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Timing matters here because this is an older DirectStream, and the newer MK2 has been on the market for a while, so the original model needs to be priced to move. At £1,195, this is a strong deal versus your own market anchor: well below the £1,109 lower quartile it is not, but it is dramatically under the £3,942 median and miles below the £4,158 upper quartile, so it reads as bargain territory rather than merely fair.
That makes it an appealing buy if the unit is healthy, because the DirectStream earned its reputation on a smooth, natural presentation and easy listening quality that many DACs at this level still chase. The upside is strongest if it’s a clean, well-kept example with the right firmware history, remote, box, and original accessories; for a DAC this age, just confirm full functionality and that there are no output/input issues before jumping.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
PS Audio, a pioneering American hi-fi brand, traces its roots to 1973 when co-founder Paul McGowan launched the company in California alongside Stan Warren. Emerging from the analog golden age, it debuted with a standalone phono preamplifier, reflecting McGowan's early passion for vinyl playback honed through radio station connections and encounters with audio enthusiasts. The brand quickly evolved, embracing digital audio in the 1980s by releasing one of the first high-end CD players, the PS Audio CD-1, soon after Philips and Sony introduced the format.
Today, PS Audio specializes in premium electronics, including power amplifiers, preamplifiers, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and integrated amplifiers, with a hallmark focus on power conditioning via innovative AC regenerators known as Power Plants. These devices, born from Stan Warren's mid-1980s discovery that oversized transformers enhance audio performance, remain a cornerstone. The lineup also encompasses digital lenses for refining streaming and disc playback, alongside select analog components, though it eschews speakers, headphones, turntables, or cables.
Positioned firmly in the high-end market, PS Audio commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its bold engineering and unwavering pursuit of musical purity. Celebrating 50 years in 2023, it occupies a niche as an innovator rather than a mass-market player, appealing to buyers who prioritize transformative power delivery and digital refinement in sophisticated systems.
See all PS Audio listings on RADAR.
