PS Audio BHK signature preamp

Sorry HP (headphone) Amp. 
I mentioned the amp & turntable in my post. Somewhat surprised at the phono stage. To?

@audphile1 

Interesting you recommend the v1.  KEF recommends at least 60% of 300w for the R11’s… so at least 180w. In talking to their support, they wanted 200w.  Is there some advantage to the V1?

@ozzy62 

Thanks, I agree, my Rogue is not my weakest link, just attracted to the PS audio price / features. What component would you address first?
@audioman58 

44 years of marriage. Could work, but she is very practical. I even tried once to convince her to buy a Prada bag… she wouldn’t  

@oldschool1948 

@fertguy 

Thanks

@invalid

Now there’s a response I didn’t expect. Please provide your recommendations, that would include:

Better plus:

No more than 4” in height. (due to my rack requirements)
A good HP amp (otherwise another $1k)

12AU7 tubes compatible (I have almost $2k in tubes)

remote control-able with power/standby on/off & direct input selection ideally compatible with harmony remotes (because I’m old, and like convenience).

Must have home theater pass through (to work with additional HT components)

Unfortunately, I am forced to to consider both form & function.

Tall order…

Thank you for your thoughts and recommendations. Unfortunately I am not certain what I am going to do. I do understand my weakest links are:

1. Amp

2. Turntable 

3. DAC 

4. Phono stage

However, I will more than likely buy the BHK pre, for all the reasons expressed by me and many of you. 
The Cobalt looks intriguing, but can’t find one used, and would have to figure out where to put it from a space standpoint. Otherwise, it will probably be the Benchmark AHB2. 
On the TT side, if I can figure out space, a higher end VPI, otherwise the Rega P8. 
Thanks again for all your thoughts and recommendations. I find these discussions to the very valuable. 

@mm1tt77 Thanks, will do. Do you think the BHK & AHB2 will not pair well if I go that route?

@acguo 

Can’t argue with your assessment and recommendations. Thanks!

@audphile1 

Thank you for your recommendation, but integrated doesn’t solve my space issue. I think I have a resolution… remove a section from my L shaped sectional & install another rack there. 
Question, I assume you have the Coda #8. It looks like it has no trigger, so must be manually powered on and off? 
if I were to buy the Coda, I would assume V2. Thanks 

Thanks! It seems the LTA microZOTL is a very good pre and has been recommended by several of you. 3 issues: 1. It is .2” too tall for my rack. 2. It doesn’t use my current (excellent) tube sets. 3. No remote on/off (this one I could live with… but why?). The PSA satisfies these requirements & is my choice even if not quite as good. Thanks!

@jayctoy Absolutely! She just said yesterday, “We need to spend more money. Can’t take it with us & kids certainly don’t need it,” (the kids are killing it).
She went on to say this doesn’t apply to my stereo, but I see a definite opportunity. 😎

Looks like the amp first people are winning. My contenders are:

Coda #8. Recommended by @audphile1 @mm1tt77 @zlone Great reviews, good price point and size. Talked to Doug today. He recommended starting with the V1 also.

PS Audio BHK 250. Great reviews, very good price point. A monster. PS audio is selling refurbs at half price. @oldschool1948 you are using. Anyone else? Thoughts? 

Then either buy the BHK pre or keep my RP-1… OR

Macintosh MA352. For those who recommended integrated, I have coveted Macintosh for 50 years. 

Recommendations anyone?

Thank you for all your thoughts and recommendations! Fortunately (or unfortunately) the BHK preamp is now sold out, so I can focus on other areas more in need on my system. I think the Coda #8 will be my next purchase. Will let you know when I pull the trigger. Thanks!

OK, slight change in plans. The PSA BHK signature preamp is back in stock, so pulled the trigger on a black one last night. 
I know I need focus in other areas, but I could not pass on this deal.
As I said in my opening It has excellent reviews, the audiogon forums speak highly of it, (as did most of you), it is the perfect size, has an excellent headphone amp, uses the same tubes as my Rogue (I have 3 different excellent matched pair NOS tubes) & is fully capable with my Logitech Harmony One remote… seemingly a match made in heaven. I want it… 

Two other factors, it is fully balanced and my amp was designed to be used balanced, and in rereading its reviews, Jim Austin in his Stereophile review stated: “PS Audio's BHK Signature preamp is one of the finest audio components I've had in my home”. I can’t imagine better praise than that!
Coda #8 will have to wait, but probably not for long. Thanks again for all your thoughts and recommendations!

