PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 User manual

PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
©2014 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
Instructions for Use
PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2

Table Of Contents
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Safety Instructions i
DirectStream MK2 Overview ii
Why DSD? iii
Installation Considerations 1
Unpacking and Connections 2
Connecting DirectStream 2
Connecting the Output 3
Control and Operation 4
Front Panel Idle Button 4
Main Display and Menu 5
Inputs 5
Main Menu: Balance 6
Main menu: Phase 6
Main Menu: Pre-Emphasis 7
Main Menu: Version 7
Main Menu: Sub-Menus 7
Sub-Menu: Audio Input 8
Sub-Menu: Audio Output 9
Sub-Menu: System 11
Sub-Menu: Network 14
Remote Control 15
Trouble Shooting 16
Specifications 17
Menu Operations 19
Product registration 22
Warranty 22
Service 24

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
Read these instructions
Heed all warnings
Follow all instructions
WARNING. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
Clean only with a dry cloth. For the Piano Finish Top refer to the instructions on page 8 of the
Quick Start Guide.
Do not place ammable material on top of or beneath the component.
All PS Audio components require adequate ventilation at all times during operation. Rack
mounting is acceptable where appropriate.
Do not remove or bypass the ground pin on the end of the AC cord unless absolutely necessary
to reduce hum from ground loops of connected equipment. This may cause RFI (radio frequency
interference) to be induced into your playback setup. Removing or bypassing the ground pin on
any electrical component is potentially dangerous and should be avoided for safety reasons. A
polarized plug has two blades, one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades
and a third grounding prong. All PS products ship with a grounding type plug. If the provided
plug does not t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. Unplug this apparatus during
lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
When making connections to this or any other component, make sure all components are o. Turn
o all systems’ power before connecting the PS Audio component to any other component. Make
sure all cable terminations are of the highest quality.
THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE ANY PS AUDIO PRODUCT. REFER ALL
SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL
This device contains FCC ID: 2AC7Z-ESP32WROVER(B/E).
Please contact your authorized dealer, distributor, or PS Audio if you have any questions not
addressed in this reference manual.
This product is manufactured in the United States of America. PS Audio® is a registered trademark of PS Audio International Inc., and is
restricted for use by PS Audio International, Inc., its subsidiaries, and authorized agents.
Rev. D
Important Safety
Instructions
i

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
The PS Audio PerfectWave™ DirectStream Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) MK2 is a
state-of-the-art DAC that replaces its predecessor, the PerfectWave DirectStream DAC.
Since its groundbreaking introduction 8 years ago, the PerfectWave DirectStream DAC has
stood alone as one of the most remarkable DACs ever built. We are excited to share with
the world the next generation of this technological wonder, the PerfectWave DirectStream
DAC MK2.
Unlike the vast majority of high-end DACs based on o-the-shelf IC technology,
DirectStream MK2 is handwritten, discrete, galvanically isolated, perfection-based
conversion that uncovers all the missing information hiding in your digital audio media.
CDs, streaming audio, high-resolution PCM or DSD based media are all expertly
upsampled in the DirectStream MK2 to twenty times DSD rate and output as pure analog
directly into your amplier or preamplier.
There has never been a better sounding DAC anywhere close to the price of DirectStream
MK2. The ground breaking DirectStream DAC was the rst choice of thousands of critical
listeners worldwide, and now, with the introduction of the MK2, that legacy will continue.
DirectStream MK2 features a unique architecture inside. From its galvanically isolated
digital inputs to its galvanically isolated output stage, DirectStream MK2 has been hand
written and hand designed by Ted Smith.
DirectStream MK2 has two FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) as the core processors
and no o-the-shelf DAC chips are used in the design.
Each input on the DirectStream MK2 is galvanically isolated, which means there are no
physical connections between the noisy digital source and the sensitive DAC. Power
supplies that power noisy inputs are galvanically isolated from the rest of the system.
Galvanic isolation aids in the reduction jitter and unwanted audio artifacts.
Welcome
DirectStream MK2
Overview
ii

Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
DirectStream MK2 is less sensitive to the vagaries of input source types and their level
of jitter than most DACs made. Remarkably low jitter sensitivity is one of the hallmarks of
this design and is accomplished by not using classic edge transition detection techniques
used on the digital input data. Instead, a proprietary method of extremely fast sample-and-
recognize technology is employed that reduces dependency on cables, jitter and the quality
of the incoming data source.
Once the data from the selected digital audio source has been inputted, it is upsampled to
twenty times the standard DSD rate of 2.8MHz before any processing takes place. After
processing, all input data is converted to quad rate DSD (11.2896MHz) and outputted
through a passively ltered analog section consisting primarily of a high-quality audio output
transformer. Elimination of the classic active analog output stage, with all its diculties
running at these high frequencies, has been implemented with a high quality passive audio
transformer.
DirectStream MK2 is entirely DSD based, even for PCM inputs. DSD was chosen as the
core engine for this instrument for a number of compelling reasons:
• DSD is simple to convert to analog: just low pass lter it.
• DSD is inherently linear: it’s hard to build a PCM DAC that always takes
the same sized step in the output for any possible unit increment of the
representative PCM voltage value. The best PCM technology for linearity is
arguably a resistor ladder, then all steps are at least positive for a positive
change in the input, but making resistors that are accurate to one part in 216 is
hard and to one part in 220 is very hard. DSD doesn’t need anywhere near this
level of component matching.
• DSD soft clips when overdriven, more like magnetic tape: signals which exceed
the nominal full scale value only get slightly compressed if at all. With PCM
you either have at tops which induce extra energy at the squared o edges or,
worse, you can have wrap around, which is very audible.
• All bits in a DSD stream have the same weight: a single bit error anywhere is
barely measurable let alone audible. Some bits in PCM carry a lot of weight and
would make a very loud pop if changed. PCM needs more error recovery to
keep to a given signal to noise ratio (S/N) with a slightly corrupted digital signal.
• Ironically, most sanely priced PCM players actually use DAC chips that utilize
a sigma-delta modulator (DSD) to get a DSD-like signal anyway. Similarly,
many (most) A/Ds are sigma-delta based. The typical PCM path is analog ->
DSD -> PCM -> disc -> PCM -> DSD -> analog. The DSD path can skip the
conversions to PCM. Those conversions can’t be perfect and artifacts of the
Why DSD?
iii

Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
steep anti-aliasing lter or the reconstruction lter aren’t considered benign by
many.
• DirectStream MK2 handles the PCM conversion from XLR/EBU, S/PDIF, Optical,
I2S and USB without recovering a clock, by simply watching for the edges and
making decisions about what they mean in context. The result is that any jitter
present on the input is lost entirely in the FPGA. There is no dierence in Optical
or I2S because the output clock’s rate only depends on the long term average
rate of the inputs not on any edge or other local feature.
The heart of DirectStream MK2 is the DSD engine itself. Regardless of input format,
whether PCM or DSD, all data are upsampled to 30 bits running at 20 times the standard
DSD rate and then back down again to double rate DSD for noise shaping.
The internal volume control keeps complete precision: every bit in the input aects the
output of the DAC for any volume level. Except for the sigma-delta modulation process
itself there is no rounding, dither or other trimming, not to 24 bits, not to 32 bits, not to
48 bits, but rather a full 50. The incoming PCM signal is 30 bits from the upsampling lter
and the volume control is 20 bits wide so all 50 bits of the output are used throughout the
sigma-delta conversion, requiring more than 50 bits of precision.
DSD only requires a nominal 20 bit signal to noise ratio, this design utilizes a minimum width
of 24 bits with wide lter coecients and 144dB S/N. Use of full precision everywhere and
many guard bits in the IIR lters and the sigma-delta modulator help maintain our goal of
perfecting the audio output.
While some designs may run out of headroom or approach saturation levels, depending on
the source material, the new design opts for an extra top bit everywhere in the digital path
coupled with an extra 6 dB of head room in the analog path beyond the 6 dB of headroom
that SACD uses. The top bit keeps PCM from saturating, even if that PCM was not
properly bandwidth limited in the initial recording process.
The output of the DSD engine is fed directly into the output stage, based on high speed
video ampliers and a passive output transformer.
Most output schemes for DSD modulators are active low pass lters, covering the required
120dB S/N ratio from 10Hz to 220MHz and have a number of design challenges and
problems associated with even the best designs.
If the analog processing isn’t linear and doesn’t have a very wide bandwidth, it will
modulate the high frequency noise that’s inherent in DSD back into the audio band. That
modulation will not result in just low level noise. In practice it will be aliased back into the
audible band with serious sonic consequences. To maintain low noise and linearity, the
design incorporates both high speed symmetrical video amps and a passive output lter.
The DSD
engine is its
heart
iv
Full headroom
with room to
spare

Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
The rst challenge in such a design is the output switch that generates the nal 1’s and 0’s
of the modulator.
A very clean switch that hooks up the positive rail with a 1 and the negative rail with a 0 is
essential. If it has too much resistance, if the resistance is dierent at the positive end than
the negative end, if the resistance changes from time to time, … the result will not be as
clean as it needs to be. For 120dB S/N the switch resistance has to be quite consistent.
Another design requirement is consistent and fast switching time.
If the switch is too slow it won’t keep up with the 5.6MHz signal used in this instrument. If the
switch doesn’t react in consistent times it will introduce jitter. Use of traditional CMOS gates
adds a lot of jitter as do cross-coupled totem-poled bipolar transistors. Instead, DirectStream
MK2 relies on high speed dierential video amps, which are essentially class A switches, have
their outputs either near the top rail or near the bottom power supply rail (without ever
saturating) and provide a very clean DSD switch.
For the all important low pass ltering requirements an active lter adds self noise even if it
is eectively lowering incoming noise. A unique and eective solution to this problem is a
passive lter. The design uses a carefully crafted high bandwidth audio transformer at the
output of the instrument for both galvanic isolation from the outside world as well as low
pass ltering.
The PerfectWave DirectStream MK2 DAC represents a signicant departure in the design
and execution of PS Audio’s products. We believe this new instrument will help further our
industry, music and the faithful reproduction of music around the world.
v

Getting Started
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
A good location for DirectStream MK2 is in a cabinet or on a shelf at an easily accessible
height. Care should be taken to keep it away from power ampliers or large, potentially
hum-inducing products. The IR (infrared) receiver for the remote is located to the left of the
Touch Screen. A direct line of sight will help with DirectStream MK2's IR sensor, which has
been greatly improved from its predecessor, the DirectStream.
DirectStream MK2 and the PerfectWave SACD Transport were designed to stack on top of each
other if they are not placed on separate shelves. To do this, remove the feet from the unit you
wish to place on top of the stack. Carefully place the top unit so it rests on the bottom unit.
You will note that the bottom of the corners of each PerfectWave piece is specially designed to
mate with the top corners of another PerfectWave.
DirectStream MK2 oers multiple digital input choices including: two XLR (XLR/EBU), RCA
and Optical (S/PDIF), USB as well as two I2S. All inputs, including USB, are capable of
accepting high-denition digital audio signals. The Optical input is capable of 96kHz, 24
bit audio. XLR/EBU up to 352.8kHz PCM and up to DoP128. I2S handles up to 705.6 kHz
PCM and up to DSD256. USB is capable of handling up to 705.6 kHz PCM and up to
DSD256.
DirectStream MK2 uses an HDMI cable to transfer I2S data. This data can only be used with
another compatible component, such as the PerfectWave SACD transport, and will not work
in other HDMI equipment as the I2S format incorporated does not comply with the HDMI
standards. PS Audio freely publishes its I2S standard and it has been adopted by multiple other
manufacturers as well.
DoP (DSD over PCM) is a standard allowing single rate DSD to travel over S/PDIF (the
RCA, and XLR digital inputs are S/PDIF compatible) as well as over USB and I2S. It is
not currently possible to send DSD directly over S/PDIF and the DSD les must rst be
converted to DoP standards to travel this route.
It is possible to send DSD les (without conversion to DoP) over DirectStream MK2's I2S inputs
as well as USB. Most programs, such as Roon, Audirvana, JRiver Media Center and Foobar
2000, will automatically convert DSD les to the DoP standards on the y if the appropriate
checkbox has been enabled. There are no sonic penalties for conversion to DoP as the raw
DSD data is unaected by the process.
Your new PS Audio DAC is supplied with a removable AC Power cord. While the supplied cord
is of good quality, it is recommended that you replace it with one of PS Audio’s matching
PerfectWave AC power cords for optimum performance. It is also recommended that you
connect your new DirectStream MK2 to one of PS Audio’s award-winning AC power products
such as the P12, P15 or P20 Power Plants.
Installation
Considerations
DoP
Digital Inputs
Available
1
Power Cables

