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This is museum quality example of the first freestanding consumer DAC ever made. It is a Burr Brown chipset. This unit works and sounds great! These are exceptionally rare!
At USD350, this asking price for a used PS Audio Digital Link from the 80s era looks like a solid bargain if it's a clean example—the original Digital Link or early iterations typically trade in the USD200-400 range on the secondhand market, depending on condition and mods. These were groundbreaking external DACs back then, punching above their weight with Burr-Brown chips, but they're not the later DLIII (which originally retailed around USD1000 and now fetches USD400-700 used). Fair deal if functional, though values dip if it's unmodded or showing age.
Before biting, verify the power supply works flawlessly—early models used external bricks prone to failure—and test all inputs (coaxial, optical) plus outputs for noise or channel imbalance. Check for the original manual or xStream cable if included, as replacements aren't cheap, and probe the seller on service history to dodge cap-dried relics.
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.
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