Thanks! Just received shipping confirmation.
I’m excited with the direction I am going based upon the many recommendations.  

I plan to run streaming through it with my amp tuned off and with the stock tubes until broken in.
Anyone have a recommended break in time? 

@audphile1 @photon46

Thanks for your thoughts and recommendations. The BHK finally arrives tomorrow (hopefully), thanks to FedEx’s ineptness.
I will wait to tube roll. The Siemens silver plate had been my favorite in my Rogue. Tele’s seem to be the tube of choice for the BHK. I am excited to try those, plus my Brimar’s, vs the stock tubes. PS Audio tube swapping (cover removal) is significantly easier than Rogue.
I had struggled with audphile1’s recommendation on synergy & house sound. The BHK 250 is big, hot and heavy, they don’t have it in black, and I would prefer to stay away from class D. The Coda seemed perfect. Glad to hear you based upon your experience I can still move in that direction without degrading sound. Thanks!

@audphile1 

Thanks. As I understand it, pre output impedance should be at least 10x less than the Amps input impedance. The Coda’s published input impedance is 5x less XLR vs RCA at 10K ohms, so Coda XLR is tougher to match.
However, the published output impedance of the BHK pre balanced is <100 ohms or 100x less. Will verify with Doug, but unless I am reading this wrong, should be no problem. 

@audphile1 @peter_s @yyzsantabarbara 

I don’t think anyone has ever accused my R11’s of being warm. I agree the Benchmark would not be a great pairing with my KEF’s, both from a power and sound signature standpoint. I am completely in on the BHK pre, and 90% on the Coda #8. Thanks.
@audphile1 My BHK has still not arrived due to continued FedEx ineptness. I got PS audio (as the shipper with much more influence) involved yesterday evening, since FedEx was completely unresponsive to me. They set up a 3 way call with FedEx. FedEx assured us the pre would be delivered between 2-4 today. Excellent service from PS Audio!  We shall see on FedEx … 
BTW, we need to talk about my Qutest replacement… and/or buying the chord upscaler Thanks!

@yyzsantabarbara 

Thanks. I probably should have bought the Yggi instead of the Qutest. I liked the Qutest size. Your Yggi+ OG, is that less is more or more is better? 
 

@jayctoy @audphile1 

Thanks  Tracking says it is out for delivery. 

OK, the BHK arrived yesterday and did a push-pull with my RP-1, with no changes other than new balanced cables (Mogami 2549 XLR, replacing Mogami 2549 RCA) running from BHK to Warp 1. 

Hopefully I am not experiencing confirmation bias, but out of the box, with new cables & stock tubes, the BHK sounds wonderful. Dead quiet, tighter, fuller, crisper highs, tight solid bass, darker backgrounds, improved decay/harmonics, soundstages/separation... all the accolades we have heard so many times seem to be true. Almost like a veil has been lifted. My Aurender/Qutest digital no longer sounds lean, but great! My Hana ML sings.

The slight phono hum I experienced at higher volumes is gone. Symbolism gone. (These cannot be confirmation bias). Unbelievable! 

I am sure some of it is utilizing balanced in my Warp 1 (according to Stereophile, it was designed to be used balanced) (BTW, just discovered the Warp 1 is rated as a Class B amp by them... my only other Class B product is my Hana ML). But the rest has to be this wonderful BHK pre making everything better. 

I have never experienced sound improvements like this in all my many changes. I would not believe it possible for non-source electronics. Could not be happier... set for a while! Thank you for all your recommendations.

Thanks! It’s cooking! 

For my sanity, I was doing some research to try to understand the significant perceived improvement from the RP-1 to the BHK. I found 4.

1. The RP-1 is a very good entry level pre. The BHK is a very good high end pre. Design, weight, components etc all superior. Obvious but…
2. This ties into #1. The published THD distortion of the RP-1 is <1%. The published THD & IM distortion of the BHK is <.03%, That’s more than 3x the THD distortion for the Rogue and the IM distortion of the Rogue is not even published. 
3. Capacitance mismatch. From another audiogoner: “the RP-1 is very sensitive your amp's input impedance. My amp's is around 40Kohm and it sounded lifeless....an obvious loss of high frequency air and detail”. My Warp 1 is 47Kohm, and suffered the same issue.
4. As i stated earlier, my amp is designed to run balanced. The BHK accommodates this.

