Gotcha. I was under the (perhaps mistakenly) impression you were considering sending back your MK2 or exchanging it for another unit. If that were the case, I wasn’t holding out much hope it would solve your problem. If the combination of the MK2 and highly sensitive speakers is a bad match then perhaps it truly is time to move on (or add a preamp). In any case, I wish you well. It’s frustrating to have to deal with these types of problems (right up there with feedback loops😊)
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I listen to my MKII directly to my Orchard Audio amp. Never had any kind of noise with either pairs of speakers I have available. One is 90db efficient.
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88dB is not a high-sensitivity speaker. 
Klipsch, with over 100dB, can be considered high-sensitivity speakers.
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Here is an interesting test because there is a user who uses your same amplifier and notices the problem instead. 
Certainly is a mystery.
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Anyway, guys, let’s be clear, I’m not here to throw bombs against PS Audio, I’ve never doubted the way their DACs sound, I found the problem with this latest version, only with this MK2.
I really hope that the future PMG512 can solve the problem for me also because a McIntosh preamp that can be combined with an MC1.25KW, i.e., the C12000, costs more than a kidney on the black market… 
We should ask Ted Smith this question…
This new series presents an interesting problem for me. Love the MKll and wasn’t really considering replacing it with the new DAC but instead fantasizing how it would sound paired with the new preamp. Now, with the clarifications on the DAC from Paul this morning (like no chip involved) makes me rethink that. So, what would be the best upgrade path- MKll with the new preamp or the new DAC and no preamp? One thing is certain- no way could I afford both!
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I have the opposite situation: no noise running the MKII directly into either of my two amps (Inspire 300B and BHK 250) but plenty of hiss using BHK Pre… with GoldenEar Triton Sigs @ ~93 dB sens.
I’ve had to pad down the preamp outputs to eliminate noise..
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Good question!
What I can tell you is that only by personally experimenting with your own ears will you be able to make a safe and smooth decision.
You could, however, use the audition period that PS Audio makes available.
Uhm… 
Could it depend on the tubes?
Of course, the circuit of this DAC is very susceptible to the interactions of the various components…
I’ve kinda ruled that out, having experimented with several pairs of fresh tubes. But who knows…?
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Guys, our hobby is getting really complicated in the last few years…
For me, I would never play the MK2 or MK1 without a preamp. It just sounds ok without a preamp just like any other DAC, but with a really good preamp, the MK2 and the MK1 sounds really special. Never notice any noise problem with or without preamp with either DAC’s, only that both DAC’s run out of steam when cranked up on softer recordings. With preamp solve that. My next DAC upgrade has to be in the $20k or more category to match the rest of my equipment, so I’m spipping the PMG series. I was hoping for the TSS, but now that’s also not going to happen.
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I had same issue. It was not horrible, but bothered me enough where I put in an LS28 SE to replace it.
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I was convinced that the BHK Pre sound was better for a couple of years, but I’m not so sure anymore…I think I can live happily ever after with MKII direct…
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DCS or MBL?
I’m thinking more MSB.
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WOW…
Congratulations on your choice, great products.
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The DAC’s pretty much minic the sound of the partnering preamp. I tried it with my Bruce Moore tubed preamp and it sounded like the tubed preamp. I’m currently using an Esoteric C-02 preamp and the sound has the fullness, resolution, dynamics, and openness of the preamp, a little of it also because of the full amount of gain the Esoteric has.
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