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PS Audio Directstream Mk1 DAC - As Traded
Condition: Used. Excellent, no obvious marks or scratches
Includes: Remote, manual, power cable, original inner and outer carton
SN: 9A131792
Includes 90 day (3 month) warranty
Overview
Running Sunlight (5.0.0) firmware, DAC only - no Bridge network bridge included.
Featuring a custom FPGA DAC chip from the mind of Ted Smith, and a design honed and refined by Ted, Paul McGowan and Arnie Nudell.
Directstream upsamples all incoming data streams to 10xDSD, and a custom-wound transformer outputs analogue via XLR or single ended RCA.
The digital volume control is bit-perfect, with no loss of resolution at any volume setting.
Aficionado's of I2S will be pleased to see not one - but two, inputs, along with the typical AES/EBU, digital coax, optical and USB-B.
Specification
Unit Weight 13.5 kg
Unit Dimensions 36cm x 43cm x 10cm
Shipping Weight 19 kg
Shipping Dimensions 52cm x 61cm x 25cm
Power requirements
Input Power Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz
Power Consumption 30W
Digtial audio inputs: I2S(2), Coax, XLR Balanced, TOSLINK, USB, Network Bridge slot
Sample Rates: I2S,S/PDIF, and USB — 44.1kHz to 192kHz 16bit, 24bit, DSD 64, DSD 128
TOSLINK – 44.1kHz to 96kHz 16bit, 24bit
Analog Audio Output
Connector RCA/XLR Unbalanced /Balanced (X2)
Output level, low 1.41 Vrms(+5BV)/3.15
Output level high, maximum 2.81 Vrms (+8dBV)/5.3 Vrms (+12dBV)
Output Impedance 100Ω/200Ω
Frequency Response 20-20KHz +/- 0.25dB
THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale) 146 dB
Digital Volume Control Zero loss of precision
Analog Conversion method Delta Sigma (DSD) Single-bit double rate
I2S Digital Input
Connector HDMI
Format PCM or DSD.
DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputs
USB Digital Input
Connector USB “B” Type
Format PCM or DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM)
Transfer mode Asynchronous
AUDIO CONNECTION QUALITY GUARANTEE
✔️Comprehensive three month warranty on Trade In's*
✔️Passed our checks for functionality
✔️A full inspection noting for any defects
✔️A full completeness check for all included parts and accessories
PS Audio’s DirectStream MK1 sits in that well-regarded “serious digital front end” tier, and this asking price lands a touch above the local norm rather than wildly off it. With a median of A$2,793 and a 75th percentile of A$2,834 from recent AUD comps, A$2,900 is slightly ambitious, but still close enough to be worth considering if the unit is clean and complete.
What makes it attractive is the MK1’s reputation for a big, relaxed, highly resolved presentation that many listeners still prefer over newer, shinier DACs at this money. At this level, the real upside is getting a proven flagship-grade piece without the full new-gear hit; just make sure condition is genuinely good and that any included power cable and accessories are present, because there is no huge pricing cushion here for missing bits.
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.
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