Modding the PS Audio Directstream DAC MK1 and MK2


I would like to continue discussing all the mods we have created for these two DAC's as it seems PS Audio is no longer allowing discussions about them on their forum.

For reference here is a link to the closed discussion.

https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680

128x128richardselectronics

That older info was posted before the massive final was released and with sunlight firmware installed in the MK1. With ether the current  massive or massive beta installed on the modded MK2 and Snowmass 3.0.5 installed on the modded MK1 we feel now the MK1 sounds better than the MK2 even with the better sounding beta massive installed..

Here is our new assessment.

“We feel the new firmware made a large improvement in sound quality.

If I had to put numbers on it from 1-10

Stock MK1 6

Modded MK1 9

Stock MK2 with old firmware 7

Stock MK2 with new firmware 8

Modded MK2 with new massive firmware 9

Modded MK1 with Snowmass  10"

OK... We have only 3 pairs of MK2 cores left and will not be offering them any longer after they are gone. 

Wow this is too bad.  I'm trying to convince a friend with a MkII to have the transformers installed.  Maybe once I get mine back and hear them I can convince him.   

I forgot to add the MK2 with the Antero firmware.  It's also a "10"

In modded form, We feel the MK1 and Mk2 with the above firmware sound almost identical.

No one here could tell which DAC was playing.