Upgrade to PS Audio Direcstream Mk1 and Mac Mini?

I’d have to think adding a good pre like the Lamm would bring significant improvements, but definitely something well worth a try.  You could do a trial of the new Spatial Audio Raven preamp that’s getting fantastic reviews.  I’d keep the streamer and DAC separate as you’ll have greater flexibility to pick a DAC with the sound characteristics you’re looking for.  

The first thing I would do it get the mac and all macs, out of your system.

Best options are - 1) keep your Roon Core away from your system; 2) if possible don’t mix streaming and DAC (network cards in DACs are typically not the best streamers)

The preamp section of the PS Audio DSD is not horrible. But in my experience a good dedicated preamp will be an improvement over the preamp section in the DAC - more natural sound, better soundstage and better tone.

You can get a really cheap computer to run your Roon Core on. Then as @soix suggested pick up a Lumin U2 Mini or the older model U1 Mini. Either one is going to be an improvement over the mac mini.

One other thing - in my experience there are pros and cons with using Roon

Pros: Roon has the best UI and convenience factor. Another advantage of Roon is the Roon radio feature that continues selecting and playing tracks that match the playlist or last song you played - I’ve discovered a ton of new music that way.
Cons: Roon sounds softer, rolled off and not as musically engaging as most streamers proprietary UI/processing. i.e. Auralic sounds better when its Lightning DS software is used, Aurender sounds better when its Conductor app and processing is used. There are different paths taken to reproduce streamed music. Lumin is one streamer that sounds more or less identical with or without Roon and has a very user unfriendly Lumin UI so using Roon with it makes more sense.

There are dedicated streamers that are also designed to be used as Roon Core and supposedly they are a no compromise units…think Grimm MU1 and MU2, top of the line Innuos. But they’re in a different price category than the PS Audio DAC.
Something to think about. Oh and the Grimm units have a built in DAC.

So if your budget is limited to say $5,000 - $6,000 I’d go for the best possible streamer and be ready to potentially drop Roon and use Qobuz and or Tidal.

…think Grimm MU1 and MU2, top of the line Innuos. But they’re in a different price category than the PS Audio DAC.
Something to think about. Oh and the Grimm units have a built in DAC.

Just for clarification, the Grimm MU1 is Roon Core (Server) and Roon endpoint (Streamer)  The Grimm MU2 is all this PLUS DAC.

I have the Grimm MU1 with a Tambaqui DAC and it sounds excellent, and yes a different price point.  And, while I agree to keep streamer and DAC separate, the MU2 seems to be a combo unit with little compromise.

@fastfreight thank you - I stand corrected. 

Hi Malcolm - I don’t have much to input on your question on pre-amp or not (although I prefer using my BHK Pre vs going direct), but if you stay with the MK I, I’d highly recommend removing the Bridge2 and going to an outboard streamer (I have the Airlens).  It’s really a leap up over using the Bridge.  Also if you’re not already doing this, dim the DAC’s screen - it cleans up the signal a lot. 

Appreciate all the suggestions. I am going to try putting a tube pre-amp in my chain and see what that does.  I will then try putting a streamer connected to my PS Audio DAC and see what improvements that yields.  i will then try a streamer/DAC combo and see how that is . (Something like a Rose150B) @audphile1 thx for suggestions regarding Roon. I think I should just consolidate to using Qobuz as I don't have a local set of files to manage.  I do like the Roon interface but it seems like an unnecessary chain.  

@mwthorne i would start with the source. Adding a preamp will improve things but your source is still farm from ideal. The network bridge in the PS Audio DAC is known to not be the best. I really believe that the biggest bang for the buck is to start with the streamer. If you’re looking to potentially ditch Roon and focus on qobuz. a used Aurender N150 should be a good start. If you can swing the N200 even better. 

