# PMG SACD Transport problem and resolution thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Transports\ **Created:** [February 17, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736 "2026-02-17T02:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/1 "2026-02-17T02:06:13Z")
I know there is another thread reporting on the weird USB “lock” behavior, but as I found another as yet unreported issue I thought it might be a good idea to consolidate things into one thread. So, to recount the USB lock issue, when a stick is inserted into the PMG SACD, it will not automatically switch back to the CD/SACD drive when a disc is inserted, even if the USB stick had been previously removed. It currently requires a power cycling to be able to use the drive. The new issue I observed is also seen with USB, although I don’t yet know if it’s seen with the drive. If continuous repeat is selected for the stick, it will stop playing at some point, even if it gets through all the music on the stick at least once. Where it stops seems random. @Paul, if it’s okay I’d hope for all of the PMG SACD quirks and announced fixes to be here in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/2 "2026-02-17T03:51:43Z")
The USB to Discs issue is an obvious one to fix in the next FW. Also, in my use of both PMG512 and SACD for the past few weeks, the formats playing is the most important one to know, and it happens to be the smallest displays on both. I got my daily exercise by walking close to see the display to find out if it was 96k, 88k or others. I am sure I am not the only one felt that it needs to be fixed. ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/3 "2026-02-17T12:39:48Z")
> [@dchang05](#): > > I am sure I am not the only one felt that it needs to be fixed. On the PMG 512, yes Donald. 🫡 Let’s not get immediately into thread drift on this brand new thread. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![gthiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f6c823/32.png) [@gthiel](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/gthiel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/4 "2026-02-17T14:06:01Z")
I discovered the USB → Optical drive failure months ago while noodling on the burnin procedure. I’ve forgotten all about it. It would be nice to have it fixed ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/5 "2026-02-18T12:52:16Z")
An additional thing. When the screen is turned off, it should momentarily come back on when it’s touched, allowing for manual use. That way there’s an alternative to always having to use the remote if the screen is dimmed. ---
**Author:** ![jerryd6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jerryd6](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jerryd6)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/6 "2026-02-18T14:17:33Z")
I expect that would be a fairly easy firmware fix but perhaps not. I did notice the drawer open/close works with the screen dimmed (handy if the remote is elsewhere) but other operations seem a bit risky. ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/7 "2026-02-24T00:14:18Z")
So I just discovered something that surprised me. I decided to compare one of my ripped tracks through my RS130, into the MkII, to the same CD I ripped this track from, on the PMG SACD - one going to I2S1, the other to I2S2. One is louder than the other, by more than a bit! 😲 This was never the case with the PST - both transport fed and streamer fed to the DS MkII yielded the exact same volume. Can anyone else with a similar setup try this? @Paul, can you shed any light on this? ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/8 "2026-02-24T00:55:12Z")
Are you saying I2S1 is louder than I2S2, or vis versa? That is strange. My AQ Dragon48 is a short piece, so I am not sure I have enough reach. I will take a look. ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/9 "2026-02-24T01:10:57Z")
> [@dchang05](#): > > I2S1 is louder than I2S2 Yep. I’ll have to experiment more tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/10 "2026-02-24T01:17:55Z")
I will move them closer so I can switch inputs, and see what happen. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/11 "2026-02-24T02:09:45Z")
Interestingly, when I moved the cable from I2S2 to I2S1, I also need to change the PMG512 system setting to the right input. Otherwise, every time I change CD, it will go back to I2S2 (the original selection) even when I use remote to change the input. In my case, I2S2 sounded significant better tan I2S1. This is not a total surprise since all my listening has been through I2S2, so the other input has not had any break in yet. Here is a good demonstration on how important break in is. The inferior I2S1 sound made me indecisive of volume difference, but if there is any it is subtle in my system. So, I did not detect any obvious volume difference. I need to let I2S1 runs for a day before I compare them again. ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/12 "2026-02-24T02:15:04Z")
Thanks Donald. In my case the volume difference is easily heard. I will be doing cable and input swapping tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/13 "2026-02-24T15:26:15Z")
Boneheaded move on my part! I was playing the same song on my streamer but from a different release of the same album! 🤦‍♂️ I thought I was playing the rip of the same CD I had in the transport, but it was not the same one. I have too many releases of too many albums I guess. When I discovered this and made sure what I played off my NAS was actually the same as what I had in the drive, it was all good. Sorry to send you off on a wild goose chase, Donald. 😊 Nothing to see here, folks! Move right along. ---
**Author:** ![dchang05](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dchang05/32/294697_2.png) [@dchang05](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dchang05)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/14 "2026-02-24T16:29:39Z")
Good to know, I am going back to my normal business. Wait, that involves more tweaking again! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/15 "2026-02-27T20:03:28Z")
Hi @Paul. Any insights as to when any of the oddities identified thus far might be addressed? ---
**Author:** ![Paul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/paul/32/6_2.png) [@Paul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Paul)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/16 "2026-02-27T23:50:30Z")
I know it’s on Barry’s list and I’ll ask Rachel (his handler) what the schedule might be. ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/17 "2026-02-28T01:30:26Z")
Thank you Paul! ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/18 "2026-06-26T18:40:36Z")
One more thing. When a CD or USB stick is inserted, the screen should stay lit up long enough, until the Track 1 is displayed and can be played. Right now it dims too quickly, causing the “Play” button on the remote simply to re-light the display. Takes another button press to get the track going. @Paul, any update on any of this stuff reported so far? ---
**Author:** ![John\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@John\_H](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/John_H)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 9:43am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/19 "2026-07-16T09:43:36Z")
Firmware update FAILURE I’ve attempted to update firmware v2.2.1 to v2.3.0 earlier today, but had found my PMG SACD to be unresponsive. Might there be a different sequence to the procedure? 1. the unit is powered on normally with the display lit, making sure that there is no physical disc in the tray 2. the front panel logo is pressed to put the unit on standby 3. a USB drive formatted using FAT32 containing the new firmware file (pmg\_sacd\_v2.3.0.bin) is inserted into the FW slot located in the back of the unit 4. the rocker switch is powered off (for ~10 seconds), then powered on again 5. the front display goes through the same sequence as if an optical disc is inserted, then detects that no disc has been inserted (displays the word “reading”, followed by “no disc”) \*unlike what’s mentioned in the Upgrade Guide, the logo does not blink 25-30 times, and the unit does not reboot automatically; it’s as if the USB drive was not detected; the firmware remains the same as before, v2.2.1. Please help troubleshoot, and advise. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![jerryd6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jerryd6](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/jerryd6)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736/20 "2026-07-16T12:26:23Z")
That’s the correct procedure which has always worked for me. It sounds like the PMG is not detecting the USB drive. You could try another USB drive. Or shutdown transport and DAC, disconnect the data cable and try it that way. This probably will not help, but I once had no output from the transport and it turned out it was the data cable connection. [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pmg-sacd-transport-problem-and-resolution-thread/43736.md?page=2)