[o2b]

For a DAC only, I would go used and buy a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC.  It was a $6000 dac that you can find used for $1600.  It has multiple software packages available and they are easy to install.  The DAC has such great detail and micro detail.  It has great air and transparency with excellent spacing between instruments when the music becomes congested.  With the last 2 software packages it is so smooth yet detailed.  There is no fatigue or grain. 

A friend of mine is downsizing and selling his.  My son is auditioning it now and is considering buying it.  He has a Chord Qutest but the DSD DAC is much better.  I love it an if he does not buy it I might.  I own a Luxman DA-06 DAC that cost over $5000 new and I love the dac but the DSD DAC is better.  I had a chance to buy one when they came out but I could not hear one so I went with the Luxman that I was able to audition in my system.

You won't find another DAC at your price point that is this good.  This DAC is so good that it is a DAC that you could keep for a lifetime.  Of course there are better sound DAC's that cost way more.  My current favorite DAC is the Aqua La Scala MKII.  It is the most analog sounding DAC that I have heard.

For a streamer, I would look at a Lumin. 

Good luck in your search.

Thanks, I.GrayhoundFan.  That PS Audio sounds enticing.  I take it you prefer it to the Border Patrol?

I just saw one on ebay.  I could almost nab it now, but I don't want to impulse buy.  It is definitely on my short list.

Thanks again!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I lean to the warm side as well.  The PS Audio DSD dac has a touch of warmth to it.  And there are so many software packages.  The last 2 software updates are great.  It is truly a phenomenal DAC.  If I hadn't just spent almost $4K on a new turntable and phono preamp, I would buy a used DSD dac.

I have never heard the Border patrol DAC but I have read reviews and based on the reviews it is not in the same league as the PS Audio.  If you buy a used one you could easily flip it if you did not like it.  Also, PS audio is an American company and they have great customer service.  I prefer American made gear.

And just the fact that you can change the sound with their software packages very easily makes the DSD very appealing.

[o2b]

I lean to the warm side as well.  The PS Audio DSD dac has a touch of warmth to it.  And there are so many software packages.  The last 2 software updates are great.  It is truly a phenomenal DAC.  If I hadn't just spent almost $4K on a new turntable and phono preamp, I would buy a used DSD dac.

I have never heard the Border patrol DAC but I have read reviews and based on the reviews it is not in the same league as the PS Audio.  If you buy a used one you could easily flip it if you did not like it.  Also, PS audio is an American company and they have great customer service.  I prefer American made gear.

And just the fact that you can change the sound with their software packages very easily makes the DSD very appealing.

Yup, I prefer American as well.

Fantastic!

[Cloud.sessions]

I wouldn’t worry too much about much about the age of a psaudio DAC. The only thing likely to wrong at this point is a few leaky capacitors (which I doubt they would yet) and you could easily ship it up to a tech in the twin cities to recap it.
As you can tell there is a lot of great gear out there right now so as long as you look at reviews and they marry up with the sound your looking for it’s hard to go wrong. 

[Daryl Zero]

PS Audio sells refurbished models as well at that same price point although they are currently out of stock on the Mk1. On USAudioMart, lots of these DACs are sold. I picked up a modified mk1 and I was really impressed with how good it is.

[Chazz5]

The RME DAC is technically excellent and has many digital features: a five-band parametric equalizer, wide-range quality volume control, balance control, and a choice of filters including NOS.

Seems to me most streamers are overpriced and they duplicate functions available at less expense in other equipment. I store the music library on a hard drive of the PC. If you have a router and a home wifi/Ethernet cable network, you can send music files from the computer to the network, to a receiving box like a Denon LinkHS2, which then connects by optical or coax cable to the RME DAC.

The analog signal out of the DAC can go to your preamp or directly to your amp.

Finally, you select the files or Internet streams to play with a controller app. BubbleUPnP is good on Android, but if you use an iPhone, there are similar apps available.

[WGH]

I just saw a PS Audio for ~1600 on ebay.  I see the unit came out in 2015 and I take it little concern about age?

