Tony M Posted January 11, 2016 Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) Yes, it highlights the difficulty of trying to describe sound with words. "Transparent" has always been hard for me to envisage as it sounds the opposite of opaque, solid or full bodied. Maybe there's a need for a comprehensive glossary of audio terminology, with agreed meanings. But that's probably Mission Impossible in itself. Edited January 11, 2016 by Tony M 4
betty boop Posted January 11, 2016 Posted January 11, 2016 @@Tony M its been done ...or should I say attempted sounds like .... audio glossary ...thanks to stereophile http://www.stereophile.com/content/sounds-audio-glossary-glossary#r9OM2vgoXQ7Cy5Jm.97 m sure some will disagree with some there...but someone has had a go to define audio lingo and terms 2
Tony M Posted January 11, 2016 Posted January 11, 2016 Thanks for the link BB. That looks like a pretty reasonable effort to me - I can understand a fair bit of it and that's a good start. 1
Johnnygohard Posted January 11, 2016 Posted January 11, 2016 Tony W was very kind in letting me demo a BHK 250 at my home and has left a brand new unit to listen to for 2 days. He said have it for longer but I was insistent in saying I would only need it for a short period. Its been on for about 3 hours so bugger all and next to no run in time what so ever. First thing i noticed was it has a glass sort of feel, not trying to sound like a wanker but probably to late for that now. Just a clearness or freshness sort of thing going on. Playing In Rainbows by Radiohead, wicked! things really start to smooth out at the 200hr mark, it just keeps on giving with every session
Darren69 Posted January 11, 2016 Posted January 11, 2016 Tony W was very kind in letting me demo a BHK 250 at my home and has left a brand new unit to listen to for 2 days. He said have it for longer but I was insistent in saying I would only need it for a short period. Its been on for about 3 hours so bugger all and next to no run in time what so ever. First thing i noticed was it has a glass sort of feel, not trying to sound like a wanker but probably to late for that now. Just a clearness or freshness sort of thing going on. Playing In Rainbows by Radiohead, wicked! Good, he wont be trying to drop it at my place. Evil man 1
SdP Posted January 11, 2016 Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) I am terrible with sound descriptors so apologies. Playing Making Movies by D.S which in my humble opinion is a great album but a bit soupy with its production. It lifts that away to a point, or at least that's what my brain is telling me. Edited January 11, 2016 by SdP
Guest 322 Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 If anyone in perth would like to demo the 250 I suggest they pop into Douglas Hifi for a listen.
SdP Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 I just gave back the BHK amp. Good amp and no issue worth the the money. Better than my Arion's, yes they weren't any where near run in so no point saying to much. But once you have Mono blocks there is no going back in my opinion. I would much rather put my self in more debt and get the 300's without hearing them. It will take time but I will get there. Thanks again to the very kind Tony Wong for letting me demo the amp. 4
DoggieHowser Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 I just gave back the BHK amp. Good amp and no issue worth the the money. Better than my Arion's, yes they weren't any where near run in so no point saying to much. But once you have Mono blocks there is no going back in my opinion. I would much rather put my self in more debt and get the 300's without hearing them. It will take time but I will get there. Thanks again to the very kind Tony Wong for letting me demo the amp. It's a good principle go straight for the one u want. Like you, am saving my pennies for the monos 2
DoggieHowser Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 The review at Stereophile is also out. Fremer seems to like the amp a lot but half the review is dedicated to his anger about the marketing material accompanying the amp I am sure that will be the only thing the naysayers will pick up on. Just some notes - the amp was tested in single ended mode and the amp it was tested against - was one that was "matched" to the preamp he was using. And did I mention that it was IIRC 10x the price of the BHKs? 2
alcarp Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) Can someone post the conclusion in the Stereophile review if that's permissable. Edited January 14, 2016 by alcarp
DoggieHowser Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) Pardon any typos - trying to read off the phone app From the midrange up, PS Audio's BHK Signature 300s go toe to toe with many amplifiers costing far more. They manage the smooth, rich, yet well-detailed midrange and high frequencies produced by far more expensive models without smoothing over delicate transient detail - the latter being the price often paid by less expensive designs to achieve those qualities. I've reviewed far more expensive amplifiers that don't do as well in this area. The BHK 300s bottom end is nimble, well-textured and rhythmically solid, though there's still more weight, power and physicality to be had in the very lowest octaves. But given their cost - high but far from the highest - that's hardly surprising. Of course, you'd also need speakers that can express those qualities. Still, I'd much prefer the nimble rhythmic pacing of the BHK 300s to greater weight that's more sluggishly presented. How good are the PS Audios? I spent a few months thoroughly enjoying them without reservation - especially their engaging transparency, transient delicacy, harmonic and textural richness, and convincing timbral accuracy. But I'm spoiled. I need to be able to see into the soundstage without restrictions caused by opacity or grain, and I have no tolerance for electronica: transients that are annoyingly soft and cloying (boring), or too sharp and artificially drawn (annoying). The BHK 300s easily passed those tests. Near the end of my listening, I reinstalled the big darTZeels, only to make the necessary comparisons. It may not be fair to compare a $14,998 pair of amps with a $135,000 pair but the PS Audios asked for it. I wasn't surprised by what I heard from the darTZeels: more weight, more space, greater low-level detail and textural resolution, finer gradations of micro dynamics. Nine times more of those qualities? No - but who's counting? All in all, the BHK Signature 300 is a terrific mono block amplifier that almost lives up to its hype. But please, PS Audio - don't wait another 30 years before doing this again. Edited January 14, 2016 by DoggieHowser 2
