I really appreciated 3.06, but found it a bit strong in the upper mids and treble. That was with a solid state stereo amp. Now that I’m using the BHK 250, along with the BHK Preamp, it balances a lot better so I’m sticking with 3.06.
Like aangen I clearly think 3.0.6 is the best so far without doubt. But then we are both using an Uptone, which for me turns a $6k dac into a $12k sounding dac (not that I’ve ever heard a $12k dac)
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Thanks for insight. I researched MU metal it seems better suited to low frequency. The Wikipedia talks of encasement. A regular faraday cage suited for higher frequency issues.
It seems nothing short of a new mountain peak will lay this debate to rest. And when that happens, plse don’t let there be sub-versions again … 
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Paul,
may a make a suggestion?
Could you please make PS Audio customers aware that the new Snowmass 3.0.6 PIC code is ready, and, while it was released to correct bugs, it also affected the DSD DAC sound in a significant manner even though the FPGA firmware version has remained unchanged.
You may add that some users liked the increased resolution in the upper midrange while others don’t.
For each to decide.
I mention that because none of the past PS Audio Newsletters (December 18, January 19, March 19) mentioned the 3.0.6: if I did not accidentally checked for some info on the Forum Thread “Snowmass 3.06 Now Live” (with fixes when playing files from Linux based servers over USB), I would have never know because I am not a regular Forum user.
Therefore, I am pretty sure there are many owners out there who are still unaware of the significant SQ change offered by 3.0.6.
Note: I remember once asking Scott Schroeder back on December 12 2017 if it would it be possible in the future for PS Audio to send an email to all its DAC customers whenever a new download becomes available? He replied that PS Audio announces our firmware updates to our Specials list, on Paul’s Post, and in our monthly Newsletter. Scott then proceeded to add me to Specials and Newsletter lists.
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I previously posted that when I upgraded from 3.0.0 to 3.0.6, I enjoyed the extra clarity, detail, and imaging in the highs, but that the mids were sorely lacking, and this was indeed true. I can report that after a week and a half of play, the mids have filled in appreciably and I now very much like the sound of 3.0.6. Mind you, this is not me “getting used to the new sound”. The character and overall tone definitely changed to a significant extent with the extended play. Namely, the midrange warmth/fullness came back.
I experienced this phenomena multiple times when upgrading firmware. I wasn’t expecting it for a PIC upgrade where the FPGA code was unchanged. But again, as in the past, my sound quality took a big drop, namely in the mids, and sounded quite harsh for a week or two. Again, it makes little sense to me that firmware requires burn-in, but I have definitely experienced this multiple times, and the increase in harshness immediately and multiple days post-upgrade has been significant and easy the hear.
In any case, given where I started with 3.0.6, I can say that the mids have filled out nicely and 3.0.6 is my favorite version now. YMMV, but for others that may be experiencing the same initial disappointment, it took me about about 1.5 weeks of continuous play before the sound made a dramatic improvement to the better.
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Some of what you are hearing may be attributed to the degaussing of the output transformers after the update. Ted has mentioned the power boot can slightly magnetize the transformers. I always run the clean function on my P-10 after and update and also use Irrational But Efficatious! CD full Glide tone to get things back to normal.
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This is quite interesting. I was aware that the FPGA code needed time to settle in, but for some reason I didn’t expect that the PIC code would require the same. This is good news, because 3.06 brought a lot of good qualities to the table, except in my case, and in others, the midrange was lacking. Thanks for posting your findings.
The PIC code and the FPGA code both are loaded into the DS’s flash at the same time. During that process the output transformers have a small amount of DC on them (since the FPGA is frozen.) When the system boots up normally even silence is degaussing the transformers. Some absolutely don’t hear this, for me it lasts about 5 minutes until things are back to normal, but there are longer reports. In any case when A/B’ing either go back and forth quickly so that neither has an advantage (i.e. don’t compare to what you are used to) or listen for days before going back and don’t listen for a while after changing the code.
There’s a separate (probably much smaller) issue when the FPGA code changes especially in newer DS’s that haven’t been upgraded before (and hence isn’t relevant to the current topic of different Snowmass releases.) If a newly installed release uses parts of the FPGA that haven’t been used before there’s a small break-in: I don’t hear it but it’s consistent with the reports we get with new releases and the history of the DSs in question.
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This is the third time I installed 3.06, and the best it’s sounded, including the mid-range, although still not as fleshed out and as full as 3.0. First thing that stands out is how clean and open everything sounds. Lower noise floor and less grunge. This is quite noticable in the top end, while listening to cymbals and other percussive instruments. The fine detail from brush strokes and cymbals are more present than with 3.0, but also more delicate and smoother sounding. The next thing that strikes me as an improvement is in the bass. Basically the bass has gone on a diet and started working out. It’s slightly leaner, but much more muscular, with greater impact and less overhang. All these differences add up and contribute to a more satisfying musical experience, especially to us audiophiles who are tuned into subtle differences. I suspect to the untrained ear, non audiophile types, the differences may not seem as profound.
For now I’m going to let 3.06 play non-stop using the thumb drive on the DMP, and see if things continue to settle in.
Edit: One thing just became more evident.
Lyrics are much more intelligible. I’m hearing words that where previously unintelligible from songs I’ve heard for years, which helps communicate the meaning of the song more effectively. At this point I’m not sure I could ever go back to 3.0.