Quick Start Guide
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
• Carefully unpack the unit and place in the chosen location.
• The piano black top cover has a protective plastic lm. Remove this lm.
• Connect DirectStream MK2 to your digital sources using the appropriate connections.
• Connect the AC cable into the receptacle in back and plug the unit into your Power
Plant or into the wall.
PS Audio products come from the factory with a 3-year warranty. Please register your
new DirectStream MK2. Registration takes just a few minutes, helps us inform you about
future upgrades, keeps track of your serial number and allows us to maintain the highest
standards of product quality of any company.
To register your new unit, look on the back panel of DirectStream MK2 and note the serial
number. Using any web browser, go to www.psaudio.com and click on Register Products.
Once you have completed the registration process, you can go to the PS website and look at
the My Registered Products page. The link to this page is located at the top right hand corner
of the website once you are logged in. If you do not have web access, you may register the
unit via mail or phone. Notication of software upgrades to this product will be available only
to registered owners via the web and email.
There are multiple methods of connecting the digital inputs of DirectStream MK2: Through
the S/PDIF based Optical, Coax, and XLR inputs, USB, and I2S. S/PDIF is a serial digital
interface available as an optical source (Optical), coaxial source (RCA) or balanced source
(XLR/EBU XLR). Connect to your digital sources with any of these cable types.
USB is the preferred method of connection for a direct-to-computer connection and
DirectStream MK2 is capable of processing up to 705.6kHz 24 bit PCM data as well as
DSD 64 through DSD256. Connect DirectStream MK2 to your computer using a well
Register the Unit
Connecting
DirectStream
2
Unpacking and
Connections

Quick Start Guide
©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
regarded USB cable and make sure to set the output of your computer to the highest 24
bit standard. Once connected, your computer should automatically install DirectStream
MK2 as a new device if you have a Mac. If you have a Windows operating system, you will
need to download the DirectStream Extended Resolution driver from our website and install
it on your Windows computer.
I2S is available through several manufacturers as well PS Audio equipment, such as the
PerfectWave SACD Transport. I2S is a parallel data connection with separate clocks and
data and transferred via an HDMI cable. I2S will typically provide a better performance
standard than USB or any serial data stream such as S/PDIF or XLR/EBU.
You can connect one or all seven inputs at the same time. For instance, you can connect
the USB input to your computer and the coax input to your CD player. Then you can
simply choose which one to listen to from the front panel (or the remote) that selects
the input. If you are using USB, make sure both the computer and DirectStream MK2
are connected and powered up. USB also requires a driver to operate properly. Mac
computers running OSX have the driver built in. Windows based computers require the
PS Audio Extended Resolution USB driver to be installed. Download the driver from our
website https://www.psaudio.com/downloads/; DirectStream MK2 will show up under
Device Manager as PS Audio Extended Resolution USB.
DirectStream MK2 features an auto select input. Using the front panel menu system (or the
remote), choose either the specic input you wish or the Auto Select feature. When in the Auto
Select mode, DirectStream MK2 will automatically select the active input.
DirectStream MK2 is designed to drive a power amplier directly or as another input on a
preamplier. The outputs of DirectStream MK2 are high-performance, high current outputs
that can drive long lengths of interconnect cable without degradation.
DirectStream MK2 has two types of analog outputs, balanced XLR or single ended RCA.
We do not recommend using both outputs at the same time. Be aware that most
ampliers and preampliers will produce 6dB higher level with the balanced outputs relative
to the single ended outputs. If you are using both outputs be advised they will be at
dierent levels. Our preference for connection to a power amplier or preamplier is through
the balanced XLR outputs of DirectStream MK2.
RCA or single ended outputs will be the typical outputs as many preampliers, surround
processors receivers, integrated ampliers and power ampliers have only this standard
type of input.
Plug either the RCA or the XLR outputs of DirectStream MK2 into a line level input on the
preamp, integrated, amplier or subwoofer. Do NOT plug the output of DirectStream MK2
into a phono or equalized input of any type.
USB
I2S Input
Connecting the
Output
3
Auto Select

