PS Audio DirectStream DAC

[NordicBob]

I tried a cheater plug on my DirectStream, but couldn't hear a difference.

[TarnishedEars]

Thanks Bob. I think that how effective this is varies greatly from system to system. The dirtier that your ground is, the bigger the difference that this makes. And conversely: the cleaner that you power is, the less difference that this should make.

[Dev]

Yes, I was indeed referring to the so-called "cheater plug" above for purposes of testing whether my idea works in your system or not.

 

I'm not saying that this is necessarily a safe long term arrangement. But since your DS should be grounded via its connection to your preamp or amp anyways, this really shouldn't be terribly unsafe.

 

However I have developed a mod which provides the same sonic improvements as this grounding arrangement, but while still being 100% UL approved. But I'm interested in seeing how many other people hear as big of an improvement from doing this as I do before I take the time to show everyone how to potentially void the warranties on your DS's.

 

The disclaimer: AC voltages can be lethal. So try this at your own risk and expense!!! I warranty nothing, and I take no responsibly if you should somehow manage to electrocute yourself in the process, or fry your DS.

 

Not sure if you read the PS audio forum and this is what I posted earlier today

 

After hearing the DS for the past two days (I didn’t want to make any early conclusion) with the ground lifted, I am certain that its bringing +ive improvements to the table – less glare, less hash, a bit deeper bass, slightly bigger soundstage. Looks like there is a ground contamination in the DS. Could flow through the leakage current on either the input (microRendu) or the output (preamp) side or the DS power supply itself.

 

Can you elaborate on the mod that you are taking about ?

[TarnishedEars]

Not sure if you read the PS audio forum and this is what I posted earlier today

 

After hearing the DS for the past two days (I didn’t want to make any early conclusion) with the ground lifted, I am certain that its bringing +ive improvements to the table – less glare, less hash, a bit deeper bass, slightly bigger soundstage. Looks like there is a ground contamination in the DS. Could flow through the leakage current on either the input (microRendu) or the output (preamp) side or the DS power supply itself.

 

Can you elaborate on the mod that you are taking about ?

I've replied to the thread you created on the PS Audio forum. And I plan to continue this discussion over there for now.

[Advieira]

Direcstream to play DSD512 is only a matter of software or hardware? Is it possible a firmware to play DSD512?

[Dev]

7 minutes ago, Advieira said:

Direcstream to play DSD512 is only a matter of software or hardware? Is it possible a firmware to play DSD512?

 

Its limited by the h/w resource, meaning the fpga isn't powerful enough. Why do you want dsd512 anyways ?

[Advieira]

10 minutes ago, Dev said:

 

Its limited by the h/w resource, meaning the fpga isn't powerful enough. Why do you want dsd512 anyways ?

 

Because it seems a way to go. Rob Watts new DACs all do 512. Many people prefer NOS DAC to upsample to 512 using HQplayer.

[Dev]

those DACs are designed to work better with dsd512 (selection of clocks, etc). Not every DAC will magically sound best at that sample rate. Just because Rob Watts DAC do 512, doesn't mean anything. All these are answered in very details in the PSA forums by Ted S.

[barrows]

On 9/6/2016 at 11:08 PM, Dev said:

 

Not sure if you read the PS audio forum and this is what I posted earlier today

 

After hearing the DS for the past two days (I didn’t want to make any early conclusion) with the ground lifted, I am certain that its bringing +ive improvements to the table – less glare, less hash, a bit deeper bass, slightly bigger soundstage. Looks like there is a ground contamination in the DS. Could flow through the leakage current on either the input (microRendu) or the output (preamp) side or the DS power supply itself.

 

Can you elaborate on the mod that you are taking about ?

Lifting the ground, and sound quality changes (or not) are going to be entirely system dependent and no one should expect consistent results trying this in different systems.  For example, a component like the DS DAC has at least three different paths to ground:

 

1.  The AC Ground on the IEC input

2.  The ground of the RCA and XLR output jacks

3.  The ground of the USB input

 

In the DS all three of these grounds are connected internally.  So, if you defeat the AC ground, the unit is still grounded to the other components in the system via 2. and 3., and perhaps also AC ground depending on the ground approach inside those other components.  Grounding is a bit of a complex matter in an interconnected system, as different components tend to approach grounding differently, depending on the "philosophy" of the designer (yes, not all designers, or engineers agree on the one single "best" approach).

Changes in sound quality due to "dirty" grounds are probably not what one is hearing (meaning noise on the ground) but maybe...  More likely is the multiple ground paths creating low level current loops.  If one really wants to address grounding in a system context in order to achieve better system performance, one needs to think of the entire interconnected system, and how it is grounded.  Just supposing that lifting the ground on the DS will make it sound better (or not) is an approach which is very random and will not be at all consistent across different system contexts.