PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player
Best high-end transport for audiophiles dedicated to physical media collections.
The PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player is a high-resolution digital transport designed for audiophiles who value physical media. It offers comprehensive playback capabilities, handling standard CDs, DVD Audio discs, and SACDs, including multichannel formats. When paired with the companion DirectStream DAC, this unit excels at extracting the DSD layer from SACDs, processing all audio entirely within the DSD domain via the I2S bus connection, avoiding PCM conversion. This combination delivers outstanding performance, proving itself capable when tested against other high-end digital components in a serious audio system.
$5999.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
33
/ 239
#33 in CD Players & Recorders
Price vs Category Average
+30%
Above average
Who it's for
- Audiophiles seeking the purest possible digital signal transmission
- Collectors wanting to experience the full resolution of SACD discs
- PS Audio owners looking to maximize their system's sonic potential
Who should skip it
- Minimalists wanting an all-in-one streaming and playback solution
- Budget-conscious listeners prioritizing value over high-end performance
- Users who prefer a flexible, brand-agnostic audio setup
Performance breakdown
DSD Extraction Fidelity
Pure DSD extraction preserves the original SACD data without compromise.
Format Versatility
Handles CDs, DVD Audio, and SACDs with impressive, wide-ranging disc support.
I2S Signal Integrity
The I2S bus connection ensures a pristine, jitter-free path to your DAC.
PCM Conversion Avoidance
Maintains signal purity by keeping audio entirely within the DSD domain.
Build Construction
Robust chassis design reflects the high-end nature of this digital transport.
Multichannel Playback
Seamlessly manages complex multichannel formats for a truly immersive listening experience.
Key Specs
Plays CDs, DVD Audio discs, and SACDs
Supports multichannel audio playback
Utilizes I2S bus for transport to DAC communication
Designed to extract and process DSD layer from SACDs
Features
- High-resolution transport capability
- Comprehensive physical media support
- Exclusive DSD domain processing when paired with compatible DAC
- Maintains audio integrity by avoiding PCM conversion for SACDs
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly praise the DMP for its exceptional build quality and sophisticated design, noting it feels substantial and looks elegant in any high fidelity setup. The primary theme is the flawless reliability of the transport mechanism, which users describe as extracting every nuance from physical media. While the price point is high, owners feel the performance justifies the investment, viewing it as a critical, long term component that elevates their entire digital audio chain. This player is consistently lauded for its role in achieving reference level sound reproduction.
Know before you buy
No, this unit is strictly a digital transport. It reads physical media and sends the digital signal to an external DAC, meaning you will need a separate converter to output an analog signal to your amplifier.
Yes, you can use other digital outputs to connect to standard DACs. However, the unique DSD-to-DSD processing capability is specifically optimized for the I2S connection when paired with a compatible PS Audio DirectStream DAC.
The player is designed to extract the high-resolution DSD layer directly from SACDs. By utilizing the I2S bus, it keeps the signal in the DSD domain throughout the entire process, effectively bypassing any PCM conversion that would otherwise degrade the audio integrity.
Yes, the DirectStream Memory Player supports multichannel audio playback. It is fully capable of reading and transporting the high-resolution data found on multichannel SACDs and DVD Audio discs.
It is fully compatible with standard CDs. While it excels at high-resolution playback, it functions as a high-quality transport for your entire library of physical discs, including standard CDs, DVD Audio, and SACDs.
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$5999