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Quick Start Guide
Turn the AC power switch in the rear of DirectStream MK2 to the ON position. The power
switch is located just above the AC inlet. PS Audio will ash across the display.
The setup guide will then ask you questions to help you congure the unit. Use the left and
right arrow on the control ring to highlight your answer and the center button on the control
ring to select it. Please note the below:
• If you select No to the question "Do you have a preamp?", xed volume is disabled
and the default volume will be set to 35. The main display will show the volume.
• If you select Yes to the question "Do you have a preamp?", xed volume will be set to
100 and the main display will show the sample rate.
- If this was not your intention, you can cancel it on the second screen. The second
screen informs you that the xed volume will be set to 100. You can choose OK or
Cancel. Simply highlight and select Cancel if you don't want to set a xed volume.
The front panel PS logo button, located on the upper left hand corner of the unit, is the Ready/
Operation Mode control for DirectStream MK2. This control has two modes: Ready Mode and
Operational Mode. Ready Mode (Idle) is designed to keep power on to critical internal circuitry,
including power supply capacitors, thermally sensitive semiconductors and integrated circuits.
Press this front panel button to activate the Ready Mode or to place DirectStream MK2 in
Operational Mode. When pressed to activate the Ready Mode, the display as well as the
outputs are turned o, but all the unit’s critical internal circuitry remains active.
If you wish to conserve energy consumed by DirectStream MK2 it will be necessary to use
the rear panel power switch. Using this rear panel switch will remove power from critical
components. In order to gain maximum performance levels, you will need to turn DirectStream’s
power on at least 1 hour before use.
Should DirectStream MK2 need to be rebooted, use the rear panel power switch to power
cycle the instrument. It's best to wait 30 seconds before powering back on.
Information on Main Display:
• Depending on how your DAC was congured during the setup guide, the main display
Front Panel Idle
Button
4
To reboot use the
rear switch
Power On
Ready/Operation Mode Control
Menu Button
Control
Ring
Setup Guide
Main display

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Quick Start Guide
will either show the volume (if you said no to using a preamp) or the sample rate (if you
said yes to using a preamp).
Note : In addition to volume and sample rate, input can also be the main display. Please see
the section on Display Mode in the System Sub-Menu for more on this and other display
options.
• The red or green dot in the corner
indicates whether the current input is
connected. A green dot indicates the
connection is good.
- For USB, a green dot indicates that a
USB cable is connected to a USB host.
A red light indicates that there's no
connection to a USB host.
- For S/PDIF and Optical, a green dot means there's an active signal on that input with a
valid sampling rate.
- For I2S, a green dot means there's a PS Audio I2S source connected with a valid signal.
• When certain menu options are selected, small icons will appear on the main display.
Please note that the example above has volume as the main display.
To change the input, press the right or left arrow keys on the control ring. Once you reach
the desired input, stop scrolling to select it. You can also use the remote to select the
desired input. The changes take eect immediately.
Note : If input is not the main display, the initial press will display the current input for 5
seconds. Subsequent presses (before 5 seconds elapse) change the input. Pressing the
control ring's center button returns you to the volume control menu.
By default, the unit comes up at volume 35. To change the volume, press the up and down
arrow keys. Once you reach the desired volume, stop scrolling to select it. If xed volume
has been selected, you will not be able to change the volume.
Note : If volume is not the main display, the initial press will display the current volume for 5
seconds. Subsequent presses (before 5 seconds elapse) change the volume.
A quick press of the Menu button toggles mute on or o. (You will hear a soft click.) If the
main display is set to volume or sample rate,“MUTE” will appear in big letters. If you are on
input, a smaller "MUTE" will appear in red on the top right corner of the screen.
To enter and exit the menu system, simply press and hold the menu button to the left of the
display for two seconds. A gear icon will appear in the upper right corner showing that you
are in the Settings menu.
Note : The menus will also time out after fteen seconds.
5
Inputs
Mute
Volume
Menu System