DoggieHowser Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Here's Paul's response: .... In our experience, balanced operation of the 300s produces meatier, more palpable bass and mid bass, as well as a deeper soundstage - the areas in which Michael preferred his $135,000/pair DarTZeels. Michael made so many positive statements about the BHK 300s that it's difficult to focus on just a few, but I truly appreciate his characterisation of the 300s as a "powerful, nimble-sounding amplifier that immediately drew me in with fast, punchy, tight bass; rich, liquid mids; and delicate, transparent highs - all effectively well-integrated into a coherent whole". I'm touched by "I would be hard-pressed to identify anything wrong in the BHK's sound," and by "This kind of convincing and sophisticated performance, particularly from the midband up, is what one expects and gets from the finest cost-no-object electronics." I expect that modest Bascom is blushing right now. 2
MVPjack Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 Hi wikeeboy manufacturers always max out everything they can marketing wise ! I think they would be brain dead if they didn't , I was just as skeptical until I heard one, in fact my first listen was not with my own speakers and I was thrown into a bit of a spin because what I was hearing was in some ways better than anything I had ever heard. I'm simply not used to amplifiers making this much difference to the sound . I have since heard my ML2Reference driven by the BHK amplifier and Direct Stream Dac in Adelaide and can report to my considerable relief that this is now the best sound I have ever heard ( watch out Boys !! bit of self promotion here !! danger Will Robinson !! ) Six years ago we were using the Macintosh MC501 as our reference amp then we transitioned to the Arion HS-500's which were superb in fact we didn't think anything could top them . So we thought ! because along came the Prima Luna Dialogue Premium power amp ,all 36watts per channel , it simply knocked over the Arions so we stopped importing the Arions from the US and started selling the Prima Luna's . OK WELL blow me doon along comes this BHK thingy ! what can we do it just kills every other amp we've heard . I expect big leaps in performance with digital front ends like servers and Dac's but not with Speakers and Amps they are too connected to the pshyical world as in they are Carbon life forms not Silicone . Just wait Lads >> Just you flammin Audiophiles wait ! what can ya sell ?? ya wife ?your Car ? what about your house you could just throw a sheet of bunnings plastic over the amp and system if it started to rain . Ya have to get your priorities organised. Regards MIke Lenehan Found this on another forum: "PS Audio was kind enough to let us try the monoblocs after-hours, as we're their Brazilian distributor. It is very, very good. It did certain things, like midrange beauty, on par with the D'Agostino Momentum we were using in that particular room." If this is true, these amplifiers are going to sell like hot-cakes.
Johnnygohard Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 Its also amazing that anyone that compares/owns $135000 amps against $15000 amps and does so useing single ended connection to the latter is very questionable in itself. I know there are many debates going on the xlr v rca ,but I have tested both with my BHK and can totally agree with pauls statements regarding this, much better bass and mid bass with a much wider and deeper soundstage. Maybe the reviewer didnt really want to hear how good the BHK's could sound? Intriguing to say the least
Lenehan Audio Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Its also amazing that anyone that compares/owns $135000 amps against $15000 amps and does so useing single ended connection to the latter is very questionable in itself. I know there are many debates going on the xlr v rca ,but I have tested both with my BHK and can totally agree with pauls statements regarding this, much better bass and mid bass with a much wider and deeper soundstage. Maybe the reviewer didnt really want to hear how good the BHK's could sound? Intriguing to say the least Hi John We have our new Spiroground XLR balanced Ribbon interconnect ready to go in about a week so we shall see ! I have heard the Direct Stream and BHK do in fact work better as a balanced duo . I think we may do a tour for these new interconnects in either balanced or single ended so anyone interested can contact us ! We also have a new Ribbon speaker cable which should be available soon , these to will be included in the tour ! Stay tuned Regards Mike Lenehan 3
Darren69 Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 @@Lenehan Audio Mike, they sound interesting, will keep an eye on how they progress, hope all is good for you mate. 1
joz Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 If there is a tour of I/Cs i'd most definately be interested. Mike? 1
Lenehan Audio Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 If there is a tour of I/Cs i'd most definately be interested. Mike? Hi joz. Ok I'll start a thread when it's about to start ! Those that are interested in a listen can register interest and we'll kick it off. Regards Mike Lenehan 3
mikey d Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 I would love to hear the new IC's. XLR or RCA. would be interesting to compare them to the old Ribbonteks.
analog brother Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 i enjoyed fremer's review immensely. very well written.
joz Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 Hi joz. Ok I'll start a thread when it's about to start ! Those that are interested in a listen can register interest and we'll kick it off. Regards Mike Lenehan Registered
HKLM Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 they do talk the talk, but they also walk the walk The Directstream is a giant killer, And so is the BHK. It resets the bar Bigtime,it sets class d back by a large margin also imo :-) I owned DS, it was OK, but not good enough to keep. Certainly respectable, but not a giant killer for me. I heard the BHK mono in Hong Kong. For the money, great! But not good enough to get a geurnsey in listening room 1, relegated to listening room 2 where it fits nicely in that performance space. 1
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