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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
georgeab
94 posts
 

Going to give the person some credit. First, they used nickel core APS transformers. Had the right idea on the Vocm mod, just the execution of not using suface mount and creating antennae. The added structural support for the capacitors is creative. Likely sounds good.

georgeab
94 posts
 

Must have been a difficult decision coming to the conclusion of no longer offering APS transformers for the MKII. A real loss for the MK2 community. Hopefully, when PS Audio gets its production issues sorted, you may consider revisiting the decision. 

georgeab
94 posts
 

Spent a day revisiting the Snowmass 3.0.5 firmware in my Vocm APS xformer modded MK1. In my system, in my acoustic environment, and my ears I prefer Sunlight. Just my experience, YMMV.  

jk_richards's avatar
jk_richards
92 posts
 
 
 
 
Quote from : antony_s0s
21 posts

"This job is way better then you did for some poor lad."

Anton,

I did not mention your name here however Since you just told on yourself...

You assumed we did this for a customer. We did not.

You seem to assume a lot I see as Ted Smith has called you out several times for not knowing what you are talking about and wrongly assuming circuits and design. This is going to get you in trouble for sure not including defamation and libel.

You did this mess not long ago after we installed your transformers.

That old photo you posted shows our 1st test of concept of the Vocm mod done at the very start of this type of mod. We had these caps on hand to test in my personal unit.

After we proved it worked quite well we moved forward to do it correctly with the SMD caps.

This is how we do it.

 

antony_s0s
23 posts
 

Thanks George for the support. Yes, this is a complicated design with sandwich using different types of capacitors to cover wider frequency range. The electrolytic capacitors here literally have no legs at all so no parasitic inductance added. 

And support eliminates microphonics. 

 

 

Also, my audiophile friend and I (both with APS and full list of modifications)  prefer Windom over all versions of Snowmass FW. 

Windom sounds like multibit DAC, Snowmass is like a good delta-sigma.

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