New high end PS DAC in the works

I think the black one will look great.

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You have this already? Or that is SolidWorks or something? I honestly did not think this was going to come to fruition. At least not as it has been discussed. For one thing I can tell everyone from experience, but IMO they are going to need to go a lot higher than 20 Grand. To beat the pants off the DS. that includes marketing,sales and everything but when you start looking into components that are $40 each all over the place different story.

Remember, this was not can they build something better than the Ds. no doubt they can. it was specifically about building something cost no object. Keep that last statement in mind because I did not make it. I think for instance $350,000 range might yield something very interesting. sure, they can build it better than the DS but this has nothing to do with the Ds. It was already discussed that it would be an entirely different product line.

I am talking here, PS Audio is the company to build something that pushes the limits of what is possible. Well, the screen is a nice start. I have a feeling all said and done this will be a modicum of what is available to a certain extent. Just as was the DS. however this obviously besting it.

Cost no object? One has to watch what terms they throw around before they are bankrupt. I do not need to tell MR. McGowan this. It has been readily apparent over the years that he has a pretty good business savvy. Why they are here today in fact.

I bet he will not go do something stupid to say “we can”. Get you in real trouble real fast and he is simply too smart for that. I do see a better DAC happening but not cost no object. Just sorry to spoil this party. It is fun to speculate in the stratosphere until something known as reality kicks in. I bought the P20 and am very happy with it but I think that is already pushing their price point.

A very interesting and thoughtful point, jazznut.

Looking forward to a black version as well.

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Nobody is doing $350K DAC’s, none that I’m aware of anyway. The most expensive ones I know of are about 1/3rd that number. $20K I think was a number first mentioned by Ted. And Paul has also talked about their product pricing model simply being a multiple of the cost of the parts. Ted knows the cost of the parts = knows the MSRP of the product. If that makes it $20K so be it. If it makes it $30K so be it. If it’s the best product of his mind the price is what it is.

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I like it. It looks clean and elegant. I’d like to see you move away from the current textured surface finish.

Yes, the silver surface finish is nice, the black looks worse, the bigger the surface imo due to the grainy and then also less matt but more shiny finished looking surface. Paul explained occasionally that it’s because the surfaces are lacquered instead of anodized, which should give better consistency.

And if it’s changed, nothing fits together anymore…not easy.

To the best of my recollection that phrase wasn’t used by PS Audio, it was a question to which this DAC was a possible partial answer https://forum.psaudio.com/t/cost-no-object-edition-of-ds-dac/6066

A few posts up Paul said “DirectStream is Ted’s best work within a budget. Just wait until you see/hear what he can manage when the financial shackles are removed and he gets to strut his stuff.” I took that to mean with a higher budget than the DirectStream. It’s easy to add cost to a device, adding function while keeping cost in control is engineering and that’s what the challenge is.

And I addressed this a time or two in that thread, e.g. the last few paragraphs in https://forum.psaudio.com/t/cost-no-object-edition-of-ds-dac/6066/3 and the last paragraph of https://forum.psaudio.com/t/cost-no-object-edition-of-ds-dac/6066/28

Maybe it was just a dream I had, Ted, but is Redcloud.2 coming soon?

Just on the chassis. If they could do it in a way that customer optional finishes are possible…like paint or powder coat color etc. would be great. Rather than buff standard silver or black. Whilst there is no doubt about the sonic pedigree of this thing, the elegance of the chassis is one of those ethereal things that make a sale against a less elegant competitor.

While I don’t disagree, the case design is up to PS Audio, tho they always listen when I mention sound quality. I’m hoping that some other technical features (along with the new display features) will also make a unique impression.

It depends on who you ask :slight_smile: As was mentioned elsewhere the fix was in quite a while ago for “Redcoud 2”, but at this point I think PS Audio would like another noticeable difference in sound which will be another peak. And, no, I don’t know when it will be released, but it should be available before, say, some new hardware.

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Threaded studs in the chassis for after market feet would also be a nice-to-have. And metric threads for those resident in modern markets :grin:

Yes, exactly what I was saying MR. Smith. More expensive and “cost no object” imply two different things. I was addressing some people, whom are not PS Audio using the term Cost no object. I have no doubt you can build something amazing for a fair price sans the diamonds(joking).

No, they just barely top six figures but those companies throw in a lot of overhead. I have the MSB Select but I bet MR. Smith could build one for 30-40 grand. Just guessing. There is good use of budget and sloppy use. Even with perhaps sloppy use I am not sure anyone is topping the MSB right now. I am sure someone can do it for less but that is maybe the best right now if you want it.

Our MSB distributor told me a number of Esoteric owners have traded in their Grandioso for MSB Select. Yes, I think an optioned-up MSB Select is top dog DAC at the moment. But, I’ll wait until the new Grandioso D1X becomes available before making my next purchasing decision (the current Grandioso DAC is at the end of its 5 year life cycle, so something new is expected soon). I would of course hold out if PS Audio came out with an announcement on a Ted Smith Signature DAC.

Curious to know what your vinyl rug is. Would appreciate to hear about it.

Paul…… I, too, like the look of the box. My equipment is dressed in black and that new enclosure would suit me just fine. I don’t crave a sculptured work of art for aesthetic appeal. Bottom line, when can I buy the TSS. Is it going to happen in the near future or is it just a pipe dream. ?

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Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC (would get a Star now), VPI Scout, PS NPC

Oh, it’s going to happen. Ted’s nearing completion on the boards as our team gets closer to the chassis finalization and the display technology. I am very optimistic we can hit a January ship date. Limited production, though. Once we get close we’ll start a waiting list.

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