Upgrade PS Audio DSD Mk1 to?

I have a PS Audio DSD Mk1 that was upgraded a few years ago by JK Richard’s at APS, which made significant improvement over the stock DSD Mk1. I’m now considering sending it back to APS for his latest upgrades, which many have said take the DAC to a whole new level. There are some posts on PS Audio’s forums that say it now competes  with, and it even sounds better than PS Audio’s new PMG DAC. 

Here’s a quote from someone who made the comparisons.

"I have made comparisons to Denafrips new Terminator, Chord Dave, dCS, PS Audio PMG, Esoteric N-01XD, Bricasti M3 and Holo May KTE among some others and I feel none of them were better sounding."

Here's another quote from the PS Audio forums  comparing the latest upgrades from APS on the DSD MkI DAC to the new PSA PMG DAC and the DSD MkII.

"

May 10

Have you been able to listen to a comparison with PGM?

 

 

post by MrJoe on May 14

MrJoe

2

30d

We had a group gathering of five individuals, four of whom are experienced audiophiles. We used his Airlense external streamer to ensure fairness. We compared the new PMG, the APS LESSP, and a MK2 with APS transformers. All DACs were matched for level and used the same cables and preamp. In the end, we all agreed that the sound between the PMG and APS LESSP was so similar that we had a hard time discerning any significant difference though there were some. The MK2 was just not as clear and revealing. The APS LESSP appeared to have a slightly more concentrated, deeper pinpoint imaging, while the PMG exhibited a somewhat broader stage. Both of them sound incredibly amazing and very clear with nice tight extended bass. The PMG seems to be less forgiving on some not so good recordings. I am extremely pleased with the performance of the LESSP, and we all liked them both a lot. I have no desire to upgrade, especially considering the price tag. The APS LESSP is a bargain. My friend was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality. He mentioned that there is a new firmware available, which he plans to install this weekend. In our next meeting, we will compare the PMG with its built-in streamer and updated firmware to the APS LESSP with my custom streamer.

Here is whats upgraded from the original PS Audio Directstream DAC in the APS Limited Edition Signature Series + DAC.

The PS Audio Directstream MK1 was first released in 2014 making them 12 years old. They were a great sounding and highly sought after DAC back in the day as they extracted the digital signal like no other.. They converted all incoming digital signals to 10x DSD, did all necessary SDM and other necessary calculations using a FPGA chip. (Field Programmable Gate Array). Then sent the DSD signal at 22.5792Mhz through eight (8) special opamps, (four 4 for each channel) then sent through an audio transformer out to the balanced line outputs. Ted Smith designed this architecture for PS Audio. As in all manufacturing, the final product had many cost cutting and saving design changes made to the original design to make it affordable and profitable for market.

Recently most all of these shortcomings have been rectified and upgraded to make this unit one of the best sounding DACs available today.

APS Audio Transformers provides many parts and provides upgrades and also complete units. Their best available unit, The Limited Edition Signature Series PLUS clearly redefines the state of the art at a price that is not inexpensive but represents extraordinary value.

What sets the Directstream MK1 apart is its remarkable capacity for improvement through targeted modifications. In fact, after such refinements, the Directstream MK1 is widely regarded as one of the best-sounding DACs available for under the $15,000 price range. Its ability to reproduce music with exceptional clarity, naturalness, and dynamic expression has yet to be surpassed by competitors within this tier. This makes it a coveted choice for audiophiles who seek the ultimate audio experience without venturing into ultra-high-end price segments.
In summary, while the Directstream MK1 starts as a solid performer, its true brilliance emerges through thoughtful modifications. This journey from a very good DAC designed by renowned Ted Smith to an exceptional one illustrates how expertly executed upgrades can elevate audio equipment to new heights, offering an unrivaled listening experience for discerning music lovers.