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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

Showing 2 responses by firenze

firenze's avatar
firenze
12 posts
 
@jasonbourne52 I'm not sure I'd compare a DAC to a Rolex. Whether you buy a stainless steel for $10k or a solid gold with diamonds for $50k the movement is the same. You're paying for jewelry, not utility.
I'd argue that most $25k DACs and expensive products are more statement pieces and "art" of sorts. PS Audio has never marketed for art or appearance and I can't think how they could possibly justify that price over the DSD DAC they offer today. I could be wrong, but I'll never know because I'd never buy a DAC for that price.
firenze's avatar
firenze
12 posts
 
The proof will be in its delivery. If the price is indeed $25k, it will have an uphill battle to prove itself in a field of great, less expensive options from the likes of the DAVE + M Scaler, dCS Bartok, or Denafrips Terminator to name a few.
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