RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Latest and fully loaded Bartok.
At £12,500, this dCS Bartók APEX sits just below the 75th percentile (£12,582) and is very close to the median (£12,185) of recent UK used listings, making it a fair price for an excellent-condition unit rather than a bargain, but certainly not ambitious. With the new retail price at £19,000 for the DAC-only APEX, you’re saving roughly £6,500 off current new stock while getting the latest hardware revision that reduces 3rd-order harmonic distortion by 12dB over earlier Bartók 2.0 units.
This is a worthwhile buy because the Bartók APEX is now the de facto standard in the line, offering top-tier streaming, PCM up to 384kHz, DSD256, and MQA support, all in a compact, beautifully engineered chassis. The “excellent” condition and £12,500 ask suggest a well-maintained, original-owner piece with no red flags, and at this price it represents a solid entry into high-end dCS sound without the new-unit markup or upgrade hassle.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
dCS: British Digital Audio Pioneer
dCS (Data Conversion Systems) was established in Cambridge, England in 1987, emerging from a background in advanced signal processing and radar systems for aerospace applications including RAF Harrier and Typhoon aircraft. This foundation in hard science and digital engineering has defined the company's trajectory from electronics consultancy to specialist audio manufacturer. The company transitioned to consumer audio in 1989 with the 900 ADC, an analogue-to-digital converter for professional studios, and by 1996 launched the Elgar, claimed to be the first 24-bit high-resolution DAC for the domestic hi-fi market.
dCS specializes exclusively in digital audio conversion technology, with their product range centered on DACs (digital-to-analogue converters) and associated digital processing components. Every product incorporates the company's proprietary Ring DAC technology, a hallmark of their engineering approach. Rather than diversifying into amplifiers, speakers, or other categories, dCS has maintained singular focus on mastering the conversion and playback of digital audio signals with maximum fidelity.
The brand occupies the ultra-premium, high-end segment of the audio market, positioning itself among the world's most respected specialist manufacturers. All products are hand-assembled in-house at their Cambridge facility by a dedicated team of designers and technicians. dCS commands significant respect among professional recording engineers and discerning audiophiles seeking uncompromising digital audio performance, representing a rare example of a British hi-fi company that has sustained innovation and manufacturing excellence over nearly four decades.
See all dCS listings on RADAR.