End result, my ears were not deceiving me! Thanks!

@yyzsantabarbara Now you need to not read the forums so that you stay happy wilt your gear. 
Much easier said than done!
A side note, I will probably replace my turntable next. Given the same cartridge, it is probably the least sonic improvement I can make. I am a vinyl guy at heart & the joy of vinyl is not only its sound, but also the process of playing albums. My Pro-ject even though part of an analog that is slightly sonically superior to my digital, gives me no joy. 
@sandrock Thanks, mine is black. Not as attractive, but love the solid utilitarian look. I know tubes are very system dependent, but what tubes do you most enjoy? I will be rolling tubes, but unless someone can convince me otherwise not fuses. 

@audphile1 Already own the tubes that fit the BHK from my RP-1. Matched NOS Tele’s, Siemens & Brimar’s.
Won’t be spending any money on more tubes, nor fuses. Thanks.

@digilog5 Thanks for your observation confirming the Coda was very good & compatible with my BHK PRE. But it sounds like you prefer the BHK 250… wish they had one in black, I might overlook the size, weight & heat. Sorry to ask but what does it mean to be “a touch sweet”? Thanks!

@digilog5 Thanks!

@audphile1 @yyzsantabarbara & anyone else

I was looking at the Simaudio Moon 330a. It is the perfect form factor for my existing space. It probably would be a compromise over the Coda (less class A etc) but would (I believe) be a significant improvement over my Warp 1. Not sure of its sound signature, but it appears to be neutral in reviews. 
The question I have is how much of a compromise would it be? How would it match with my BHK pre & KEF R11’s? 
Thank you!

@audphile1 Very sound advice, as it always is. However, I may try the 330A, as there is a used mint listing for $2,700… then resell if not to my liking with limited loss. I am finding it very difficult to ignore its perfect form factor.
@yyzsantabarbara Thanks. I am somewhat confused how Krell came into this discussion. Also, the 761 at $14,000 is not in play. The 330A at $4,200 is an appropriate comparison to the AHB2 at $3,500. Both have great form factors for my application. Sounds like your preference between those 2 is the AHB2.
@sandrock Thanks. I agree, the BHK pre was a perfect choice and am very happy with that decision. With the break in period over, I swapped out the stock tubes with my favs from my Rogue, NOS Siemens nickel/silver plates. While perhaps a little bright, their crispness, clarity, smoothness and bass slam is excellent. A significant improvement over the stock tubes. Will try the Brimars next for their warmth. Didn’t like the Tele’s on my Rogue… we shall see on the BHK. Fun stuff!

@audphile1 @dokosan Thanks for the feedback. Think I am buying one. Love the form factor for my limited space. If I am not comprising too much, maybe a keeper! 

@audphile1 @dokosan Purchased the Simaudio Moon 330A, arrives Thursday. I am excited to hear it in my system. 
@sandrock The tube recommended by PS Audio and used by many in the forum is the Tungsram. I may give it a try. Thanks. 

Received my 330A amp today. I know I was supposed to give it time, but could not wait. It sounds beautiful, very clean, very crisp & concise, detailed, with sparkling highs, tight bass & great soundstage. Hearing subtle passages I have never heard before! It has a perfect form factor & is as nice looking as an amp can be. I think it pairs well with my BHK & R11’s. Time will tell, but I think a keeper! Thanks!

@luvtubes69 Thank you. I agree. When listening last night, I would have sworn my HT rears were on. I was enveloped in the sound.

@audphile1 Thanks. By on, you mean standby or full on?

Going to stand pat for a while, unless I discover another deal i can’t pass on. But probably a P10, then a DAC.

@audphile1 The 760A is discontinued and replaced with the 761 at $14K… the model @yyzsantabarbara was high on. Nope.  
@luvtubes69 Dual mono would be very nice, but no room, and VERY happy with one stereo. Nice that I potentially migrate though!  
Thank you for all your outstanding advice! My system is very close to my nirvana. 

Possibly, or a new TT.  On the DAC side, leaning towards Hugo TT2. I like the Chord sound and footprint, and that may be their sweet spot above the Qutest. Don’t want Chi-Fi, Weis is too industrial looking, etc… but we shall see! The journey is a fun part of our hobby.  
 

Hopefully you guys are old friends! 😏