Yes and no. PS Audio DACs have similar names and trying to figure out the differences between the 2012, 2015 and 2023 models can get confusing. The rear labels look identical so you will have to trust the seller.

2012 - PS Audio PerfectWave MkII
2014 - PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream
2023 - PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream MkII. PS Audio discontinued the original DirectStream DAC in 2022, introducing its replacement, the DirectStream MK2, priced at $7999, in January 2023.

There is a big difference between the three models.

The 2012 PerfectWave MkII accepts asynchronous USB capable of 24/192 with a new Digital Lens to reduce jitter. There is no mention of DSD. This is a PCM only DAC.
The PerfectWave has 6 digital filters to choose from, an explanation of the filters is explained in the manual
https://www.aspera-audio.com/pdf/manuals/PerfectWave-MKII.pdf

The 2014 PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream accepts DSD and upsamples all inputs to DSD128.
2014 PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A processor review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-perfectwave-directstream-da-processor

The 2023 PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream MkII DAC USB input accepts: PCM 16 and 24 bits at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, and 705.6; DoP64, DoP128, DoP256, DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256. The DirectStream MkII uses a programmable FPGA chip that upsamples everything to DSD256. The previous DirectStream MkI model upsampled to only DSD128.

The DirectStream MkII is a state-of-the-art DAC. Upsampling both PCM and DSD to DSD256 is the sweet spot for a warm, analog sound. I upsample all my music to DSD256 but use a high powered music server, HQPlayer software into a HoloAudio May KTE DAC which is a non-oversampling DAC. I would expect both methods to sound very similar.


PS Audio did not make a PerfectWave DirectStream MkII DAC in 2015. I looked at PS Audio DACs for sale on eBay, read the descriptions carefully. I didn't see any $7999 DACs selling for $1600.

The Music Room has real DirectStream MkIIs for sale used with a DirectStream MkI for $1549 with guarantee and return policy. I buy from TMR all the time, they are a A+++ reseller.
https://tmraudio.com/search-results-page?q=ps%20audio%20dac

[Doublej]

Thanks, DoubleJ,

I am unsure of the age of my Mac.  No, my speakers cannot be biamped.

I read elsewhere that one definitely wants to include a preamp.

I'll have a look at the Wiim. 

I am very curious.  With the files on a hard drive, what does song selection look like with a Wiim?

I can't answer you question as I only use my WiiM to stream from online sources and as an input for my CD player. There is a very active community forum that I can speak at length to your questions.

https://forum.wiimhome.com/

[Daryl Zero]

There is also the PS Audio Stellar Gold Dac. Recently Jay's Iygi reviewed the PSAudio Stellar Gold Dac  here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRqx3MjZMTE

On PS Audio's forums, most seem to think that the Stellar Gold Dac would be the better buy than the Directstream Mk1 (not 2) even though it is more expensive.

[o2b]

I lean to the warm side as well.  The PS Audio DSD dac has a touch of warmth to it.  And there are so many software packages.  The last 2 software updates are great.  It is truly a phenomenal DAC.  If I hadn't just spent almost $4K on a new turntable and phono preamp, I would buy a used DSD dac.

I have never heard the Border patrol DAC but I have read reviews and based on the reviews it is not in the same league as the PS Audio.  If you buy a used one you could easily flip it if you did not like it.  Also, PS audio is an American company and they have great customer service.  I prefer American made gear.

And just the fact that you can change the sound with their software packages very easily makes the DSD very appealing.

I just grabbed one of them on ebay.  I am psyched!

Now, I patiently look into streamers.

Thanks!

[artur9]

Lots of streamers at all price points available new and used.


What do you all consider streamers?  I only use mine to "stream" from my library to my DACs.  Not Qobuz or any of those things.  Very occasionally, Internet radio....

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I just grabbed one of them on ebay.  I am psyched!

Now, I patiently look into streamers.

Thanks!

Congrats.  You are going to love the DAC.  There is a Transformer upgrade that you can do to the DAC that takes it to another level.  When they developed the DAC they considered using the better transformers but they decided against it due to cost.   They were build to a price point.  You can buy them I think for $80 each or for 2, I can't remember.  If my son buys the DSD DAC, we will do the upgrade.

