PSAudio Directstream DAC M-1 (refurb) vs Denafrips Venus II. Quick decision needed!

TMR is a great dealer to do business with. Regrettably, I missed both a Denafrips Ares 15 and a Holo Audio Cyan 2 within days of each other. Opinion please - which would you choose for around $1200 ?

@yesiam_a_pirate 

I had a DirectStream Mk 1. It sounded good to me but I didn't like it's streamer card

Ill give a hearty Amen on that. I'm not sure I ever got it working...at least not correctly.

DaC is fine for now. It plays well with my system & sounds rather good. I'm sure there is better but the player is my weak spot IMO

I own a PSAudio MK-1 And an Airlens, I’m super pleased with the sound. I did purchase a $200.00 iPad from Best Buy to act as a full time remote to control Tidal connect, for me this was a no option upgrade as switching between different source Phones/computers was clumsy and aggravating. 4 people in my home operate the system and again switching was a pain.  

Anyone considering a foreign made DAC ought to pull the trigger prior to the end of the year as it appears that tariffs are coming. 

I never had any problems with my bridge II card. If we had a storm and had a power outage, I had to reboot the dac and everything was fine. Ethernet was better than all the other dacs I auditioned and what my friends auditioned. I then moved to the airlens which I use i2s and the sq went up again. Traded the bridge ii card towards the airlens. Got a nice $800 i2s cable and I’m set. Other reviewers have stated the airlens makes the ds mk1 sound better which I agree with.