PS Audio launches Snowmass

[SAPHANA]

Originally Posted by Poppyhome

Yes, I'm familiar with computers and the update process and have updated the DirectStream for many years.



Do you guys have the Bridge II cause I believe that may be an issue?



Are you also using Roon and music from your HD or strictly Tidal?



I am also leaving the SD card in with the firmware on it so as to display the album art, so I may try removing the files and only leaving the card in.



Everyone has different variables so its sometimes tough to find the glitch.



All working fine previously with Redcloud........



Ron

I use bridge ii. I use Tidal through Roon. I keep the SD card inserted to show art works, with update files deleted.

I got no issue in this update, but the old issues persist:
- 50% of the chances, art works are not displayed. I heard it’s due to the weak hardware/software of the DAC, so no solution will be provided;
- 75% of the chances, the pause function does not work, either from remote or touch screen. I have to use the Roon app to pause the music.

I can live with the above two issues, but really did not expect the seemingly easily fixable bugs.

[Poppyhome]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

It could always be worse “Black Cloud”

Firmware Humor

Correct those are always the worst.

Ron

[Poppyhome]

Originally Posted by SAPHANA

I use bridge ii. I use Tidal through Roon. I keep the SD card inserted to show art works, with update files deleted.

I got no issue in this update, but the old issues persist:
- 50% of the chances, art works are not displayed. I heard it’s due to the weak hardware/software of the DAC, so no solution will be provided;
- 75% of the chances, the pause function does not work, either from remote or touch screen. I have to use the Roon app to pause the music.

I can live with the above two issues, but really did not expect the seemingly easily fixable bugs.

I also noticed previously (Redcloud) that album art takes longer to display on higher res files.

Ron

[SAPHANA]

I just got the first new issue after Sunday's update: the DAC turned on by itself.

[Poppyhome]

Originally Posted by SAPHANA

I just got the first new issue after Sunday's update: the DAC turned on by itself.

I think this has something to do with Roon communication and the Bridge.
Never had this problem before though.

Ron

[Poppyhome]

Paul promised a Bridge update to be released yesterday.......................but still nothing and they are being very quiet about it.

Ron

[timm]

Yes I am lucky. I have no bridge. Therefore I don’t have issues w artwork etc. basically my setup is like Ted Smiths. I play files via USB from my computer. They have another team that handles bridge etc. it my be a contracted company. Not sure.

[doggiehowser]

Originally Posted by DVass13

I somehow managed to brick my DSD last night trying to upgrade to Snowmass. I followed the instructions on the website using the SD card that came with my DAC. I inserted the SD card into the back, turned it off, turned it back on again and.... nothing. The DAC did not turn back on. The only sign that it has any life is the blue light that turned on in the PS Audio logo on the front left. I tried turning it off and on again numerous times, tried reloading Redcloud back onto it, and nothing. Still not getting any response from the DAC.

I thought somehow I managed to screw up the very simple directions so I tried updating my DMP to the most recent 3.10 firmware (I was still running 3.09 for some reason). I followed the same steps and it updated with no issue. Two minutes later the DMP was on and working flawlessly. I tried the same process again with the DAC and still no results.

I sent an email off to PS Audio asking for help and hope they can resolve the issue quickly. I realized after all of this that I now have a DAC that is not functional and have no way of listening to music in my home system. It was a very quiet and sad evening.

That kinda sucks - but if you can't wait, here's what might work. Download one of the older firmware. Can't recall which one (Yale or Torrey I think). One of those firmware has an "over-write everything" function.

I had this situation once - when I used an SD card to update my P20 power regenerator and then inserted it back into my DS DAC. The DS DAC booted up, saw the firmware files and thought --- ooh new firmware, let's upd... DEAD

I used the method above to force a reload and that fixed it.

Hope this helps

[doggiehowser]

I started listening to RedCloud first. My go to album is Andrea Bocelli’s Amore MQA on TIDAL. Amapola the first song is a track I’ve listened to numerous times. And it still sounds sublime.

Then I popped in the SD card with Snowmass and upgraded the OS.

And hit my first snag - the Bridge disappeared as an input. Going into Setup, Bridge - Not installed.

Ran the update again - 2 minutes later, still no Bridge. Then on a hunch, because it kept defaulting to I2S - 1 input, which is where my memory transport was, I decided to turn the Memory Transport off, thinking the handshaking between the Transport/DSDAC may have tripped up the Bridge II initialization. Voila. Now Bridge has reappeared.

Then when I clicked Play, Amapola started and there’s this timbre in the horn at the beginning that I’d never noticed before. And the soundstage depth of Bocelli’s voice.

Same with Autumn Leaves (in French), wider soundstage and better resolution of the strings at the start. Instead of a "strings section", I am hearing more of the individual violins that make up the string section.

Then it’s off to DSD. No more clicks that I was encountering before.

And it's free!

[Poppyhome]

Okay here's an update.............

Windows 10 computer hard drive>Music>Roon>BridgeII>DirectStream

I reinstalled Redcloud, listened to a few songs of various resolutions, remote worked for play, pause, stop, forward, reverse, volume.

Then, deleted all files on SD card and installed Snowmass again, listened to the same songs, remote now works for play, pause, stop, forward, reverse, volume.

Album art is there but like Redcloud sometimes slow to appear. I will keep notes of any different oddities compared to Redcloud.

In comparing the same songs to Redcloud and trying to remember the sound, Snowmass is really good and enjoyable. Lady in Satin can sometimes be a little too too harsh but Billie Holiday's voice was just spectacular. Even Bob Dylan sounds good.

Snowmass is a winner for sonics and hopefully the Bridge update will be out this year.

So if anyone is having an issue, try installing Redcloud then reinstall Snowmass.

Ron