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Our Thoughts RADAR AI

Compared with buying a newer DAC around this money, the PS Audio PerfectWave is a strong deal at A$2,091. Your comparable listings put the median at A$2,220, with the lower quartile at A$1,718, so this sits just below typical market and comfortably below the A$2,562 upper quartile. It is not a giveaway, but it is plainly well bought if the unit is complete and working.

The appeal is its unusually serious digital architecture: excellent jitter management, extensive inputs including AES/EBU, I²S, USB and coaxial, plus both balanced XLR and RCA outputs. It remains a capable, substantial-sounding converter rather than a disposable legacy box, and the built-in volume control can simplify a system. Because condition is unspecified, confirm the exact version, display and remote operation, included bridge card if advertised, and the correct mains voltage—but at A$2,091, a clean, fully functional example deserves prompt attention.

Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.

About PS Audio

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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