Modding the PS Audio Directstream DAC MK1 and MK2

I should have my MKII with APS within a week. It’s been a bumpy ride (I was in the first or second group to order and pay) but Jeff has been great throughout all of it. I’m really curious to hear the MKII sound it’s absolute best, as my TAD speakers + Subs and super tweeters are quite revealing and phase coherent. Even with all the noise drama (currently not using a preamp, so didn’t stay with Massive beta), I’m still a strong believer in what Ted Smith and PS AUdio are doing. I really like we can choose flavors in the different firmwear available, and I’m really thinking that MKII/APS is going to be a great platform for a reasonable cost (especially used/trade in) for those willing to take the trip.

Plus Ted has all sorts of ideas for future releases including one fpga for left and one for right, or putting the sigma delta on its own chip.   

There's no telling what he might unlock in future experiments, and he can compile them much faster in the MkII, to better compare versions.

This might sound crazy but maybe some of APS's customers can thrown in $40 each and buy Ted a pair of APS he can play with on a spare or pre production MkII.  I think it would yield better updates if Ted could also hear what it sounds like on a nicer transformer.  

Quote from emailists :

"This might sound crazy but maybe some of APS's customers can thrown in $40 each and buy Ted a pair of APS he can play with on a spare or pre production MkII.  I think it would yield better updates if Ted could also hear what it sounds like on a nicer transformer."

Unfortunately this will never happen with the MK2 or any other product they sell.  They have to fix issues with the parts they have already released.  Ted would not be alowed to do any programming changes on units with "non-official parts".

FYI... In the several posts above with no photos showing, for some reason you have to "click" on the blank area and the photo will show. 🤔

Just a quick note to mention that my fully-modded Mk 1 just seems to get better and better.....  Honestly, I fire up the system with the intention of listening to vinyl and after warming up on streaming files (Roon ROCK NUC, Allo DigiOne Pi) I am quite literally floored by the sound quality.

It is superb in all aspects, so much so that I really find it hard to fathom that the stock MK2 would even equal it.  I'm really glad I got the mods done when I did!  to quote GME109 from a previous post "It transformed a decent DAC into a total beast. The value proposition is off the charts. "  I couldn't agree more.

I got tired of waiting for the AirLens and didn't make the beta cut, so I'm happy I didn't pull the trigger on one of those as well.

Thanks again @jk_richards 

Your welcome.  You should give Firmware Snowmass 3.0.5 a try.  With it the MK1 will sound even better than the new MK2 with our transformers installed. It's the most musical sounding firmware ever.

We are deciding if we will even offer transformers for the MK2 any longer.  It doesn't deserve our transformers. PS Audio is causing us more headaches with all the flaws the MK2 exhibits. It's not easy telling customers that they received a bum unit that they need to send it back for a replacement unit before we would even consider installing transformers. 😞