Where do you live?  I live in the Twin Cities, if you are local, you can come over for a listen any day for the next 2 weeks as I am off work recovering from a knee replacement.  I should have asked this before you bought it.  Plus you would have been able to hear my Luxman DAC and my sons Chord Qutest.

Keep us posted on how you like it.  Make sure it has the latest software package.  It is excellent.

[ketchup]

I lean to the warm side as well.  The PS Audio DSD dac has a touch of warmth to it.  And there are so many software packages.  The last 2 software updates are great.  It is truly a phenomenal DAC.  If I hadn't just spent almost $4K on a new turntable and phono preamp, I would buy a used DSD dac.

I have never heard the Border patrol DAC but I have read reviews and based on the reviews it is not in the same league as the PS Audio.  If you buy a used one you could easily flip it if you did not like it.  Also, PS audio is an American company and they have great customer service.  I prefer American made gear.

And just the fact that you can change the sound with their software packages very easily makes the DSD very appealing.

Border Patrol is also made in USA and has great customer service.  The owner/designer, Gary Dews, answers the phone and is great to talk to.

[js1955]

Border Patrol is also made in USA and has great customer service.  The owner/designer, Gary Dews, answers the phone and is great to talk to.

Also, over the years at shows, BP has garnered many favorable accolades and won best of show awards when their DAC and amps are teamed with Volti Audio and Triode Wire Labs.

[WGH]

I just grabbed one of them on ebay.  I am psyched!

Which DAC did you get? You are going to have fun discovering new insights in old music.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Which DAC did you get? You are going to have fun discovering new insights in old music.

He bought the PSA DSD MKI.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Border Patrol is also made in USA and has great customer service.  The owner/designer, Gary Dews, answers the phone and is great to talk to.

I am sure it is a great sounding DAC.  I read a couple not so glowing reviews and other reviews that were great.  Its all very subjective as is everything in Audio.

[WGH]

There is a Transformer upgrade that you can do to the DAC that takes it to another level.  When they developed the DAC they considered using the better transformers but they decided against it due to cost.   They were build to a price point.

Found the info, Ted Smith and others goes into the details (with photos) but with 5879 posts in the thread it will take a while. Do a "Find in Page..." for "Edcor",  "XS4400". and  "transformers" so not to miss important info like this:

"Also, note that it isn’t easy to replace the transformers if you don’t have rework experience. The vias and pads in the DS boards don’t have thermal reliefs, it’ll take some heat both to solder and to unsolder.
It’s probably best to clip the pins on the current transformers (probably destroying the transformers) so you can remove the pins one by one, then use solder wick, a solder sucker, etc. to clear the holes, and then good technique to solder the new transformers in. You could accidentally lift the pads off of the board and be in trouble (and hurt the sound.) If you don’t understand what I said, don’t try this mod yourself."

And this:

"I doubt anyone will recommend details about the power supply mod until they have at least got it working for themselves and even then they probably won’t since there’s a non-trivial chance that someone may make a mistake following the instructions and destroy their DS. (There may even be a liability issue.) One reason I don’t give the details is because that weeds out the people who are most likely to make a mistake. It isn’t too complicated but still people will use the wrong connector, or hook it up backwards or … For the correct connector you need to buy your own parts and put them together correctly (with no polarity markers on the connector or the DS.)
From a pragmatic point of view people should choose their own supplies since only they can balance cost, benefit and issues like whether the supply can be on the outside, or needs to be fixed inside, etc.
Things haven’t turned out well when I’ve tried to be more specific in the past with projects like this."


Modding the DirectStream DAC MKI

https://forum.psaudio.com/t/modding-the-directstream-dac-mki/2680/161

[I.Greyhound Fan]

WGH, I have an EE friend that will replace the transformers for me.  It is actually the guy that is selling his DSD DAC to my son.  It is a no brainer at about $80 for the transformers.

[Daryl Zero]

The PS Audio forum is pretty informative and also free-wheelin. They don't mind criticism and PS Audio's engineers, employees and boss post there.