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  3. 168348-152017

PS audio new 25K dac and the psychological effect of owning a company's best.

I was purchasing some hi-res files from NativeDSD today and found mention of PS Audio’s Obsidian Ted Smith Signature Dac ($25K) in their compatibility excel table scheduled to be released in 2021. I am the owner of their Direct stream DAC and DSD memory player and I immediately thought that I would never spend 25K on a DAC. I also thought that now I can have their best so why to stay with the brand. This might be my personal bias but I was wondering if this has an effect on anyone else. Is owning the top-of-line of any brand important to you and would you leave a brand if you were priced out of the market?
rufusluna
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
25K
any audio piece over 2K is inflated pricing. 
  Parts, time to machine the cases, etc, is all relavent, but to add 10K to any piece is just robbery. 
rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
278 posts
 
I purchased a PS Audio Powerplant P10 when it was their top of the line regenerator.  I remember it being around $ 5K.   It sucked the life out of my amplifiers, there are also several settings that dramatically change the sonic signature- I can't really find one that sounds neutral, and now it has been supplanted by several models that cost a lot more.  Obviously I'm not a fan of their regenerators.

I also purchased a PS Audio Noise Harvester for $ 100.  Amazing gadget.  I now have 10-12 in and around my system.  The more I add the better the effect.  I would buy more if I had more outlets.  And yes I have 5 in the P10 and they do help with background noise in the P10 which I use for my digital gear.

The moral is you don't always have to spend top dollar to get a companies best product.

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
jasonbourne52
Another example of a company preying upon the insecure and gullible! There is no way that the parts count of this expensive DAC can justify such a high price!
Ohhh! now wait a minute JB, it may have that $2500 ac fuse in it!! Now wonder if it’s in the right way around.
Remember P.S.A. also bought into MQA when there were $$$$ to be made in it, then backed out as fast as a rat up a drainpipe when it was discovered to be a hoax.

Cheers George
yuviarora's avatar
yuviarora
537 posts
 
I have a 25 Grand Speaker setup, Fuses were the most bang for the buck upgrade I was able to get. Being the tinkerer I am, I figured out how to make my own fuses for 3 dollars a pop that compete with ones being sold for $250 each.
All you need, is some epoxy glue, Silicon Dioxide and some mineral oil. Mix the oil and silica into a fine paste, fill the fuse cylinders, use epoxy glue to put end caps back on, let dry... and you have the cheapest most substantial upgrade to your audio system.
Best fuses to use are ChiFi aucharm fuses, they go for 2 dollars a piece....about. 
End caps can be pulled off  with the proper tools. 

aberyclark
1,370 posts
 
PSA is trying to break into the next higher tier of audio. The new speakers will start at $25k as well (there's a teaser in the current Stereophile). Paul has already stated new monoblocks (BHK 600 series) are coming soon. I’m sure a new high pre will be close. I’m sure PSA will keep their more affordable and mid line series. Personally, it’s one thing to buy speakers or amp/pre for $25,000+ (could last a lifetime). A Dac which will could be "outdated" in 10 years time (or less) does not make much sense. No matter how updatable it is. It’s all relative. If you buy $200,000 cars, you are not going to put "costco special buy" tires on one.
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