I've used my PSE with virtually every combination. Currently it is powering my whole house audio system. It is an amazing difference when compared to the last 2 amps I used (QSC & Yamaha).
It was an amazing match with my Vandersteens but a little soft with Soliloquys. It should be an amazing match to Thiels. I've used it with pre's from Sherbourne, Yamaha, Denon, Audio Research (2B & 6C), Anthem and cd direct. I'm yet to find a source I haven't liked. The closest I'd compare it to is a Robertson twenty twenty.
Keep it, play with it. 100 wpc at 8ohms. 4 ohms wasn't quite double if I recall. Sorry, no manual. |
I have a PSE Studio IV driving Vandy 2CIs in a small office setting. It is an absolutely transparent amp with smooth extended trebles and deep, rich bass tones. Anyone that owns this amp will probably never want to give it up.
The specs are:
Output Operation is A/AB
Continuous Average is 100 watts into 8 ohms and 195 watts into 4 ohms
Current is 18 amps continuous into 8 ohms for over 1 minute
Rated THD is 0.01%
Rated Slew Rate is 100 V/uS
Rated Power Bandwidth is 0 hz to 100 khz
All direct coupled (no capacitors in the signal path)
Front end uses Class A FET which means high input impedance (which avoids interaction with cables and preamps)
Amp is stable into all speaker loads
There is a Stereophile Review of this amp (VOl.13, No.1, (Jan. 1990) |
Hi Guys,
Thank you so much for the information. I remember an audio saleman telling me a long time ago that a good amp will really make a big difference in sound. I sort of blew him off until I got the PSE a couple of years ago. It is incredible with my Thiels. I plan on keeping the PSE for a a long, long time. I've finally gotten to the point of wanting to play around with the front end of the system.
I made a couple of simple attenuator lines to test the input from the cd player directly into the amp and could hear a distinct difference even though it used ultra cheap rca cable, $3.00 pots from Radio Shack, crap solder, and a less then good soldering job. The 10K pots do the trick. Hopefully in a couple of weeks and I'll have the parts that I'll need and have the box put together.
Thanks again,
Chris |
The PSE studio IV has been in my setup for almost 20 years driving my Vandersteen 2ci's. The amp is now driving a pair of Magnepan 3.6r planars with good sound.
I'm hoping to find another studio IV to bi-amp these power hungry Maggies. |
I just recently picked up a PSE Studio IV amp and can agree with every positive thing that has been said so far. It is so musical with pace & drive, a real toe tapper to listen to and prefered it over a Stereophile Class A recommended amp I owned previously. Superb texturing and layering of the music coupled with a huge soundstage, definately a keeper! |
Phd I have a pse hl-1 pre amp from pse and have Dean's info in case you need repair as he was still involved in support of his gear last I talked with him;he is a real nice person to talk with.
Dean Klinefelter;Phone number is 763-295-1710 for anyone who may need it as well. |
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/pse-studio-sl-preamplifier
I have no relationship to seller. |
Sorry, the above link was posted differently than when it appeared when previewed. The link is for a PSE Studio SL Preamplifier. The auction ends 04/04/2012. It might be worth a look. |
I'm surprised but pleased to read of this interest in PSE. They didn't seem to be very well known when they were current products.
Back in the '70s I owned the current version of Vandersteen 2s and had the chance to visit Bill Low's (Audioquest) home. He had a pair of Vandy 2's placed well away from the walls in a large family room, driven by PSE amp and pre. That was one of the two best demos I ever heard of Vandersteen 2s. The other was at Havens and Hardesty driven by ARC tube gear.
The positive impression at Low's influenced me to buy a complete PSE set up -- amp, preamp, and tuner. It didn't sound quite as good as at Low's but I could only blame my room for that.
I did have one occasion to contact Dean and found him to be very knowledgeable and supportive for his gear, as well as being an all around nice guy. |
Rleff, thanks for submitting Deans phone number. PSE is the kind of gear that makes this hobby enjoyable. Some of the newer gear that I have had does not posess the musicality of the PSE. Musical is the key word. I am also impressed with the bass power & headroom of the PSE Studio IV amp.
Unsound if more folks knew how good the PSE Studio SL preamp is for the price, that preamp would be gone yesterday, although I believe that's an auction. |
I owned the PSE Studio IV amplifier and PSE Studio SL Preamplifier many years ago. I wish I still had them. PSE was a great company and so were their products. Is PSE still in business? |
Hgeifman last I knew it was not but when I talked with Dean in 2010 we was still supporting his products so thats why I put up his contact data if people needed it. |
