PS Audio
DirectStream MK2
Introduced 2022$7,999 MSRP
PS Audio's flagship-level DAC uses twin FPGAs rather than an off-the-shelf conversion chip, converting every galvanically isolated input to a 50-bit high-rate signal and then to pure DSD for analog output. Firmware is field-upgradeable, so the DAC's conversion algorithms improve over time.
MSRP
$7,999
Used market · Excellent
$4,800est.
-40% vs MSRP
as of Aug 15, 2026MSRP to used market
From $7,999 at launch to $4,800 today (estimated).
Specifications
- Power
- Model specific 100/120/230VAC 50/60Hz; 25W consumption
- THD n
- <0.1% THD+N @ 1kHz full scale
- Inputs
- 2x I2S (HDMI), coax S/PDIF, 2x XLR balanced AES/EBU, optical TOSLink, USB Type B (TOSLink limited to 24/96)
- Weight
- 21 lbs (9.53 kg)
- Max DSD
- DSD256
- Max PCM
- 352.8 kHz
- Notable
- Introduced January 2023 at $7999, replacing the DirectStream DAC discontinued in 2022; gloss-black MDF top panel
- Outputs
- RCA single-ended and XLR balanced; max output 4 VRMS balanced / 2 VRMS single-ended; output impedance <100 ohms / <200 ohms; passive audio transformer output stage
- Dimensions
- 14 in x 17 in x 4 in (36 x 43 x 10 cm)
- DSD support
- DSD up to DSD256; standard (2.8MHz) or double (5.6MHz) DoP, plus raw DSD on I2S and USB inputs
- PCM support
- 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 705.6kHz; word lengths 16/18/20/24-bit
- Volume control
- Zero-loss digital volume control, 100% galvanically isolated inputs, outputs and power supplies
- DAC architecture
- Discrete, hand-written FPGA-based conversion (twin FPGAs, Ted Smith design); all inputs converted to 50-bit high sample rate then to quad-rate DSD (DSD256, single-bit at 11.2896MHz) and low-pass filtered to analog
- Frequency response
- 20Hz-20kHz +/- 0.25dB
- Chip or architecture
- Custom FPGA, all inputs upsampled to DSD
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