I will keep only one of the three. I have no idea how long it will take me to decide which one to keep.
It doesnât matter if the reasons are the same. Or at polar ends of the spectrum. The sameness is that old technologies deemed âobsoleteâ by the masses are embraced by fairly small groups. Same as vintage radios, Art Deco shake mixers, etc.
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I bet there will be, just like a small group will be trying to keep their Apple IIs running, or their Commodore 64s, or Ataris. There is no rhyme or reason why old style things keeps breathing life, but they do.
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What about my uk101, now that was a computer! (Bit like Ohio Superboard but better)
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I never heard of it, but would not be surprised if thereâs a uk101 group, somewhere.
Undoubtedly.
I doubt it now, we are talking FORTY YEARS AGO!
It was a Practical Electronics Magazine kit project in the UK
Also for me it would currently be too much. But Iâd say IF Iâd spend over 6-8k for a DAC, then for one like the TSS which is not only theoretically SW upgradable but where this is also practice.
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In the music reproduction context âold technologies deemed âobsoleteâ by the massesâ is vinyl.
But what an interesting mix: an ancient technology, still being improved, most ignore it but some resurgence within the masses, revered by a dedicated group, etc.
I am unable to think of another technology which occupies a similar niche. Photographs taken on film draws many parallels but does not have the same levels of acceptance and on going active development.
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Read a bit through that communicationâŠto get back to the startâŠI expected a stop of DS Mk I support even without the âOS reason within the development environmentâ. I think the difference between a DS I and a DS II without a later Firmware advantage for the DS II would probably have been too small to get people buying the new one (especially when the DS I is additionally tuned with the transformer and power supply mod).
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Itâs interesting to think about thatâŠI think the speciality with vinyl is the number of different stimuli it has compared to other meanwhile replaced technology. Many of them are peer group depending, which even means that different peer groups like it for different reasons (sometimes even for reasons the other group sees as not desirable). Iâd say any other replaced but still desired vintage technology can only claim a fraction of those various reasons pulling people in, mainly because thereâs not only a HW aspect, but also a media aspect.
Lifestyle desires
Physicality (supporting the desires of gear orientated folks)
Emotional Physicality (physical experience supporting an audible sensual experience also for non-gear-heads, so different from the physical experience with a camera)
Accompanying physicality of the media themselves (records, covers)
Serving art/esthetic desires (bigger cover art)
Serving nostalgic desires
Audio quality aspect of the HW concept in affordable setups
Audio quality aspect of the HW concept in top high end setups (often different from the upper one)
Audio quality aspect of the media (better masterings etc.)
Serving collectors desires (limited/out of print character of many albums)
etc.
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Hmmm⊠Horseback riding? Letter writing? Calligraphy? Knitting? Soap making? Hmmm⊠hey this is fun⊠Mechanical watches? Umm⊠Dating?
Peace
Bruce in Philly
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Wonderful analysis.
I find vinyl occupies its own special unique niche.
Thatâs like saying humans and fire are the same since both consume oxygenâŠ
I disagree. The vast majority of people are not going to modify their DSD MKI the way some of you have here. Ted does not need to artificially cripple the DSD MKI to sell the DSD MKII. There is a long list of improvements the DSD MKII has over the MKI that will make is a better DAC and worth getting even if you mod the MKI.
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The watch Iâm wearing needs to be (ceremoniously) wound every morning.
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While all pleasurable and worthwhile pursuits, none seem to have vinylâs unique set of characteristics of continual advancement in technology, competing directly at the highest level of advanced technology (vinyl v. digital), both a dedicated specialist enthusiast base and a subset of the masses who engage in the activity as it is âcool,â etc.
But those you have listed are all wonderful, aesthetically pleasing pursuits which often require great skill. I was married to a fiber artist and tell you more than you want to know about fibers, hand-spinning, natural dies and mordants, knitting, llamas and alpacas, and more. 
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Yes sure, but independent of my guess that the decision to cut the upgrade path of the Mk I wasnât Tedâs decision or maybe even preference, I think the grade of add. sound quality and other value a new unit needs over the old one may vary for some from your point of view.
I considered analog wind-up watches as a simile to vinyl. But they do not compete with digital time pieces in terms of their job of telling time (digital whomps analog in accuracy), do not have have a mass acceptance group of those who think mechanical watches are cool (to my knowledge, perhaps there is a group of twenty somethings into mechanical watches as some of them are into vinyl for its cool factor), etc.
Mechanical watches are like manual transmissions in cars. Delightfully enjoyable, pleasing, but admittedly not nearly as good at their fundamental job as their modern counterparts.
Vinyl appears to be unique in combining old technology, nostalgic appeal, and the ability to compete at the highest possible level with its modern counterpart.
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About old technology beautiful to look at âŠ
Edit: If someone wrote you a letter with that machine, he/she certainly meant every single word 
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