Darren69 Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 Ps Audio make awesome stuff, I love my Perfectwave transport dac combo. 1
DoggieHowser Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 One weak link at a time, monoblocks can wait, pre amp next The new PS Audio BHK Preamp is on the way 1
awayward Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 I have read the BHK preamp is scheduled for mid 2016
DoggieHowser Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 No clue. Bascom is fine tuning the prototype. Post 86 in this thread http://www.psaudio.com/forum/bhk-power-and-pre-amp-forum/feature-set-new-preamp/page-3/ It's been slow and I apologize. The very first working prototype was finally delivered to BHK in Santa Barbara. He had his first listen, even before me, and said "it sounds extremely promising." But then there's a whole bunch of problems, like the volume control jumping around, hum, this, that, etc. All things typical with a hand built prototype at this early stage. Much work remains. That was 5 months ago. 1
DoggieHowser Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) From what I can tell of the design: Per input volume level - any input can be HT bypass. 5 inputs - configurable as balanced or single ended. A volume control system that has a constant input impedance that does not change with volume level. And for headfi enthusiasts, King says the headphone amp is able to drive Hifiman and Audeze well. Edited December 10, 2015 by DoggieHowser
DoggieHowser Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 Actually this is the thread that is more relevant to the PreAmp discussion http://www.psaudio.com/forum/bhk-power-and-pre-amp-forum/bascoms-preamp-chronicles/
Johnnygohard Posted December 11, 2015 Posted December 11, 2015 BHK Stereo 250 is in the house, 2 days delivery from Adelaide to NSW Mid North Coast, well done TNT, Magenta and Mike Lenehan. Early days but initial impression is very smooth. Apologies for the bad ipad photo. Regards Wayne thoughts Wayne?
Guest Sime Posted December 11, 2015 Posted December 11, 2015 They have both the Stereo and the Mono's at Miranda in Canberra if anyone here is interested.
awayward Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 thoughts Wayne? This amp is outstanding, I can't really believe what I'm hearing. Everything sounds correct and beautifully balanced, and at the same time the individual instruments are distinct, clear, with the right amount of presence. Bass is thunderous when required and subtle when it should be, with extraordinary definition, mids are simply stunning, and I've never heard highs like the BHK is producing, cymbals shimmer from within the wide and deep soundstage. Three times today I have gotten goosebumps from songs I've heard many times, I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but I think there is a higher level of emotion that is conveyed by this amp. What an amplifier, i would recommend auditioning one if you get the chance. @@johnnygohard, my amp has a slight hum when not playing music, audible if I kneel next to the amp, does yours? Wayne 7
Johnnygohard Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 Hey, yes it has a very slight hum,when listening up close around the valve area, can't hear it 30cm away though. I'm addicted to mine 1
rocky500 Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) I would love to see a dedicated power amp with a similar tech of the BHK 250 but in a chassis similar in size to this. Say 100W p/ch. Edited December 12, 2015 by rocky500
wikeeboy Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 Agree with you Rocky. The chassis of the 250/300's are rather big and i get the feeling they could have been smaller, but they're saving costs by using the same housing as their power conditioner products.
awayward Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 Agree with you Rocky. The chassis of the 250/300's are rather big and i get the feeling they could have been smaller, but they're saving costs by using the same housing as their power conditioner products. It may have been possible to use a smaller chassis, the 250 runs cooler than a lot of other similar big amps, that is probably due to the large heat sinks that disapate the heat.
Lenehan Audio Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 This amp is outstanding, I can't really believe what I'm hearing. Everything sounds correct and beautifully balanced, and at the same time the individual instruments are distinct, clear, with the right amount of presence. Bass is thunderous when required and subtle when it should be, with extraordinary definition, mids are simply stunning, and I've never heard highs like the BHK is producing, cymbals shimmer from within the wide and deep soundstage. Three times today I have gotten goosebumps from songs I've heard many times, I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but I think there is a higher level of emotion that is conveyed by this amp. What an amplifier, i would recommend auditioning one if you get the chance. @@johnnygohard, my amp has a slight hum when not playing music, audible if I kneel next to the amp, does yours? Wayne Hi Wayne. You bloody beauty ! Yes it's an extraordinary amp , how does it do it ? I don't know enough about electronic design to comment but I do know what it does in a neutral musical hardware chain ! And I know what it does with my Loudspeakers so for me it's lay down mezzare . Know one I know of up here has a run in amp so I'm dying to hear one run in , I'm also chipping to pop the lid on one and check out the coupling caps and critical signal chain wiring . When we upgraded the Prima Luna Dialogue Premium Power amps coupling and electro caps the sound quality took a big leap ! We shall see. Regards Mike 2
rocky500 Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 Agree with you Rocky. The chassis of the 250/300's are rather big and i get the feeling they could have been smaller, but they're saving costs by using the same housing as their power conditioner products. I actually was thinking of the P5 conditioner housing until I saw the pics of the new Pre. The physical size of the BHK looks huge plus its watts can be a lot more than is needed when you have reasonably efficient speakers.
awayward Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 Hi Wayne. You bloody beauty ! Yes it's an extraordinary amp , how does it do it ? I don't know enough about electronic design to comment but I do know what it does in a neutral musical hardware chain ! And I know what it does with my Loudspeakers so for me it's lay down mezzare . Know one I know of up here has a run in amp so I'm dying to hear one run in , I'm also chipping to pop the lid on one and check out the coupling caps and critical signal chain wiring . When we upgraded the Prima Luna Dialogue Premium Power amps coupling and electro caps the sound quality took a big leap ! We shall see. Regards Mike Hi Mike To use an automotive analogy, the Prima Luna and your previous amps are like Holdens, Fords or Subaru's, all can be tampered with to improve performance, the BHK is like a Ferrari or Lamborgini, they are SOTA, as is the BHK and should be left as the designer intended, my two cents worth. 1
Johnnygohard Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 All things are constantly evolving... BHK@65hrs,Vega dac@750hrs,Taurus pre@450hrs. Vega and Taurus needs up to 800hrs for run in, BHK 500hrs,then comes some tube rolling! Improving daily atm, ps audio claims this amp is in the top five worldwide. Wouldn't surprise me one bit! :-)
The Fez Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 ps audio claims this amp is in the top five worldwide. Wouldn't surprise me one bit! :-) ..well I guess they would say that...What are the other four you think? 1
Guest Hensa Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 ..well I guess they would say that...What are the other four you think? I'm just impressed that they've heard them all in order to be able to make the statement! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
awayward Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 ..well I guess they would say that...What are the other four you think? I'm sure I read that PS Audio's goal was to produce a top 5 amplifier, and obviously for others to judge if that is achieved, and not that PS Audio said that they have produced a top 5 amplifier.
wikeeboy Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 ps audio claims this amp is in the top five worldwide. Wouldn't surprise me one bit! :-) I'm genuinely interested in the BHK, but the rubbish ps audio come out with, such as what Johnny mentions above, really turns me off. It's unnecessary **** but I guess it sucks a lot of people in and sells a lot of product.
Guest 322 Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 (edited) I'm not sure that PS audio actually claims that, I believe it went something like this "with the goal of building one of the top five power amplifiers in the world, regardless of price." Whether it is, that's for others to judge. Its funny what sucks people in Edited December 13, 2015 by 322
Recommended Posts