I am a disciple, I like to drink from the source of experience that others here on this forum generously make available to me.
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You are an excellent student for sureš
So I played a Best of Fourplay hybrid SACD in both layers, and the difference is significant through PST/Mk2. CD layer sounded harsh and too digital; few songs tired me already. DSD layer bring me back to joyful land. MU2 is great but it cannot cure everything.
I reformatted the usb stick and redownloaded autoscript software. I also downloaded the entire SACD Extract software again. Nothing works on SACD rippingš¤·āāļø My network does not work with it. So, my business plan is to keep using MK2 with MU2ās pre. Iām not missing anything really; thereās no difference from playing discs vs the same files in my system thus far.
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This is not the test that I think makes sense regarding our previous discussion. Anyway I donāt want to insist further, Iām sure you already get my point, donāt worryā¦ enjoy the music, itās the most important thing, my friend.
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Yes, I think we are stuck on a loop with Donald regarding the value of the single layer SACD.
I have moved on as I believe the MU2ās reproduction of the standard layer to be better than thru the MK2ās SACD playback. DACās do matter. But, never made the direct comparison. Donal has, and I honor that evaluation. Coupled with the fact I own so very few single layer SACDās played into my direction, and I could put the value of a well-liked but redundant MK2 into other toys.
Onward and upward.
Funny how the launch of the TSS Super DAC could have thwarted all of these recent changes and could have me the reigning PSA poster child. Happy but with apparent issues.
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Ooops. Wrong rabbit hole.
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I transferred 4TB of music files from two older SSDs (Samsung T5) into a new 4TB SSD (T7), and then into a backup Toshiba 4TB SSD too. Last week I copied all files from T7 into the internal SSD of MU2.
For some reason, there was more than 1 TB of music files missing. All the missing files were CD ripping AIFF files, and none of the DSD files were missing interestingly. Does anyone have a similar experience in files gone missing?
Now I must go through 1500 CDs and re-rip the missing files, fun! Luckily, my wife went on a vacation with her friends so this will keep me occupied for a few days.
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Any impressions on the sound of playback through the MU2ās SSD?
The sound from internal SSD is smoother and quieter than from external SSD, and last night I heard the CD ripping as good as from PST playing CD. The internal SSD has break-in time too, and interestingly I did not find the same for external SSD.
PST is designed to play SACD better than CD it seems. I still hear beautiful and the best music from single-layer SACDs than the streaming, but they may not be from the same recordings or re-mastering albums (as you know I gave up on ripping SACD).
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If Iām not wrong youāre saying that, in order of preference, you are liking
SACDs playback
internal SSD CDs = CDs playback
streaming
Interesting.
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I would put DSD playback (purchased files) at the top at the same level as playing SACD. Somehow, I do not have one record in both SACD and DSD download. Wait, I may have a couple old SACD files so I will compare them later.
Actually many 96/24 and 192/24 streaming sounded better than CD (or CD files). Again, I am comparing apples to oranges here.
Streaming CD files sound smoother and more analog like than CDs playing through PST/MK2. However, the bass on CDs is a bit tighter in my system. This was the impression from a few days ago. I need to compare them again later.
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All my single layer SACDs is a step up in SQ to the regular SACDs. My ripped single layer SACD files sounds even better than the original single layer SACDs played back on the PST in that it is even more lucid and palpable. I believe itās because of the superior streamer and cable I use vs the PST with the Dragon HDMI interface. Generally with all my SACDs, the DSD layer is superior to the CD layer in sound quality without a doubt.
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That was my impression too. I need to correct my previous statement which is that the DSD files are on the same level at SACD (single layer). The best SQ in my system is DSD256 files as it should be since SACD is DSD64. The latest releases from Octave and HDTT are as good as it gets.
I am busy going over my āmissingā files, and I need a second cup of coffee to keep me concentrate on what I wrote. 
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It is unfortunate to lose all those files, donāt you have a back up on another storage?
The best sound from digitals I have is from DSD256s too. The new Symposium Ultra platform I use under the MK2 brought the SQ up even more than I expected. The Ultra platform come with special aluminum footers that should be used to couples the units together. It works beautifully with the MK2. I have never heard the MK2 sounded better.
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My backup was my original CDs, from now on I will have two copies of files (internal SSDs plus a Samsung T7 and Toshiba SSD)
Luca, you can ignore my previous reply entirely on preference. I have just played an Audiophile Masters Vol. 3 ripped files from Octave Record SACD, and I did not hear much bass shortcoming like a few days ago. The midrange on the files seemed even cleaner than the original. The difference is subtle, but it is better than last time I compared files in SSD from discs for sure.
Two factors:
The internal SSD has caught up on SQ with additional break in.
I had SmoothLAN added that indeed helped.
So, in the future I may get a new version of Muon Pro System (the one with FO link so I can hook up with LHY), then the streaming SQ would become my preference.
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Thanks, Donald. I was asking my questions because Iām not familiar with ripped/downloaded files playback at all. I have a few of them but I stream from Qobuz 90% of the time (10% CDs).
The difference in SQ I can hear doesnāt justify the effort to rip something (and it should be easy with my Statement) or to manage a library IME.
I have playlists and preferred albums on my Sense App, easy peasy!
You know, Iām lazy!
I was curious to know how that difference could be via the MU2.
Thanks for your comments.
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That is fascinating to hear since Innuos is popular because of its internal SSD. But if you are not crazy about Classical and Jazz then you are missing out the great sound of DSD256, and I do not remember is there even one DSD256 on Rocks
You are right Red Rock CD ripping (especially the older ones) does not sound great compared to many high-resolution streaming. That is why I did not even notice I have 1TB CD ripping missing until I transfered them into MU2. 
You can suggest HDTT to make a Supertramp DSD256 first.
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Unfortunately itās true, my friend. Iāve probably never heard a single DSD256 file in my life. Only DSD64 and rarely DSD128. I feel like a 120V PowerZone in a 220V world, for those who can understand that!
In any case, when Iām thirsty for perfect sound, I can always listen to a record! And the available catalog is immensely vast.
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That is probably why you donāt hear that much difference between streaming and CDs. The higher sampling rate clearly has an advantage over CDs. The DSD256s from HDTT and Native DSD comes pretty close to top end vinyl as far as sounding organic and natural is concern, at lease in my system.
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Couldnāt have said it better.
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Vinyl is King!!
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