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
To navigate the menu system:
• Use the left and right arrow keys to scroll through menu items.
• Use the up and down arrows to change an item's values. Note that changes to settings
are typically saved in real time as the changes are made.
• To enter sub-menus, press the center button on the control ring.
• When in a sub-menu, press the center button twice to go back one menu level. When
in the main menu, this action will return you to the main display.
• A long press of the menu button from anywhere in the menus will return you to the main
display.
The main menu has the below features.
• Balance
• Phase
• Pre-emphasis
• Versions (informational only)
• Audio Input (sub-menu)
• Audio Output (sub-menu)
• System (sub-menu)
• Network (sub-menu)
The Balance feature allows you to adjust the center location of the stereo image. Press
down on the control ring to reduce the gain of the right channel, thus making the image
come more from the left channel, and vice-versa. The balance steps are each 1/4dB and
the range is 48 steps each way for a maximum shift of 12dB.
When the balance is set to anything other than the center position, there will be an icon on
the Home screen to indicate this state.
The phase feature allows you to invert the signal from the digital inputs. This can be useful
when listening to certain source material that may have inverted absolute polarity. Use up or
down buttons on the control ring to change the absolute polarity of the signal from“Norm”
6
Main Menu
Features
Main Menu:
Phase
Navigating the
Menu System
Main Menu:
Balance

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
(Normal) to “Inv” (Inverted).
Note : Some listeners are more sensitive to absolute polarity than others.
Some Compact Discs were recorded with pre-emphasis in order to improve the
performance at high frequencies. If you are playing a track that was recorded with pre-
emphasis, you can engage the de-emphasis lter using the pre-emphasis option.
Use up and down arrows to set to On, O or Auto. On engages the de-emphasis lter and
O disables it. Auto automatically detects tracks with pre-emphasis and then engages de-
emphasis (this only works on Coax and Optical inputs). The default is Auto.
The icon for pre-emphasis (see above arrow) means de-emphasis is active. When on auto,
this allows you to see if pre-emphasis has been detected and de-emphasis is active.
The Versions menu display is informational only and shows the rmware version of the
unit. Use the up and down arrow to scroll through all the items. If you need to contact our
customer service team for help with your unit, please have this information ready.
There are 4 sub-menus that can be accessed from the main menu. They are:
• Audio Input
• Audio Output
• System
• Network (for PS Audio use only)
7
Main Menu:
Versions
Main Menu:
Access
Sub-Menus
Main Menu:
Pre-emphasis

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
Menu items with sub-menus are indicated by a right arrow. Press the center button on the
control ring to enter them. To go back one menu level, press the center button twice. For
example, from the audio input sub-menu press the center button twice to go back to the
main menu.
The Audio Input sub-menu allows you to change the below:
• Auto Power (sub-menu)
• Input Names (sub-menu)
• Transport Input
• Ground Lift (sub-menu)
• I2S Polarity (sub-menu)
Auto Power (sub-menu)
The auto power feature allows you to select whether the inputs on your DirectStream DAC
always have power on or if the inputs power o when not in use.
Press the center button to enter this sub-menu. Use the down and up arrows to highlight
the input. Use the center button on the control ring to change from "on" (input always
powered on) to "auto" (input powered o when not in use).
Note : If you select Auto mode from the Input menu, the DAC will not detect any input that has
Auto Power set to Auto because that input will be powered down. Instead, you will need to
manually select the input.
Input Names (sub-menu)
This feature allows you to rename the inputs (I2S 1, I2S 2, USB, Optical, Coax, XLR1, XLR
2) using a preset list with items like Bridge, CD, DVD, PC, Phono, etc. This is a sub-menu,
so click on the center button to enter it. To use this feature:
• Use the up and down arrows until you land on the input you want to rename. Press the
center button to select it.
• Use the up and down arrows until you land on the name you want. Press the center
button to select it.
• A pop up will appear to ask if you want to rename it. Click the center button to choose
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Sub-Menu:
Audio Input

