Dirk,
This thing sure is nasty looking! Funny how some are willing to pay big bucks because of a fancy box and what is inside it is not really up to snuff! I have seen pictures of the layout of the BHK amps and I have to agree the layout is beautiful! I am much happier to pay less and get more than the opposite! I can’t understand the need to spend more than absolutely necessary. Some just want to impress with the price tag! The pretty chassis isn’t going to improve the sound the way a clean layout will!
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Yeah, it looks like the rats have been inside that thing and done what they do.
I briefly had a tube amp that was made in China. I sold it because I could never get happy with the sound, but it’s internal construction was impeccable. It was truly worthy of a glass top. Too bad it didn’t sound as good as it looked.
I assume at one point you loved the Constellation which prompted you to purchase it. I have never heard Constellation so I never considered owning it. Now I do know plenty of people seem to like it. For them one would guess they feel the cost is justified.
I’m sure there is more to the price than just the parts, etc. Hey maybe Bascom King charged Constellation so much for his services they had no choice but to charge a ton of money to the consumer. 
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Well what do you refer to a signature line BHK Pre replacement or next level up pre amplifier?
Reading some of the threads complaining about the BHK, and Displays of DS MP or DAC, these are quality issues that should be addressed and perhaps to solve those these units need some redesign. Hope that will not require extra US$ 4K or 6K price increase.
But taking these units to an extra noticeable audible level? That’s what I assumed you were suggesting.
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Exactly! I feel the same way. As an example: once an audiophile friend (who’s system is much more expensive than mine, btw) gave me a pair of “speaker cables” as a birthday present, saying “Just try them out, if you don’t like the sound, just throw them away”. He made them from flat ribbon cables as used in computers. I use them in all my systems now and have no intentions of upgrading them. I demoed a couple of much more expensive audiophile cables and they all put a veil in front of the speakers. Maybe I had to try some really uberexpensive ones and would indeed get an improvement but why bother? I feel much more relaxed with this cheap solution and this relaxed state adds to my listening enjoyment. The most expensive part of my main system is the opposite: my DMP is still giving me headaches…
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Hi @Brodric regarding machined aluminum billets. They look like a million dollars, company’s charge a million dollars, but do not cost a million dollars. They certainly cost more then enclosures put together from sheath, extruded or molded materials. But certainly cost not the premium those machining companies are charging to the audio industry or the audio industry is charging their customers.
I like the machined thick plate Al enclosures, like Accuphase, Luxman, T+A, but my favorite is the ingenious yet simple Stellar enclosure with a reliable little OLED Display and firm feedback solid push/turn dial for basic set-up and easy volume control. It’s actually all you need.
Anything else should be wireless to the iOS or Android device. No need for cost increasing touch screens nobody uses as you need to move out of your chair and audible sweet spot, or get damaged during transport.
Brodric, where does this „Obsidian series“ topic come from? Missed that, was it mentioned by PSA to name TSS and followers?
Obsidian is the name given to the new ultra premium cost no object best in the world PS Audio product range, starting with the Obsidian TSS DAC.
STELLAR = entry level
PERFECT WAVE = value performance level
OBSIDIAN = hi-end competitive
It was announced by Paul recently.
Ah ok thanks, if that name was given by PSA and they also mentioned, that they will make a whole product range, I really missed that.
“Obsidian TSS DAC” was screen printed on the front panel of the prototype Ted Smith super DAC on display at AXPONA.
The word obsidian relates to the dark glass front, obsidian is a dark glass like volcanic stone / christaline structure. Considering the cost “obsessian” would perhaps be more appropriate.
The glass front does look good too I like it.
I have to agree about the DMP it behaves much better than it used to but it still has some quirks that surface occasionally. As per our discussion there is no reasonably cost alternative that will give us the sonic performance we enjoy from it. Yes there are way more expensive options but even they don’t sound as good playing SACD and CD! Some people have no patience and no sense for the value of money!
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Where did you get these numbers? Seems way over the top!!!
The great man has talked about it a few times. They got quotes to put TSS in a CNC milled aluminium chassis. They couldn’t justify the price.
I don’t know…I have seen some beautifully cased components selling for a lot less than the price of the Obsidian dac. “If there is a will…there’s a way”.
Sounds like someone’s estimated/projected pricing scheme for casements is no more than a way to make a huge profit off an unsuspecting company.
How? Can’t afford Esoteric…
Major bug for me (I repeat myself…): no DSD downsampling, don’t have a PS Audio DAC 
Seriously, they haven’t fixed that one yet? Not good.
Bug? The DMP is a transport; it does not convert formats, up or down sample, etc.