RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
PS Audio Directstream MK1 w Upgraded Transformers Digital Analog Converter (DAC) Looking to find a PS Audio Directstream MK1 DAC with upgraded Edcor XS4400 transformers. Colour unimportant. QLD picking preferred but open to postage. Condition: Used Payment Method: Region/State: (QLD) Queensland/Australia By Schmerly 4 Comments AUD $2,500 Date: January 2, 20251 yr
A used DirectStream MK1 at A$2,500 looks like a good buy against your local comparables: it sits below the A$2,641 25th percentile and comfortably under the A$2,791 median, so this is priced on the buyer-friendly side rather than merely fair.
What makes it appealing is that this DAC has a strong reputation for big, relaxed, highly resolved playback, with a presentation that still competes well if you value smoothness and scale over etched detail. At this price, the upside is solid if the unit is complete, working properly, and includes the right accessories; I’d mainly want reassurance on condition, firmware/history, and whether any original packaging or remote is included, since those details help a high-end digital piece like this hold its value.
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.