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Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
okay or use the right arrow to navigate to cancel rst if you change your mind.
• The input has now been renamed.
Transport Input
Use the Up and Down arrows to select the input you are using for the PS Audio Transport.
Once selected whenever you press Play, Pause, Open or Close on the remote, the DAC
will automatically switch to the input you specied. If you don't have a Transport or don't
want to use this feature, select O.
Ground Lift (sub-menu)
This allows the user to select Input Ground Lifts for each input (excluding the Optical).
Ground lifts reduce or eliminate ground-related noise arising from ground loops in audio
cables. This opens the connection between the DSD MK 2 ground and the shielding
conductor of the audio cables, leaving those cables grounded only at their opposite end.
Click on the center button to enter this sub-menu. Highlight the input you want to modify
using the up and down arrows. Then press the center control ring button to change
selection to grounded or lifted.
I2S Polarity (sub-menu)
This feature allows you to invert the pins on the I2S cable. This is valuable if you need to
switch the pins so that the DAC works with a 3rd party source that does not adhere to PS
Audio's HDMI/I2S standard.
Use the center button on the control ring to change from Normal to Inverted on the below:
• I2S1 Data & L/R
• I2S1 DSD Channel
• I2S2 Data & L/R
• I2S2 DSD Channel
The Audio Output sub-menu allows you to adjust the below:
• Fixed Volume
• Max Volume
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Sub-Menu:
Audio Output

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
• Ground Lift
• Shell Lift
• RCA Balance
Fixed Volume
The Fixed Volume feature allows you to set the volume at a xed value so that it cannot
be changed. This is useful when feeding the DSD MK2 into a pre-amplier. When Fixed
Volume is enabled, a Lock icon appears on the icon bar of the main display. The volume
up/ down keys will no longer function. All inputs are aected by the Fixed Volume setting.
The Fixed Volume setting is saved and restored on power downs.
Use the up/ down arrow keys to set the xed volume you desire. Hold the up/ down arrow
keys to scroll through the volume settings quickly. To disable Fixed Volume, set it to 0 or
OFF.
Max Volume
Setting this value limits the maximum volume when using the up volume control. This value
is ignored by the Fixed Volume setting.
Use the up/ down arrow keys to set the max volume you desire. Set to 100 to disable this
feature.
Ground Lift
Ground lifts reduce or eliminate ground-related noise arising from ground loops in audio
cables. This opens the connection between the DSD MK 2 ground and the shielding
conductor of the audio cables, leaving those cables grounded only at their opposite end.
Set to Lifted to enable the output Ground Lift. Set to Grounded to disable the output
Ground Lift. The default is Grounded.
Shell Lift
Select to lift the XLR balanced outputs shield or shell.
This typically will sound a little better lifted in most systems. However, some interconnects
have a shield that’s only connected on the source end. Systems with these interconnects
may need to tie the shield or XLR ground to the system ground to drain o any RFI that the
cable’s shield picks up.
Set to Lifted to enable the XLR Shell Lift. Set to Grounded to disable the XLR Shell Lift. The
default is Grounded.
10

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Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
RCA Balanced
This option connects the shield/ground reference of the RCA connection to either the
ground as expected or to the other side of the output transformer making a balanced
connection. The DSD Mk II will make sure that the grounds of the output are lifted when the
RCA is balanced to not interfere with the balanced signal. Not every unbalanced input on a
preamp or an amp can accept a 4VRMS input, but for those that do this could be useful for
systems that don’t have enough gain.
Set to On to select RCA Balanced. Set to O to select RCA Unbalanced. The default is O.
The system sub-menu allows you to adjust the below:
• Backlight
• Display Mode
• Trigger Timeout
• IR Enable
• FW Update (sub-menu)
• Factory Reset (sub-menu)
Backlight
The brightness of the display and logo button can be adjusted to suit your room lighting
any your tastes. Use the up and down arrow to select a brightness from 1 (dimmest) to 10
(brightest).
Display Mode
This menu provides three options for the main display: auto, sample rate and minimal. The
auto function varies depending on whether or not fixed volume is on. (As a reminder, if you
indicated you were using a preamp during set up, fixed volume is automatically turned on.)
• Auto: When fixed volume is on, this shows the input on the main display. If fixed volume
is off, this shows the volume on the main display. Both will display small icons when
certain menu options are selected.
Sub-Menu:
System
11