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Okay I’m about to come across as a gushing fool here. Something happened when I loaded 3.06 for the third time. It’s as if I’ve crossed over into the twilight zone. My system is sounding unbelievable.
Just finished listening to Patricia Barber’s rendition of Black Magic Woman, and it’s the best I’ve ever heard it. Dynamics, bass impact, in the room solid images and preformers… I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor. 3.06 definitely didn’t sound this good the first time I listened to it. I had no idea my speakers could preform at this level.
Side note. Since I purchased all new PS Audio electronics almost a year ago, my system has continued to improve, and I haven’t spent a penny more since the initial investment. All the improvements have been due to free firmware updates. How great is that!
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Well, I’ll give it a 10-day continuous trial. In my system with 3.0.6, it’s the undertones that are missing (which are there with 3.0). Nothing harsh, just incomplete. A little fatiguing to listen to after awhile.
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…ok I’ve been trying to think rationally that this would not make a audible difference, but it is there. Try adjusting the screen brightness. I had mine at 0 since I got it and run without the screen on. I moved the brightness up and low and behold the midband changes. Subtle but there. I can’t remember who suggested this, but it works. I thought that 3.06 made an improvement from 3.05, especially in the upper frequencies on my system.
When I initially got my DS Dac, I could hear the screen itself when set at 100 brightness as a super high pitched sound when my ear was within 5cm of the screen. That’s why I lowered it to 0 and then just shut it off.
As with all things YMMV.
Cheers
I would recommend reading posts # 290, 295, 296, 310, 315.
You mentioned something very important that also surprised me in a very good way: the lyrics are much more intelligible.
In fact, so much so that I surprised myself at repeating the words in my head as the song went along as if the singer was singing in the room: it is so effortless to understand all the words, and I listen to Sacred Choral music where many voices overlap, sometime in English, German, French or Latin (I can make sense of all those languages except German 
).
I personally believe that our brain may be temporarily focusing of the sudden amount of extra information being uncovered by 3.0.6 in the upper medium, which could explain the impression that more weight is put on that part of the audio spectrum.
However, over time, the brain should recover, integrate the new information, and make the music experience balanced again.
Hello. I have in fact read the entire thread with interest including your posts. My post I Hope is relevant for others to experiment with. In evaluating my system, I believe that I do possibly have noise coming in the only aspect I can surmise. I use the Bridge II and connect via my wired home network to my NAS storage and also via my PC in a different area of my home and use JRemote and Jriver software on my PC. Isolation of this possible noise is on my to do list for my system.
Best regards
at the opposite we compared snowmass and redclous with the best recordings we had. Redcloud is less ‘indulgent’… but redclouds with good record is winner in terms of involving, rythm, resolution and space…
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Did we determine in this thread the proper procedure for installing a firmware release and the amount of time it should be allowed to run on the system to properly hear the firmware at its best? I am thinking I may want to try Redcloud now even though my current situation with 3.0.6 is so pleasing. I hit the clean button on my P20 remote twice last night and if there ever was a problem with the high end it’s gone now. The system sounds warmer today. This is starting to feel like a human relationship in flux.
Taking your idea, I just ran Clean with the P15 and it seemed to help a little. Two days into my ten day burnin/reappraisal of 3.0.6, with speakers turned 1/4" this way and that, I’ve regained the undertones and eliminated some female harshness that arose in the process. What I have now, in addition to a better sound stage, is a level of clarity and articulation well beyond anything I’ve heard before. It’s the kind that elicits a visceral, physical response. As wonderful as that is, at the same time the DS’s natural tonal warmth I know with 3.0 and most of its predecessors, is no longer quite there. The latter is that tonal quality which draws one emotionally into the music whole, leaving behind attention to the “sonic effects.” What’s causing this? As I understand it, warmth/cool is a function of the balance between lower midrange/upper bass (more warmth) and the upper midrange/high end (less warmth), whether from equipment directly or as perception (speakers/room). Will see if that balance changes with more time…
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My original assessment (post 250) was made relatively quickly, a few hours after switching from 3.0.0 to 3.0.6. My preference for 3.0.0 was supported by post 317 saying it was tonally more accurate but then I noted post 329 saying lyrics were more intelligible with 3.0.6, so I’ve done another switch leaving several days for each before making an assessment. (The first time I switched from 3.0.0. to 3.0.6 and the second time from 3.0.6. to 3.0.0, so I’ve listened to each for several weeks.) My conclusions (obviously only valid for my system and ears but seem to align with some expressed by other posters) are:
With 3.0.6 lyrics are definitely better but soprano voices are more forward. Massed voices are better separated. Violin lines are clearer. Bass is very similar but perhaps not as detailed as 3.0.0. Overall I felt 3.0.6 was good at conveying the ‘presence’ of performers. Depth reproduction is not as good as 3.0.0.
With 3.0.0 music is tonally more accurate (‘natural’) across the frequency range. This is very obvious with piano recordings: with 3.0.6 the bass and treble do not hang together, the treble being more forward. Overall I felt 3.0.0 is very good at conveying ‘ambience’, providing more knowledge of the venue and the performers place within it. There appears to be better drive and pulse in the music. For me the combination of these creates a more involving listening experience with 3.0.0.
I guess I should add that these differences are not large - 3.0.0 and 3.0.6 are both excellent ‘DACs’!
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