from reaching the transformer.

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