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
Auto: Displays input when fixed volume is on. Auto: Displays volume when fixed volume is o.
• Sample Rate: This option shows the current sample rate on the main display. Small
icons will be displayed when certain menu options are selected. If the input selected
is not connected - indicated by the red dot in the corner of the screen - the screen will
show the current input instead.
Sample Rate: Displays sample rate if input's good. Sample Rate: Displays input if connection's bad.
Note : It's common for the FPGA to take a second or two to detect the sample rate when
it changes. What may look like delayed reporting is normal. It is a result of detecting and
reporting the correct sample rate.
• Minimal: Provided the connection is good, this option shows the sample rate without
any icons. If the connection is not good, it will show the input with icons.
Min: Shows sample rate (no icons) when input's good. Min: Shows input and icons if connection's bad.
Trigger Timeout
This feature allows the trigger output to be delayed a period of time after the DirectStream
DAC Mk2 is activated. You can adjust the time it takes for any other units plugged into the
trigger output of the DAC to turn on once the DAC is powered up. The time delay can be
adjusted in increments from 0 to 60 seconds using the up and down arrows on the control
ring.
IR Enable
There are 3 options - O, IR1, and IR2. If you are using a Stellar remote with this product
and experience interference with your other devices when using the remote, you can
12

©2022 PS Audio Inc. All rights reserved.
Owner’s Reference DirectStream DAC MK2
PS Audio® Inc. 800-PSAUDIO 4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, Colorado 80301
Operating Manual
change this setting. Both the unit and the remote will need to be updated when you make
changes.
• O: This makes it so that no remote works with the DAC.
• IR1: This is the default setting. If you are not experiencing interference with your other
devices, leave this setting.
• IR2: This changes the remote to a dierent code set. If your Stellar remote is interfering
with other devices, for example, turning o your television, change to this setting.
When changing this option, the Stellar remote will also need to be updated. To do so, press
the Light Bulb button (bottom of the remote) and the circular O button (top center of the
remote) at the same time. If the remote backlight ashes white once, you are on IR1. If it
ashes white twice, you are on IR2.
Note : If using the PerfectWave remote, leave this on IR1.
FW Update (sub-menu)
This feature allows you to select from multiple rmware loads on a USB thumb drive. It
provides a faster and easier method of upgrading and downgrading new rmware for A/B
style testing.
Preparing the USB thumb drive
• You can have as many les on the USB thumb drive as you want, but only the rst ve
valid les for the device are displayed.
• The les must be named dsdmk2_v#.#.#.bin. For example, dsdmk2_v2.4.1.bin.
• You can have other bin les for other products on this thumb drive (for example, stellar_
pre_v2.1.2.bin). Only les that start with "dsdmk2_" will be loaded by the DirectStream
DAC Mk2.
WARNING: In the past, you would update a unit by copying an "image.bin" le to the
thumb drive. This method still works to automatically update a unit after a reboot (you
do not need to go through the menus to use the image.bin le). The image.bin le takes
precedence over the dsdmk2_bin_xxx.bin les. It is recommended to NOT have an image.
bin le on the thumb drive if you are using the dsdmk2_xxx.bin les and the System | FW
Update method to update les.
Upgrading/ Downgrading
• Plug the USB thumb drive into the unit in USB-A slot on the back panel marked FW.
• Enter the menus and go to System | FW Update. Press the center button to enter the
sub-menu.
• The les will display on the screen in alphabetical order.
• Scroll up or down to highlight the le you want to load.
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