I just purchased a used Lamm 2.1 Deluxe Pre-amp. We will see if that improves sound vs going direct from PS audio.  I am also considering tape so if this unit works it allows me to add tape to the chain.   So impressed with quality of my 1.2 monoblocks from Lamm I thought I would stay with the same brand.  After reading reviews I am considering the Meitner MA3 DAC/Streamer.  It solves the Bridge 2 upgrade and many believe the DAC is superior to the PS Audio DAC Mk2.  I am reading that people say the sounder is warmer/fuller than the PS Audio DAC.  I am looking for a little more warmth in my system.  You can get a used Meitner MA3 around 5K.  Getting the PS Audio MK2 Mac plus a used streamer is a 10K proposition.  Thoughts? Thx

I like the MA3 much more than any of the PS Audio stuff. It's probably system dependent though. Definitely see if you can audition either or both in your own home, that's really the best way to go. If not, you probably won't have much trouble reselling either one if you end up not loving it. Both are popular and fairly in demand so your total cost of owning it for a few months should be pretty small if you decide to sell after that point. 

Thx @v-fi v-fi. I just purchased the Meitner MA3 DAC. I have contacted PS Audio to see if I can trial the new MK2 with Airlens versus this setup.  Things are coming together.  

I've enjoyed a Roon Nucleus Plus server, USB into my PS Audio DirectStream DAC, now the MK2 for several years now and highly recommend the combination.  Roon offers a Nucleus One for $499, I suspect it would sound awesome connected to your PS Audio DAC.

@mwthorne Nice, I hope you really enjoy it but also hope you get a chance to do the comparison.

I'm sort of mixed about the Airlens, not sure why as I'm usually fine with dedicated quality streamers even when they cost much more. But maybe since I got used to the DirectStream (original) with the built in Bridge streaming,  it seems weird to me that the newer one needs an outboard device for that. PS Audio will tell you the separates absolutely sound better but imho having it all integrated seems like a better approach for the end user. And if it doesn't sound as good then maybe that's a design/engineering problem.

In any case, please let us know your thoughts once you get the MA3, and especially if you end up with the PS Audio setup for comparison. Have fun!

@soix - adding the Lamm LL2.1 deluxe preamp has made a material difference in my system. Adding a whole new layer of detail that I have never heard especially in female vocals, piano, guitar. Improved soundstage and imaging.  I would not categorize it as warm as some tube sounding gear. It is incredibly neutral as many of the reviews describe.  Well worth the upgrade.  Interestingly I am not finding a huge difference with the Bugle Boy and Mullard tubes that came with the unit over stock. Some improvement but not material. On my amps changing to the Amperex pinch waist tubes was a 25% upgrade in sound to my ear. 

Glad to hear the Lamm was an improvement but can’t say I’m at all surprised. Likewise I’m pretty sure you’re gonna hear very significant improvements with the Meitner as you’re likely making big upgrades to both DAC and streamer, both of which are very important and impactful. Please let us know your impressions if you could, and congrats on the new pre.

@v-fi &  @soix  The Meitner MA3 is a material upgrade from the PS Audio Mk1 with Bridge.  Is is consistent with how people describe it. Much less analytical than the MK1. Has a warmth/ease of listening to it.  I notice improvement in all areas particularly noticeable to my ear with voices, guitar and piano:  imaging, detail, soundstage all improved. Interestingly  it also sounds meaningfully better if you run it directly with Mcontrol app versus using a roon server. @audphile1  - you were correct - getting rid of Mac/Roon has an impact.  Can now see how having a dedicated streamer with good software could make a material difference.  The is partly disappointing as I love the Roon App.   I am still debating whether I get the PS Audio Directstream Mk2 and compare it.  I may stick with the Meitner MA3 until I consider moving to something up a step to something like the Grimm unit.  

Glad you are enjoying it! I always tell people I think the MA3 is one of the safest choices in the high end DAC space. There are many enjoyable options out there but the MA3 is among the best in that range and certainly one of the most universally enjoyable.

I have had systems where a much warmer/richer/slower DAC was just the thing I needed to balance things out. And I've had systems where an ultra-resolving, speedy, analytical DAC was the best match. But for the most part the MA3 is right down the middle and works with almost every situation. 

I would still try out the PS Audio if for no other reason than to confirm that you made the right choice. I did that comparison myself and ended up with the Meitner by a large margin, but your opinion might differ.