# PWT, Is it worth buying it second-hand today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Transports\ **Created:** [October 30, 2022, 7:28am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901 "2022-10-30T07:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![giubeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@giubeca](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/giubeca)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 7:28am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/1 "2022-10-30T07:28:52Z")
Hello forum, I am looking for help in solving a dilemma. I think this machine is now at least 10 years old, but from what I read it was very good and still has relatively high quotations. So I ask the experts, is it worth venturing to buy one (obviously in a good shape) or is it a big risk? (limited lifespan, spare parts such as the driver no longer provable etc,). I have no experience of the PS Audio world: I leave the hard judgment to the experts. a warm greeting ---
**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/2 "2022-10-30T13:11:09Z")
Welcome, @giubeca ! I have a PWT. It continues to work wonderfully well. While I have not needed to do so, the drive mechanism is straight forward to replace if it fails. ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/3 "2022-10-30T14:14:50Z")
I too have a PWT that works perfectly and sounds great. If you can get one at a good price grab it. I also have a PST and use both regularly! ---
**Author:** ![giubeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@giubeca](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/giubeca)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/4 "2022-10-30T16:33:19Z")
Hi Elk, thanks for your answer; where could I find the right drive mechanism? If I decide to buy the PWT I think I would have one mechanism spare for the future. ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/5 "2022-10-31T00:03:47Z")
It is difficult to know which dvd rom drive you need until to get the PWT and look inside to see whether you need an IDE drive or an SATA drive. The reason being the earlier PWTs used IDE connections. The ones a little later supports either IDE or SATA. The latest ones only support SATA. You do not want to by a drive that you cannot use in the PWT that you end up with. ---
**Author:** ![radioclash](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/radioclash/32/1594_2.png) [@radioclash](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/radioclash)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 12:46am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/6 "2022-10-31T00:46:59Z")
I’ve had mine since the first year they were out, not even sure when that was. Seems like at least ten years. Still working flawlessly. I had to swap out the drive on or about year five, but very simple process. Combined with a good i2s cable and it doesn’t get any better. Every streaming device I have tried over the years always comes up well short. One of those few things they will have to pry out of my cold dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![giubeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@giubeca](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/giubeca)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/7 "2022-10-31T18:38:20Z")
Is there somewhere an indication of serial numbers telling which ones has the IDE and which ones the SATA drive? ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/8 "2022-10-31T21:00:55Z")
I do not know if PS Audio keeps track of that. The only way I know of is to look under the hood! ---
**Author:** ![coullion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@coullion](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/coullion)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 1:40am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/9 "2022-11-01T01:40:33Z")
I bought a used one about 4 years ago. It’s still going strong. ---
**Author:** ![rajugsw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/rajugsw/32/16086_2.png) [@rajugsw](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/rajugsw)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 7:26am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/10 "2022-11-01T07:26:12Z")
I just bought a PWT/DSSr pair used and it’s been rock solid. ---
**Author:** ![coullion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@coullion](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/coullion)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/11 "2022-11-25T21:38:35Z")
Welp, looks like I should’ve kept my mouth shut because I may have jinxed myself. My PWT went dark today. I turned the main power off on the back panel and now it won’t power up anymore. Hopefully, it’s just a fuse. ---
**Author:** ![mkpirulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mkpirulo](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mkpirulo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/12 "2022-11-25T23:45:33Z")
Hi, just to answer the question is the PWT worth buying well that depends on your budget. The PWT is an excellent sounding transport for the second hand market. If you don’t have a lot to spend but want something that sounds better than anything else for the money then jump on it. Drives which are the typical issue(although I’ve never had an issue) can be purchased on eBay for $25 or less. PS audio will help were they can, they will never tell you “sorry can’t help”. ---
**Author:** ![giubeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@giubeca](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/giubeca)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 9:01am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/13 "2022-11-26T09:01:36Z")
I thank you all. I finally decided to buy one. I’ll be soon part of the family. ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/14 "2022-11-26T15:31:05Z")
You will not regret it. It is a great transport. ---
**Author:** ![coullion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@coullion](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/coullion)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/15 "2022-11-27T19:51:49Z")
Mine is back in action! I managed to blow a fuse somehow. Enjoy the purchase. ---
**Author:** ![mkpirulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mkpirulo](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mkpirulo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/16 "2022-12-08T13:22:09Z")
Let us know how it goes with your purchase and setup, Im sure we will help you in any way we can here. ---
**Author:** ![giubeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@giubeca](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/giubeca)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/17 "2022-12-08T18:19:58Z")
I can collect it only end of the next week, then I’ll start my tests. ---
**Author:** ![giubeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@giubeca](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/giubeca)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/18 "2022-12-18T19:14:03Z")
After just over a day of testing I am disappointed. The sound is there, but what a noisiness; the disc can be heard continuously turning, when starting the drawer opens only after 2 or 3 attempts making straining noises with knocks that seem due to blocks and every time a CD is inserted the rotation noise on starting is much higher than that of my pc. In short, an operation that is certainly not in line with the price class of this machine. after just over a day of testing I am disappointed. Everything with the last firmware installed (1.24). ---
**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/19 "2022-12-18T19:15:46Z")
It may be worth changing out the drive for a new one. ---
**Author:** ![sixpack1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/sixpack1/32/6013_2.png) [@sixpack1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/sixpack1)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901/20 "2022-12-18T19:23:31Z")
Sounds like that one is ready for a new drive. It is an easy job to do and well worth the effort. You can easily remove the metal drawer plate from the drive in your transport and put it on the new drive. If you don’t want to do it yourself you can check to see what PS Audio will charge for the change. [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/pwt-is-it-worth-buying-it-second-hand-today/30901.md?page=2)