Still extremely happy with the Red Cloud update. As for past upgrade troubles, I found I was causing the problem. I have a MAC and would forget to format/reformat my SD card properly. Once properly formatted, I would have no problems upgrading my DSD.
For the curious, my system is as follows:
Esoteric X-03 SE > optical > Direct Stream DAC > balanced interconnects > Digital Amplifier Company Maraschinos > Cardas Golden Reference > Reference 3A De Capos BE.
Seegs108 saidI can provide one data point: I am well beyond computer literate, with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and daily use of PC and MacBook Pro computers for a couple of decades. I have tried the DIY upgrades on both the PWT Memory Player 1.24 and the DSJ Redcloud. I formatted both the USB drive and the SD Card for FAT. When I downloaded and unzipped the files on my MacBook and followed the straightforward instructions (turn unit off with rear panel power switch, insert memory, turn unit on), the install didn't take. The PWT didn't seem to see the standard 2G SD card at all, while the DSJ saw the 8G USB stick and the standby light flashed for a few minutes but in the end it was still running Huron 0.0.0.I would love to know whether most of these failed upgrades are hardware/software malfunction or end-user error.
Per PS Audio’s suggestion, I tried downloading the files via a fece (I mean, PC) instead and got exactly the same result. They are now sending me preloaded memories but I’m not confident that they will work, either.
Are you guys formatting these cards as FAT16 and not FAT32? If you are not, you should try it that way.
discriminator, I’m assuming you used Terminal or the recommended 3rd party application to format on your Macbook? How did you format on your PC?
Also not had a problem (touch wood); my procedure is;
Download update to PC, unpack files to hard drive,
New SD card (I’ve used 2, 4 & 8Gb cards) - full format (not quick format) Fat32,
Copy only un-packed files to SD card (do not create folders etc. everything at ‘root’ level),
Use Eject operation and remove from PC,
Put SD card in unit… so far so good.
Yet we see posts from so many others who report doing the same procedure and have problems. I don’t know the reasons.
Ted has suggested using Fat16 and 2Gb SD cards. A big one seems to be the ‘eject’ but I’m surprised if hat what’s tripping so many people up.
The Eject screws me up periodically too. Further, leaving the SD card in the DS means that you might power off the DS while it’s writing a cover to the SD card… Not good at times.
I’ve switched back to Huron, and would like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience with Redcloud that I had in my system.
After my initial enthusiasm over Redcloud (smoother and more forward presentation), I found after a few weeks that I wasn’t enjoying the music as much. I took a while to put my finger on it, but eventually I realized that the I could be sitting there illusion seemed to be gone. I switched back to Huron and the magic was instantly back.
I switched back and forth a couple more times over the last week and it is striking that, with good recordings, the feeling that I could be sitting in the audience disappears with Redcloud. I’m not certain as to why, but it seems to be from a decrease in low level information (I originally thought the opposite) or from compression in the depth of the soundstage. Regardless, to my ears in my system Huron provides the better experience.
Thanks for sharing Minimalist. Personally, I find the opposite (like you did initially), that Redcloud offers more low level detail. I enjoyed Huron, but feel confident in saying, Redcloud out performs it in many regards - in my system. But your course of travel from Huron to Redcloud and back to Huron is what makes this PS Audio DirectStream DAC so awesome, and so special. Freedom of choice and custom tailoring when your system or listen preferences command it. You are not the only one who has formed such an opinion.
As Jeff notes, this is a cool aspect of the product. You can listen to whatever software works best for you.
I continue to find fascinating the degree to which listeners hear different things in the various firmware iterations, as well as have differing ultimate preferences.
Indeed. It’s great that we have this option!
What I also found interesting during this exercise was that the superiority of Huron in my system was far more apparent when switching from Redcloud to Huron than from Huron to Redcloud.
For me this is often the case. I more readily hear what I am missing when something I like is removed. It is one of the reasons I am slow to judging new firmware or other changes. Adding something is much harder for me to grab onto. i need the back and forth.
Yep. That’s why one of the best ways to test whether your latest tweak really does what you think it does is to wait until you get used to it and then remove it.
Sound signature is very personal. I agree Huron sounded a little more laid back. You may prefer that sound. I prefer the more forward and seemingly more detailed sound that Red Cloud brings to the table.
I pondered Ted/s words about RedCloud’s “magic” possibly being slightly diminished when output is at 100 percent and as I am using my preamp I have backed the DSD output to about 80 percent and think there is a slightly better sound that way. I like RedCloud more and more as I use it more.
Seegs108 saidEDITED DUE TO ERRORSdiscriminator, I’m assuming you used Terminal or the recommended 3rd party application to format on your Macbook? How did you format on your PC?
lonson saidThanks for bringing this up again. I will be bringing my pre back into the mix in the next couple of weeks. What do you find different playing at 80 vs 100? The loudest I would play my pre prior is about 9 or 10 o'clock. I always had it the DS at 100 and never gave it a second thought.I pondered Ted/s words about RedCloud’s “magic” possibly being slightly diminished when output is at 100 percent and as I am using my preamp I have backed the DSD output to about 80 percent and think there is a slightly better sound that way. I like RedCloud more and more as I use it more.
I am bringing a Cary slp98 back in after cap upgrades and possibly tubes depending on budget. . I am hoping it further improves things. It’s crazy though. I’m happy now. But I was happy with Yale Torrey’s and Huron!! :). Redcloud I am happier still. Haha
sfseay saidWhy would you go to terminal to format an SD card? Just use Disk Utility and format as MSDOS FAT (16bit).
Because Disk Utility does not format Fat16. Look at post #92 in this thread:
http://www.psaudio.com/forum/directstream-all-about-it/red-cloud-upgrade/page-4/#p84000
@sfseay, see above. This is why I specifically asked him if he was using Terminal or a 3rd party application. Unfortunately, getting his Ph.D. in electrical engineering probably didn’t teach him that. I’m not sure how having one applies to this conversation, but it was nice of him to mention that he has one. 
timm saidThanks for bringing this up again. I will be bringing my pre back into the mix in the next couple of weeks. What do you find different playing at 80 vs 100? The loudest I would play my pre prior is about 9 or 10 o’clock. I always had it the DS at 100 and never gave it a second thought.
I am bringing a Cary slp98 back in after cap upgrades and possibly tubes depending on budget. . I am hoping it further improves things. It’s crazy though. I’m happy now. But I was happy with Yale Torrey’s and Huron!! :). Redcloud I am happier still. Haha
When you get your preamp back give it a try. . . will be curious to know your impressions.