Expensive old DAC or cheap new DAC?

[Gidorra]

Hi guys,
I am looking at a current Audiolab D9 for ca 1000 bucks - but for ca 1200, I could have a pre-owned ps audio Perfect Wave DAC Mk I, which used to be ca 4500 like 10-15 years ago... is the new part beating the pants off the ps audio? I don't care about the warranty.

 

[Al ears]

Hi guys,
I am looking at a current Audiolab D9 for ca 1000 bucks - but for ca 1200, I could have a pre-owned ps audio Perfect Wave DAC Mk I, which used to be ca 4500 like 10-15 years ago... is the new part beating the pants off the ps audio? I don't care about the warranty.

Do you need the headphone amplifier built into the Audiolab?

 

[Gidorra]

Cheers... no, never used head phones with the stereo, I have a head phone amp that I never used 🙂 I also do not stream services, because they do not have my crappy goth music, so mostly streaming my CD rips from NAS when I am too lazy to pop CDs in, or playing Youtube clips via phone. I would get a Wiim Pro just for the streaming capability, but pass the signal on to the DAC via digital Coax.

 

[Vincent Kars]

Perfect Wave DAC

Have a look here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...f-ps-audio-perfectwave-directstream-dac.9100/

 

[Al ears]

Have a look here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...f-ps-audio-perfectwave-directstream-dac.9100/

That's a completely different DAC to the Mk.1
The Directstream version was a far more expensive bit of kit, it basically replaced the Mk.1.
See here:-

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ps-audio-perfectwave-directstream-dac/

However, in the OPs case, this is where I would spend his money..... 🙂
The Audiolab might be modern and offer everything he needs but if he doesn't require a headphone amplifier why pay for one?
However, in my opinion, they are both overkill for what the OP intends using them for......