Many have asked about PS5 support this week. The JDS Labs Element II and Atom DAC are USB Audio Class 2 DACs (UAC2), and can be used with PS4 or PS5 by installing optional UAC1 firmware.
You are welcome to describe your firmware request in the Shipping Notes field during checkout and we will load onto your DAC before shipment.
Setup is easy. On your console, navigate to:
Settings → Devices → Audio Devices → Output Device → JDS Labs Atom DAC UAC1
PS4 and PS5 are known to limit USB Audio output volume. All of our UAC1 firmware is locked to max volume as a workaround (you can still adjust volume at your console).
Thank you John and Jude for providing this firmware so promptly after the PS5 launch. I have used my Atom DAC with the PS5 for 2 days now and it works flawlessly. It is good to have a proper DAC feeding a clean and full output to my headphone and speaker amplifiers.
Are you running the Atom amp as well in a stack sequence with the DAC? I’m super new to this and I’m not sure if I should buy the amp too.
Yes, that’s correct.
Yes, thank you so much for this! I just ordered an Element II and I’m excited to try it out on my PS5.
Same after using the g6 blaster, i wasn’t satisfied with the connectivity and features of that dac amp,
Just ordered EL Amp 2 and El Dac 2 for my pc, ps5 and ps3.
Im hoping the audio quality isn’t too bad after updating to UAC 1
Is there a way to upgrade the firmware from UAC 1 to 2?
Hello, will requesting the UAC1 effect my ability to use on a PC?
No, you may still use a PC. Volume will be locked to 100%, so you will need an amplifier to adjust volume.
Maximum sampling rate under UAC1 is 24/96kHz.
Hi John, apologies if this is a daft question but I am new to this technology. I am looking for a sound solution for my PS5 and in a reply above you mention “Volume will be locked to 100%, so you will need an amplifier to adjust volume.”
So as the Element II has a built in amp with the dac the volume control still works on the Element II unit, when used with the PS5 or pc? Or is that a no, it does not work.
Correct, the analog volume knob on the Element II still works even if the USB host is unable to adjust digital volume.
Hi there
Is there a way to get this same update for the El dac 1?
@Adeeb – There is no such firmware dupate for the original EL DAC 1.
Instead, we placed a jumper on the EL DAC v1.00 circuit board. You can remove the rubber feet and four screws to access the bottom of the circuit board. Solder a jumper at JP3 and your DAC will be set to UAC1.
IS JDS LABS looking/trying to work with the Xbox Series X? I would love to use your products with Xbox also.
Thanks, Dan. A few customers have asked about XBox Series X, which is limited to licensed partners only. We’ll have to look into this to understand more.
Yes please do. I would definitely buy more of your audio products to use for my console gaming needs if you were to be licensed/functional on the Xbox platform.
Is it possible to get the uac1 firmware afterwards?
I have the dac in Europe and havn‘t known that it is possible to request such things.
World be nice to get some Feedback.
@Benjamin – Yes, please see the link at the top of the article to install UAC1 firmware on your DAC:
https://blog.jdslabs.com/2020/08/custom-firmware-builds-for-element-ii-el-dac-ii-and-atom-dac
Hi john, So your just using usb out of the PS5 into the dac ? ( UAC1 )
Interesting I didn’t realize PlayStation sent audio through USB.
I know they did with optical & HDMI
Which is only on there past console ( optical )
So, can we install a UAC2.0 firmware after we install a UAC1.0 firmware on the device? I see words like “one-way street” in the firmware page
Unfortunately not. The device updater is disabled for compatibility with UAC1 mode.