Perfect you’re set!
PS Audio BHK signature preamp
I was reviewing another preamp post and stumbled upon a recommendation for the PS Audio BHK signature preamp currently half price ($7,000 - selling for $3,500) directly from PS Audio & (unfortunately) decided to research it. I say unfortunately, as I was not looking to buy a preamp.
It has excellent reviews, the audiogon forums speak highly of it, it is the perfect size, has an excellent HF amp (I need one), uses the same tubes as my Rogue RP-1 (I have some excellent NOS tubes) is fully capable with my Logitech Harmony One remote… seemingly a match made in heaven. I want it… and if not happily married, I would get it.
So looking for someone to talk me out of it. I know it will give me a good HF amp, full remote vs partial remote control, and better pride of ownership, vs an albeit excellent ‘entry’ preamp. But given my other components, will it sound the same, slightly better or significantly better? Is it too good for my system? Would I be better off upgrading another component? I currently wasn’t looking to upgrade my Rogue, but this seemed to be too good to pass. My current system:
Rogue RP-1 pre with NOS Telefunkon medical, Siemens nickel plate & Brimar CV4003 NOS tubes (rolling)
LSA Warp 1 amp
KEF R11 speakers
Rythmic F12SE sub w/miniDSP equalization
Aurender N150 streaming Qobuz
Chord Qutest DAC
Pro-ject 1Xpression carbon classic with Hana ML cart
Rega Aria phono stage
Focal Clear OG HF
Transparent + speaker cables, Mogami 2549 interconnects & Maze audio power cables
Prior to seeing the PS Audio deal I was considering the following upgrades: (I am very component space constrained in my choices):
Pro-ject TT > Rega P8
Warp 1 amp > Benchmark AHB2
Please let me know your thoughts and/or recommendations. Thanks!
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- 81 posts total
Congrats on the BHK preamp. Great piece. I have the full PSA stack with the BHK250 and DSD and am very happy. That being said I did get a chance to try the Coda 8 mated to the BHK preamp for a week. Nothing to be afraid there. I think it was a great match and the Coda is a phenomenal piece too. Super resolving, dead quiet and about the same big soundstage as the BHK250. Its bass is in one word subterranean. Fast and deep. Superb quality too and able to drive very low impedance loads (single ended bipolar design vs differential balanced mosfet for the BHK). I would seriously listen to the Coda especially with difficult loads. No issue being driven by the BHK preamp. |
Congrats on the BHK preamp. Great piece. I have the full PSA stack with the BHK250 and DSD and am very happy. That being said I did get a chance to try the Coda 8 mated to the BHK preamp for a week. Nothing to be afraid there. I think it was a great match and the Coda is a phenomenal piece too. Super resolving, without being sterile, a touch sweet, dead quiet and about the same big soundstage as the BHK250. Its bass is in one word subterranean. Fast and deep. Superb quality too and able to drive very low impedance loads (single ended bipolar design vs differential balanced mosfet for the BHK). I would seriously listen to the Coda especially with difficult loads. No issue being driven by the BHK preamp. |
@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! |
The below info is direct from the late Bascom King when i was looking into the preamp and asked the same questions to my dealer. Direct from BHK: "No problem! 10K is an easy load. it can drive loads down to 1K. There are no series output coupling capacitors to roll off the low bass either." Also running all my gear balanced and tested the Coda 8 balanced as well. Re. the 250 vs Coda, frankly I would be super happy with either. By a touch sweet I meant its not dry or analytical. It will dig in and show up tremendous detail and depth, just not in a sterile way. Its polished like a top Hegel kind of sound. It might not have 100% of the "bloom" or kind of halo-space of the tubed BHK but its insanely good and from the moment you have the pre with tubes in there should be totally fine. I am contemplated actually to change to the Coda as in the future will be driving electrostats. BHK has nearly twice the filtering capacitance of the No.8 but 1/3 of the 8’s power supply. Would joke that the Coda has its own gravitational pull! hhaha. |
- 81 posts total