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PS Audio Direct Stream MK2 DAC

While researching the PS Audio Direct Stream MK2 DAC on the PSA Forum, I came across this:

"Regarding “hum,” Ted said: “ You had the opportunity to return your device if it was wasn’t acceptable. I don’t know how one could claim to have been screwed…….”

Not only that, this “hum” was a known feature, as it was discussed early and often in the beta thread. Paul even went so far as to claim every component PSA has ever produced (or at least, every component on his shelf) has this hum."

Further, Ted himself says:

"The hum is coming from the piezoelectric response from a few critical capacitors in the power supply. The device was designed with a component that wouldn’t cause this problem, but supply chain problems forced us to design in a slightly older version of the part which caused the hum. Unfortunately, the new and old parts aren’t footprint compatible, so we’re stuck with the older version for a while even when the newer parts become available again."

Ted is Ted Smith, the" Chief Digital Dude" at PS Audio.

Question to all PSA DS MK2 DAC owners, do you hear a hum?

All in all, do you think it would be better to wait for a while until the problem sorts itself out - OR - is it "much ado about nothing" and I should just go ahead and get the PSA DAC?

I am leaning towards waiting .... But I am interested to hear your views too.

 

 

 

128x128dcpillai
highstream
204 posts
 

@audioman58  No one mentioned or described the Hz of the hum. It's unlikely a 60 Hz one, which is a bass hum and is in my experience commonly the result of a bad cable connection. I assume the discussion is about a 120 Hz hum, the kind one gets with a bad component or ground loop.

milpai's avatar
milpai
2,318 posts
 

@dcpillai ,

Did you already get the Holo DAC? If yes, how do you like it?

jl35
3,926 posts
 

I've had mine for more than a week, it is quiet and glitch free..and sounds great...

audiom3
138 posts
 

I've owned several PS Audio products and never experienced hum with any of them. However, I did experience hum with a Pass Labs XP15 that I had on demo. I tried everything to remedy, including a very long run of RCAs to get it away from everything else. But to no avail. So I returned it. Ive also had hum with several power amplifiers in the past including a Krell and Classé.

A few years after I returned the XP-15, I decided to hire an electrician to run a pair of dedicated 20A circuits. And maybe a year after that, it was time to upgrade my phono pre. So I decided to give Pass another shot because it sounded so good. This time, the XP-17. And I've had zero hum issues since the new AC lines were installed. I also run sources & my MCH amp on one and my stereo power amp on the other. Zero hum or buzz even with my ear on any component. Not saying all of these peeps have wiring or grounding issues but it's certainly a possibility. 

sdl4
206 posts
 

As an owner of the DirectStream DAC Mk2, I must emphasize how wonderful this DAC sounds. It is probably the best sounding DAC under $10K, and may even be preferred by many listeners of much more expensive DACs. It provides clarity and detail, but without any of the digital harshness that affects many DACs. Bass is deep, tight, and real. Soundstage is wide and deep. There is a smoothness and naturalness that eliminates listening fatigue. I have had my Mk2 for only two weeks, and it continues to get even smoother and more "real" sounding as it settles into my system. There is zero hum coming out of my speakers, even with my ear next to the speaker drivers.

Ted Smith, the designer of the DirectStream DAC, acknowledges that there may be some listeners who notice some low-level hum when putting their ear close to the DAC itself. Here are a few of Ted's comments on this issue: "The part that causes the problem is one part. The humming comes from more than one cap that it affects. We did a couple of board turns changing the layout and number and type of caps in this part of the circuit and lowered the hum level. Changing the design overall to totally get rid of the hum would have been counterproductive in overall sound quality." So sound quality is the ultimate goal for the Mk2 DAC, and it succeeds fantastically. Unless you listen to your music with your head next to your gear rack, this low-level hum is a total non-issue. And the Mk2 even has the ability to lift the ground on any input or output that might be contributing to an actual ground loop or other ground-related problem in a particular audio system. 

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